Hints from Hesiod

Hints from Hesiod is an 1883 translation of Hesiod's Works and Days, along with Horace's "Praises of Rural Life," by an Officer of the United States Treasury Department. It also contains prefatory arguments, a large set of notes, and a substantial appendix.

Background

Works and Days is a poem which was written by the ancient Greek poet Hesiod, around 700 BC, and it is described as a farmer's almanac in which Hesiod instructs his brother Perses in the agricultural arts. The work is recount of two myths, first, the story of Prometheus and Pandora, and the second, the Myth of the Five Ages. It is also noted for containing one of the earliest, illustrated accounts of historical vegetarianism, where humanity was strictly non-violent during the Golden Age, and that there was still a "primitive innocence," during the Silver Age where there was abstinence from the slaughter of animals in the preparation of their food, nor did they offer sacrifices.

Horace's "Praises of the Rural Life," itself an excerpt a larger work from his Third Book of Odes written around 23 BC, appears in Hints from Hesiod.

There was a distributation of circulars for the book before it was sold. Say the publishers, it is a "modern dress of [a work from the] ancient Greek poet, by occupation a shepherd and farmer-a veritable poet and peasant nearly three thousand years ago; and, as it was for ages regarded among the ancients as a sort of vade mecum, or practical guide for the moral and religious conduct of the husbandman, (in fact, of all classes and conditions of society,) so, it is hoped, its reproduction may be favorably received by the husbandman of the present day, to whom the work is dedicated it makes no pretention towards instructing the farmer in the details of his occupation; but may be regarded rather as a friendly companion which accompanies him in his labors, scattering here and there valuable hints, and sometimes, in fact quite frequently-applying the goad by way of a sharp incentive to industry economy."

Publication

Hints from Hesiod, also fully entitled Hints from the Works and Days, or, Moral, economical and agricultural maxims and reflections of Hesiod: to which is added The praises of rural life from Horace is a 18 cm softcover book, which was printed by the Brentano Bros., in 1883. At 60 pages in total length, Hints from Hesiod is a translation of Hesiod's Erga kai hemerai, and "Praises of a Rural Life" by Horace, done by an Officer of the United States Treasury Department, who dedicated the work to "the Husbandmen of America." It is held at public and university libraries in Canada, the United States, and Spain.

In the year of its publication, Hints from Hesiod was sold for the cost of 25 cents.