Page:Virgil - The Georgics, Thomas Nevile, 1767.djvu/96

 

Hence in glad pastures calves oft meet their death,
And at the teeming manger yield their breath.
Domestic dogs to madness hence incline; 589
Short wheezing coughs torment the sickening swine,
Gasping thro' straiten'd throats: the victor steed,
Lost to his former fame, forgets to feed,
Loaths the clear springs, with wild hoof beats the ground;
His ears fall; starting there by fits is found
A sweat, of clammy coldness when they die: 595
His rough skin to the touch feels hard and dry.
Such are the symptoms of the pest's first stage;
But when progressive it begins to rage,
Then their eyes redden with a fiery glare,
With many a far-fetcht groan they pant for air; 600
Their low flanks, labouring with distending throes,
Heave; from their nostrils black blood dribbling goes;
To their stuft jaws their parcht tongue clings: 'twas thought
Of use to drench them with wine's generous draught;
The sole assistance desp'rate Art could lend; 605
But this, ev'n this, prov'd fatal in the end:
With flames renew'd they burn'd, and (gracious Heav'n!
May to the good a better mind be giv'n!)

Frantic