Book 5
12
It was for this reason, they say, that Virgil, a man deeply versed in antiquarian lore, but never making a display of his knowledge, prays to the unpropitious gods in the Georgics, thus intimating that in gods of that kind there is a power capable of injuring rather than aiding. The verses of Vergil are these: Georg. iv. 6. A task of narrow span, but no small praise, If unpropitious powers bar not my way And favouring Phoebus grant a poet's prayer. And among those gods which ought to be placated in order to avert evil influences from ourselves or our harvests are reckoned Auruncus Commonly called Averruncus, although the glosses give also the form Auruncus. From averrunco, to avert. and Robigus. Also called Robigo (f.), the god or goddess who averted mildew from the grain.
13
On the rank and order of obligations established by the usage of the Roman people.
