Cato, On Farming 3.1

prima adulescentia patrem familiae agrum conserere studere oportet. aedificare diu cogitare oportet, conserere cogitare non oportet, sed facere oportet. ubi aetas accessit ad annos XXXVI, tum aedificare oportet, si agrum consitum habeas. ita aedifices ne villa fundum quaerat nec fundus villam.

In his first youth the proprietor ought to apply himself to sowing the land. He ought to think for a long time about building; he ought not to think about planting, but he ought to get it done. When you reach the age of 36, that is the time when you ought to build, if you have your land planted. You should build in such a way that the house does not lack the estate, nor the estate lack the house.

Cato, On Farming 141.2-3

The language of the prayer is rather archaic, so I have indulged myself a little to convey that in the translation.

Ianum Iovemque vino praefamino, sic dicito, ‘Mars pater, te precor quaesoque uti sies volens propitius mihi domo familiaeque nostrae, quoius re ergo agrum terram fundumque meum suovitaurilia circumagi iussi, uti tu morbos visos invisosque, viduertatem vastitudinemque, calamitates intemperiasque prohibessis defendas averruncesque; utique tu fruges, frumenta, vineta virgultaque grandire beneque evenire siris, pastores pecuaque salva servassis duisque bonam salutem valetudinemque mihi domo familiaeque nostrae; harumce rerum ergo, fundi terrae agrique mei lustrandi lustrique faciendi ergo, sicuti dixi, macte hisce suovitaurilibus lactentibus inmolandis esto; Mars pater, eiusdem rei ergo macte hisce suovitaurilibus lactentibus esto.’

After first praying to Janus and Jupiter with wine, say this: ‘Father Mars, I pray and beseech thee, that thou be gracious and propitious toward me, my house and my household, wherefore have I bidden this sacrifice of pig, sheep and bull to be led around my land, ground and farm; that thou prevent, ward off and avert sicknesses seen and unseen, dearth and ruin, calamities and inclemencies; and that thou permit harvests, grain, vineyards and shrubberies to grow and come forth; preserve in safety my shepherds and flocks; and grant good health and strength to me, my house and household. For which intent, for the intent of purifying my farm, ground and land, and of making expiation, like as I said, be thou glorified by the offering up these suckling victims; Father Mars, to that same intent be thou glorified by the offering up these suckling victims.’