Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/296

138 And crop luxuriant Straglers, nor be loath To strip the Branches of their leafy Growth: But when the rooted Vines, with steady Hold, Can clasp their Elms, then Husbandman be bold To lop the disobedient Boughs, that stray'd Beyond their Ranks: let crooked Steel invade The lawless Troops, which Discipline disclaim, And their superfluous Growth with Rigour tame. Next, fenc'd with Hedges and deep Ditches round, Exclude th' incroaching Cattle from thy Ground, While yet the tender Gems but just appear, Unable to sustain th' uncertain Year; Whose Leaves are not alone foul Winter's Prey, But oft by Summer Suns are scorch'd away; And worse than both, become th' unworthy Browze Of Buffal'os, salt Goats, and hungry Cows. For not December's Frost that burns the Boughs, Nor Dog-days parching Heat that splits the Rocks, Are half so harmful as the greedy Flocks: Their venom'd Bite, and Scars indented on the Stocks. For this the Malefactor Goat was laid On Bacchus's Altar, and his forfeit paid. At Athens thus old Comedy began, When round the Streets the reeling Actors ran; In Country Villages, and crossing ways, Contending for the Prizes of their Plays: And glad, with Bacchus, on the grassie soil, Leapt o'er the Skins of Goats besmear'd with Oil.