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Project Gutenberg EPUB3 edition
Xenophon and Dakyns, Henry Graham
Isch. And what when the weeds spring up together with the corn and choke it? or when they rob and ruthlessly devour the corn's proper sustenance, like unserviceable drones (17) that rob the working bees of honey, pilfering the good food which they have made and stored away with labour: what must we do?
(17) Cf. Shakesp. "Lazy yawning drones," "Henry V." I. ii. 204.
Soc. In good sooth, there can be nothing for it save to cut out the noisome weed, even as drones are cleared out from the hive.
Isch. You agree there is some show of reason for letting in these gangs of hoers?
Soc. Most true. And now I am turning over in my mind, (18) Ischomachus, how grand a thing it is to introduce a simile or such like figure well and aptly. No sooner had you mentioned the word "drones" than I was filled with rage against those miserable weeds, far more than when you merely spoke of weeds and undergrowth.
(18) Or, "I was just this moment pondering the virtue of a happy illustration." Lit. "what a thing it is to introduce an 'image' ({tas eikonas}) well." See Plat. "Rep." 487 E, {de eikonos}, "in a parable" (Jowett); "Phaed." 87 B, "a figure"; Aristoph. "Clouds," 559; Plat. "Phaedr." 267 C; Aristot. "Rhet." III. iv. As to the drones, J. J. Hartman, "An. X." 186, aptly cf. Aristoph. "Wasps," 1114 f.
XVIII
But, not to interrupt you further (I continued), after sowing, naturally we hope to come to reaping. If, therefore, you have anything to say on that head also, pray proceed to teach me.
Isch. Yes, by all means, unless indeed you prove on this head also to know as much yourself already as your teacher. To begin then: You know that corn needs cutting?
Soc. To be sure, I know that much at any rate.
Isch. Well, then, the next point: in the act of cutting corn how will you choose to stand? facing the way the wind blows, (1) or against the wind?
(1) Lit. "(on the side) where the wind blows or right opposite."
Soc. Not against the wind, for my part. Eyes and hands must suffer, I imagine, if one stood reaping face to face with husks and particles of straw. (2)
(2) i.e. "with particles of straw and beards of corn blowing in one's face."
Isch. And should you merely sever the ears at top, or reap close to the ground? (3)
(3) See Holden ad loc.; Sir Anthony Fitzherbert, "Husbandry," 27 (ed. 1767), "In Somersetshire... they do share theyr wheate very lowe...."
If the stalk of corn were short (I answered), I should cut down close, to secure a sufficient length of straw to be of use. But if the stalk be tall, you would do right, I hold, to cut it half-way down, whereby the thresher and the winnower will be saved some extra labour (which both may well be spared). (4) The stalk left standing in the field, when burnt down (as burnt it will be, I presume), will help to benefit the soil; (5) and laid on as manure, will serve to swell the volume of manure. (6)
(4) Lit. "will be spared superfluous labour on what they do not want." (5) Al. "if burnt down...; if laid on as manure..." (6) "Help to swell the bulk" (Holden). For the custom see Virg. "Georg." i. 84; J. Tull, op. cit. ix. 141: "The custom of burning the stubble on the rich plains about Rome continues to this time."
Isch. There, Socrates, you are detected "in the very act"; you know as much about reaping as I do myself.
It looks a little like it (I replied). But I would fain discover whether I have sound knowledge also about threshing.
Isch. Well, I suppose you are aware of this much: corn is threshed by beasts of burthen? (7)
(7) Holden cf. Dr. Davy, "Notes and Observations on the Ionian Islands." "The grain is beaten out, commonly in the harvest field, by men, horses, or mules, on a threshing-floor prepared extempore for the purpose, where the ground is firm and dry, and the chaff is separated by winnowing."—Wilkinson, "Ancient Egyptians," ii. 41 foll.
Soc. Yes, I am aware of that much, and beast of burthen is a general name including oxen, horses, mules, and so forth. (8)
(8) See Varro, i. 52, as to tritura and ventilatio.
Isch. Is it your opinion that these animals know more than merely how to tread the corn while driven with the goad?
Soc. What more can they know, being beasts of burthen?
Isch. Some one must see, then, that the beasts tread out only what requires threshing and no more, and that the threshing is done evenly itself: to whom do you assign that duty, Socrates?
Soc. Clearly it is the duty of the threshers who are in charge. (9) It is theirs to turn the sheaves, and ever and again to push the untrodden corn under the creatures' feet; and thus, of course, to keep the threshing-floor as smooth, and finish off the work as fast, as possible.
(9) Or, "to the over-threshers," "the drivers" (Holden).
Isch. Your comprehension of the facts thus far, it seems, keeps pace with mine.
Soc. Well, after that, Ischomachus, we will proceed to cleanse the corn by winnowing. (10)
(10) Breit. cf. Colum. "de r. r." ii. 10, 14, 21; vide Rich, s.v. ventilabrum.
Isch. Yes, but tell me, Socrates; do you know that if you begin the process from the windward portion (of the threshing-floor), you will find your chaff is carried over the whole area.
Soc. It must be so.
Isch. Then it is more than likely the chaff will fall upon the corn.
Soc. Yes, considering the distance, (11) the chaff will hardly be carried across the corn into the empty portion of the threshing-floor.
(11) Lit. "it is a long space for the chaff to be carried." Al. (1) "It is of great consequence the chaff should be carried beyond the corn." (2) "It often happens that the corn is blown not only on to the corn, but over and beyond it into the empty portion of the threshing-floor." So Breit.
Isch. But now, suppose you begin winnowing on the "lee" side of the threshing-floor? (12)
(12) Or, "on the side of the threshing-floor opposite the wind." Al. "protected from the wind."
Soc. It is clear the chaff will at once fall into the chaff-receiver. (13)