Page:Virgil - The Georgics, Thomas Nevile, 1767.djvu/66

 

But should these arduous longings be represt,
Life's chilly stream scarce creeping in my breast,
May rural scenes, thro' meads rills sparkling please,
And woods, and rivers, in inglorious ease; 544
Where plains are seen, and Sperchius' winding wave,
And the proud hill, where Spartan virgins rave:
In Hæmus' cooly vales, O! were I laid,
Screen'd by the sweep of some high-arching shade!

Happy the Man, whose penetrating mind
Of things the latent causes first could find, 550
He, who all terrors, ruthless Fate could quell,
And the dire din of all-devouring Hell!
Blest too, who knew the Gods, that haunt the plain,
Pan, old Sylvanus, and the Dryad train;
Unmov'd by purple pride, the rods of state, 555
Or faithless brethren rous'd to mutual hate,
Or Rome, or kingdoms sinking to decay,
Or from leagu'd Ister his restless way
The Dacian bursting: nor for others' store
Fed he a wish, or sorrow'd for the poor. 560
The boughs he lighten'd of their luscious load,
And pull'd the fruits, the willing fields bestow'd:
Stranger to strife he felt no griping law,
Nor the mad rabble of the Forum saw.

Some