In Marcus Terentius Varro’s ancient Roman handbook on farming, De Re Rustica (Book II), the Roman senator Quintus Lucienus playfully addresses Varro as "shepherd of the people" (ποιμένα λαῶν, a comically grand Homeric title). [1, 2, 3, 4]

Because Lucienus is a large-scale livestock owner and horse expert from Epirus, his main dialogue in the text serves to deliver specific agricultural advice regarding horse breeding and herd sizes. [1, 2, 3]

The character interactions and statements broken down from the text include:

1. The Greek-Style Greeting

Upon entering the scene late for an appointment, Lucienus jokingly greets Varro and Tremellius Scrofa by saying:

"Greetings, fellow-citizens of Epirus; for to Scrofa and to our friend Varro, shepherd of the people, I paid my greetings this morning." [1, 2]

When the other men tease him for being late, Lucienus brushes it off with lighthearted banter, telling them he has to step away momentarily to make a religious offering to the Lares. [1]

2. Expert Advice on Horse Breeding

Later in the book's dialogue, Lucienus advises Varro and the company on how to properly build and maintain a high-quality herd of horses: [1]

• Selection: Stallions should be chosen for their proportional limbs, dark eyes, and thick, curling manes. He highly recommends breeds from Thessaly or Apulia. [1]
• Breeding Windows: Mating should strictly occur between the vernal equinox and the summer solstice to account for a horse's 12-month gestation period. [1]
• Foal Care: Foals must be allowed to go to pasture after just 10 days, weaned at five months using barley-meal, and fully broken to a harness at three years old. [1]

3. Herd Size Discrepancies

Lucienus also notes the scale of livestock ownership among Roman elites, pointing out that while some standard owners keep smaller groups, wealthy landowners like Titus Pomponius Atticus and Lucienus himself maintain massive, specialized stud farms containing up to 120 horses. [1, 3]

If you are researching a specific chapter or looking for a different translation of this classical text, please let me know so I can locate the exact passage!