Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/289

Geor. II. Chuse first a place for such a purpose fit, There dig the solid Earth, and sink a Pit: Next fill the hole with its own Earth agen, And trample with thy Feet, and tread it in: Then if it rise not to the former height Of superfice, conclude that Soil is light; A proper Ground for Pasturage and Vines. But if the sullen Earth, so press'd, repines Within its native Mansion to retire, And stays without, a heap of heavy Mire; 'Tis good for Arable, a Glebe that asks Tough Teams of Oxen, and laborious Tasks. Salt Earth and bitter are not fit to sow, Nor will be tam'd or mended with the Plough. Sweet Grapes degen'rate there, and Fruits declin'd From their first flav'rous Taste, renounce their Kind. This Truth by sure Experiment is try'd; For first an Osier Colendar provide Of Twigs thick wrought, (such toiling Peasants twine, When thro' streight Passages they strein their Wine;) In this close Vessel place that Earth accurs'd, But fill'd brimful with wholsom Water first; Then run it through, the Drops will rope around, And by the bitter Taste disclose the Ground. The fatter Earth by handling we may find, With Ease distinguish'd from the meagre Kind: Poor Soil will crumble into Dust, the Rich Will to the Fingers cleave like clammy Pitch: Rh