Page:Virgil's Pastorals, Georgics and Aeneis - Dryden (1709) - volume 1.pdf/342

172 Their Morning Milk, the Peasants press at Night: Their Evening Meal, before the rising Light To Market bear: or sparingly they steep With seas'ning Salt, and stor'd, for Winter keep. Nor last, forget thy faithful Dogs: but feed With fat'ning Whey the Mastiffs gen'rous breed; And Spartan Race: who for the Folds relief Will prosecute with Cries the nightly Thief: Repulse the prouling Wolf, and hold at Bay, The Mountain Robbers, rushing to the Prey. With cries of Hounds, thou may'st pursue the fear Of flying Hares, and chace the fallow Deer; Rouze from their desart Dens, the brisl'd Rage Of Boars, and beamy Stags in Toils engage. With smoak of burning Cedar scent thy Walls: And fume with stinking Galbanum thy Stalls: With that rank Odour from thy dwelling Place To drive the Viper's brood, and all the venom'd Race. For often under Stalls unmov'd, they lye, Obscure in shades, and shunning Heav'ns broad Eye. And Snakes, familiar, to the Hearth succeed, Disclose their Eggs, and near the Chimney breed. Whether, to roofy Houses they repair, Or Sun themselves abroad in open Air, In all abodes of pestilential Kind, To Sheep and Oxen, and the painful Hind. Take, Shepherd take, a plant of stubborn Oak; And labour him with many a sturdy stroak: