Metrum 6
Success attends those who adapt their actions to the pattern of nature. (Thus, we deduce, it makes sense for P. to proceed cautiously with milder remedies at the outset.) Meter: Glyconic. ( - - - u u - u - ) As is expected, the Aeolic base in Boethius' glyconics (first two syllables) is always - - .Cancri sidus: Cancer is burned by the sun's rays from 20 June to 20 July.
negantibus sulcis: i.e., at that season the furrows refuse to nurture seeds planted too late. credidit: < credo , here "entrust."
Cereris: objective genitive, "the faith placed in Ceres"; Ceres was the goddess of harvest and grain.
quernas . . . arbores: "oak trees"; acorns were traditionally the food of prehistoric times, when agricultural arts were unknown; the phrase "nuts and berries" has the same force in English.
lecturus: < lego , "gather"; the future participle has some of the force of a purpose construction, here "to pick."
cum . . . inhorruit: indicative temporal clause; Aquilo (the north wind) blows in winter.
quaeras: subjunctive in a future-less-vivid condition (cf. libeat [13]), governing stringere ("prune, trim").
palmites: "vine-shoots."
frui: "to enjoy" with ablative.
Bacchus: god of wine, hence of the grape-harvest. contulit: perfect tense < confero .
aptans: sc. tempora from line 16.
vices: "alternations"; here, "seasons."
quod = id quod .