Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/245

Geor. I. Commission'd hungry Wolves t' infest the Fold, And shook from Oaken Leaves the liquid Gold. Remov'd from Humane reach the chearful Fire, And from the Rivers bade the Wine retire: That studious Need might useful Arts explore; From furrow'd Fields to reap the foodful Store: And force the Veins of clashing Flints t' expire The lurking Seeds of their Cœlestial Fire. Then first on Seas the hollow'd Alder swam; Then Sailers quarter'd Heav'n, and found a Name For ev'ry fix'd and ev'ry wandring Star: The Pleiads, Hyads, and the Northern Car. Then Toils for Beasts, and Lime for Birds were found, And deep-mouth Dogs did Forrest Walks surround: And casting Nets were spread in shallow Brooks, Drags in the Deep, and Baits were hung on Hooks. Then Saws were tooth'd, and sounding Axes made; (For Wedges first did yielding Wood invade.) And various Arts in order did succeed, (What cannot endless Labour urg'd by need?) First Ceres taught, the Ground with Grain to sow, And arm'd with Iron Shares the crooked Plough; When now Dodonian Oaks no more supply'd Their Mast, and Trees their Forrest-fruit deny'd. Soon was his Labour doubl'd to the Swain, And blasting Mildews blackened all his Grain. Tough Thistles choak'd the Fields, and kill'd the Corn, And an unthrifty Crop of Weeds was born.