Page:The Lives of the Most Eminent English Poets, Volume 2.djvu/169

Rh Written as if these had been Pallas's invention. "The ploughman's toil's impertinent."

Why shroud-like? Is a cypress pulled up by the roots, which the sculpture in the last Eclogue fills Silvanus's hand with, so very like a shroud? Or did not Mr. D. think of that kind of cypress us'd often for scarves and hatbands at funerals formerly, or for widows vails, &c. if so, 'twas a deep good thought".

What's meant by increasing the year? Did the gods or goddesses add more months, or days, or hours, to it? Or how can arva tueri signify to wear rural honours? Is this to translate, or abuse an author? The next couplet is borrow'd from Ogylby, I suppose, because less to the purpose than ordinary.

Rh