Page:Virgil - The Georgics, Thomas Nevile, 1767.djvu/96

 84 Hence in glad pastures calves oft meet their death,

And at the teeming manger yield their breath.

Domestic dogs to madness hence incline;

Short wheezing coughs torment the sickening swine,

Gasping thro' straiten'd throats: the victor steed,

Lost to his former fame, forgets to feed,

Loaths the clear springs, with wild hoof beats the ground;

His ears fall; starting there by fits is found

A sweat, of clammy coldness when they die:

His rough skin to the touch feels hard and dry.

Such are the symptoms of the pest's first stage;

But when progressive it begins to rage,

Then their eyes redden with a fiery glare,

With many a far-fetcht groan they pant for air;

Their low flanks, labouring with distending throes,

Heave; from their nostrils black blood dribbling goes;

To their stuft jaws their parcht tongue clings: 'twas thought

Of use to drench them with wine's generous draught;

The sole assistance desp'rate Art could lend;

But this, ev'n this, prov'd fatal in the end:

With flames renew'd they burn'd, and (gracious Heav'n!

May to the good a better mind be giv'n!) Frantic