Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/337

Geor. III. Whole Months they wander, grazing as they go; Nor Folds, nor hospitable Harbour know. Such an extent of Plains, so vast a space Of Wilds unknown, and of untasted Grass Allures their Eyes: The Shepherd last appears, And with him all his Patrimony bears: His House and household Gods! his trade of War, His Bow and Quiver; and his trusty Cur. Thus, under heavy Arms, the Youth of Rome Their long laborious Marches overcome; Chearly their tedious Travels undergo: And pitch their sudden Camp before the Foe. Not so the Scythian Shepherd tends his Fold; Nor he who bears in Thrace the bitter cold: Nor he, who treads the bleak Meotian Strand; Or where proud Ister rouls his yellow Sand. Early they stall their Flocks and Herds; for there No Grass the Fields, no Leaves the Forests wear. The frozen Earth lies buried there, below A hilly heap, sev'n Cubits deep in Snow: And all the Weste Allies of stormy Boreas blow. The Sun from far, peeps with a sickly face; Too weak the Clouds, and mighty Fogs to chace; When up the Skies, he shoots his rosie Head; Or in the ruddy Ocean seeks his Bed. Swift Rivers, are with sudden Ice constrain'd; And studded Wheels are on its back sustain'd.