πὰρ δ᾽ ἴθι χάλκειον θῶκον καὶ ἐπαλέα λέσχην
ὥρῃ χειμερίῃ, ὁπότε κρύος ἀνέρα ἔργων
ἰσχάνει, ἔνθα κ᾽ ἄοκνος ἀνὴρ μέγα οἶκον ὀφέλλοι,
μή σε κακοῦ χειμῶνος ἀμηχανίη καταμάρψῃ
σὺν πενίῃ, λεπτῇ δὲ παχὺν πόδα χειρὶ πιέζῃς.
πολλὰ δ᾽ ἀεργὸς ἀνήρ, κενεὴν ἐπὶ ἐλπίδα μίμνων,
χρηίζων βιότοιο, κακὰ προσελέξατο θυμῷ.
ἐλπὶς δ᾽ οὐκ ἀγαθὴ κεχρημένον ἄνδρα κομίζει,
ἥμενον ἐν λέσχῃ, τῷ μὴ βίος ἄρκιος εἴη.
(Winter 493-501) Pass by the smithy and its crowded lounge in winter time when the cold keeps men from field work,--for then an industrious man can greatly prosper his house--lest bitter winter catch you helpless and poor and you chafe a swollen foot with a shrunk hand. The idle man who waits on empty hope, lacking a livelihood, lays to heart mischief-making; it is not an wholesome hope that accompanies a need man who lolls at ease while he has no sure livelihood.
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Prooemium
