Page:Virgil - The Georgics, Thomas Nevile, 1767.djvu/45

 Book II. And oft one plant by easy change we see

Assume the branches of an alien tree:

Thus on the plum blush cornels; and the pear,

Transform'd, inserted apples knows to bear.

Rise ye, to whom this province is assign'd,

And learn the culture proper to each kind;

The savage fruits by art to soften try,

Nor let your lands in sloth neglected lie:

What joy on Ism'rus rows of vines to spread,

And clothe with olives great Taburnus' head!

Come then, my pride! my glory! in whose name

I boast the greatest part of all my fame,

With me pursue the destin'd task, and deign

To give the loosen'd canvass to the main:

Not that I hope, had I an hundred tongues,

An hundred mouths, and brass-resounding lungs,

To croud so vast a subject in my song:

Come then, the first shore's margin coast along!

The land's in view: no fictions I'll display,

Nor in preambles vain your course delay.

Trees, that spontaneous shoot into the skies,

Fruitless indeed, but fair and sturdy rise,

Strong nature working in the soil; yet these

Wild as they are, will take what forms, you please, And