Page:Virgil - The Georgics, Thomas Nevile, 1767.djvu/22

 

Shook from the foliage the nectareous dew,
And fire's deep-bury'd seeds conceal'd from view,
Repress'd the wine, in purple rills which ran,
That gradual use might hew out arts from man, 160
That corn's green blade in furrows might be fought,
And from struck flints the fiery sparkle caught.
Then the scoopt alder's weight the wave first try'd;
The sailor, as he wander'd o'er the tide,
Number'd and nam'd the stars, that gild the sky, 165
The Pleiads, Hyads,and the Bear's bright eye.
Then toils and snares 'gainst beasts and birds were found;
With dogs the lawn's wide circuit some surround;
O'er the lash'd stream these teach the net to sweep,
Those drag the moisten'd meshes thro' the deep. 170
For grating saws their wedges they forsook,
As the rough ore a temper'd polish took.
Thus by long labour arts to arts succeed,
Such is the force of all-compelling need.
To turn the glebe first Ceres taught, when food 175
Fail'd wretched mortals in the sacred wood,
And ev'n Dodona ceas'd her custom'd fare:
The springing blade soon ask'd an added care;
On the thin stem the cancrous mildew fed,
And the vile thistle rear'd his prickly head. 180

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