Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/281

Geor. II. I pass the rest, whose ev'ry Race and Name, And Kinds, are less material to my Theme. Which who wou'd learn, as soon may tell the Sands, Driv'n by the Western Wind on Lybian Lands. Or number, when the blust'ring Eurus roars, The Billows beating on Ionian Shoars.
 * Nor ev'ry Plant on ev'ry Soil will grow;

The Sallow loves the watry Ground, and low. The Marshes, Alders; Nature seems t'ordain The rocky Cliff for the wild Ashe's reign: The baleful Yeugh to Northern Blasts assigns; To Shores the Myrtles, and to Mounts the Vines. Regard th' extremest cultivated Coast, From hot Arabia to the Scythian Frost: All sort of Trees their sev'ral Countries know; Black Ebon only will in India grow: And od'rous Frankincense on the Sabæan Bough. Balm slowly trickles through the bleeding Veins Of happy Shrubs, in Idumæan Plains. The green Egyptian Thorn, for Med'cine good; With Ethiops hoary Trees and woolly Wood, Let others tell: and how the Seres spin Their fleecy Forests in a slender Twine. With mighty Trunks of Trees on Indian shoars, Whose height above the feather'd Arrow soars, Shot from the toughest Bow; and by the Brawn Of expert Archers, with vast Vigour drawn.