Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/341

Geor. III. And their cold Stomachs with crown'd Goblets cheer, Of windy Cider, and of barmy Beer. Such are the cold Ryphean Race; and such The savage Scythian, and unwarlike Dutch. Where Skins of Beasts, the rude Barbarians wear; The spoils of Foxes, and the furry Bear. Is Wool thy care? Let not thy Cattle go Where Bushes are, where Burs and Thistles grow; Nor in too rank a Pasture let 'em feed: Then of the purest white select thy Breed. Ev'n though a snowy Ram thou shalt behold, Prefer him not in haste, for Husband to thy Fold. But search his Mouth; and if a swarthy Tongue Is underneath his humid Pallat hung; Reject him, lest he darken all the Flock; And substitute another from thy Stock. Twas thus with Fleeces milky white (if we May trust report,) Pan God of Arcady Did bribe thee Cynthia; nor didst thou disdain When call'd in woody shades, to cure a Lover's pain. If Milk be thy design; with plenteous hand Bring Clover-grass; and from the marshy Land Salt Herbage for the fodd'ring Rack provide; To fill their Bags, and swell the milky Tide: These raise their Thirst, and to the Taste restore The savour of the Salt, on which they fed before. Some, when the Kids their Dams too deeply drain, With gags and muzzles their soft Mouths restrain.