95

The lofty poles from ruin, and sustain’d,
Like ANNA, or Eliza, her domain,
With more than manly dignity. Oft I've seen,
Ev'n at her frown the boist’rous uproar cease,
And the mad pickers, tam’d to diligence,
Cull from the bin the sprawling sprigs, and leaves
That stain the sample, and its worth debase.
All things thus settled and prepared, what now
Can let the planters purposes ? Unless
The Heav’ns frown diffent, and ominous winds
Howl thro' the concave of the troubled sky.
And oft, alas! the long experienc'd wights
(Oh! could they too prevent them) storms foresee.
* For, as the storm rides on the rising clouds,

100

105

* Numquam imprudentibus imber
Obfuit. Aut illum furgentem vallibus imis
Aëriæ fugere grues: aut bucula cælum
Suspiciens, patulis captavit naribus auras :
Aut arguta lacus circumvolitavit hirundo:
Et veterem in limo ranæ cecinere querelam.
Sæpius & tectis penetralibus extulit ova
Angustum formica terens iter, & bibit ingens
Arcus & e pastu decedens agmine magno
Corvorum increpuit denfis exercitus alis.
Jam varias pelagi volucres, & quæ Afia circum
Dulcibus in ftagnis rimantur prata Caystri,
Certatim largos humeris infundere rores;
Nunc caput objectare fretis, nunc currere in undas,
Et studio incaflum videas gestire lavandi.
Tum cornix plena pluviam vocat improba voce,
Et sola in ficca fecum spatiatur arena.
Nec nocturna quidem carpentes pensa puellä
Nefcivere hyemem.

VIRG. Georg. 1.

Fly

IIO

Fly the feet wild-geese far away, or else
The heifer towards the zeinth rears her head,
And with expanded nostrils snuffs the air:
The swallows too their airy circuits weave,
And screaming skim the brook; and fen-bred frogs
Forth from their hoarse throats their old grutch recite:
Or from her earthly coverlets the ant
Heaves her huge eggs along the narrow way:
Or bends Thaumantia's variegated bow

IIS
Athwart the cope of heav'n: or fable crows
Obstreperous of wing, in crouds combine:
Besides, unnumber'd troops of birds marine,
And Asia's feather'd flocks, that in the muds
Of Aow'ry-edg’d Cayster wont to prey,
Now in the shallows duck their speckled heads,
And lust to lave in vain, their unctious plumes
Repulsive baffle their efforts: Next hark
How the curs'd raven, with her harmful voice,
Invokes the rain, ahd croaking to herself,
Struts on some spacious solitary shore.

125 Nor want thy servants and thy wife at home Signs to presage the show'r; for in the hall Sheds Niobe her prescious tears, and warns Beneath thy leaden tubes to fix the vase, And catch the falling dew-drops, which supply 130 Soft water and falubrious, far the best To soak thy hops, and brew thy generous beer.

120

But 135

But tho' bright Phæbus smile, and in the skies
The purple-rob’d serenity appear;
Tho'
every

cloud be fled, yet if the rage
Of Boreas, or the blasting East prevail,
The planter has enough to check his hopes,
And in due bounds confine his joy; for see
The ruffian winds, in their abrupt career,
Leave not a hop behind, or at the best
Mangle the circling vine, and intercept
The juice nutricious: Fatal means, alas !
Their colour and condition to destroy.
Haste then, ye peasants; pull the poles, the hops ;
Where are the bins ? Run, run, ye nimble maids,
Move ev'ry muscle, ev'ry nerve extend,
To save our crop from ruin, and ourselves.

140

146

Soon as bright Chanticleer explodes the night
With flutt'ring wings, and hymns the new-born day,
The bugle-horn inspire, whose clam'rous bray

150
Shall rouse from sleep the rebel rout, and tune
To temper for the labours of the day.
Wisely the several stations of the bins
By lot determine. Justice this, and this
Fair Prudence does demand; for not without 155
A certain method cou’dst thou rule the mob
Irrational, nor every where alike
Fair hangs the hop to tempt the picker's hand.
S

Now

Now see the crew mechanic might and main Labour with lively diligence, inspir’d

160 By appetite of gain and lust of praise : What mind so petty, servile, and debas'd, As not to know ambition ? Her great sway From Colin Clout to Emperors she exerts. To err is human, human to be vain.

165 'Tis vanity, and mock desire of fame, That prompts the rustic, on the steeple top Sublime, to mark the outlines of his shoe, And in the area to engrave his name. With pride of heart the churchwarden surveys, 170 High o'er the bellfry, girt with birds and flow'rs, His story wrote in capitals: “ 'Twas I « That bought the font ; and I repair’d the pews.” With pride like this the emulating mob Strive for the mastery---who first may fill

175 The bellying bin, and cleanest cull the hops. Nor ought retards, unless invited out By Sol's declining, and the evening's calm, Leander leads Lætitia to the scene Of shade and fragrance--- Then th' exulting band 180 Of pickers male and female, seize the fair Reluctant, and with boist'rous force and brute, By cries unmov'd, they bury her in the bin. Nor does the youth escape---him too they seize, And in such posture place as best may

ferve

To

185

To hide his charmer's blushes. Then with shouts
They rend the echoing air, and from them both
(So custom has ordain'd) a largess claim.

Thus much be sung of picking---next succeeds Th’important care of curing---Quit the field, And at the kiln th’ instructive muse attend.

On your hair-cloth eight inches deep, nor more,
Let the green hops lie lightly ; next expand
The smoothest surface with the toothy rake.
Thus for is just above; but more it boots
That charcoal flames burn equably below,
The charcoal flames, which from thy corded wood,
Or antiquated poles, with wond'rous skill,
The fable priests of Vulcan shall prepare.
Constant and moderate let the heat ascend ;
Which to effect, there are, who with success
Place in the kiln the ventilating fan.
Hail, learned, useful * man! whose head and heart
Conspire to make us happy, deign t'accept
One honest verse; and if thy industry
Has ferv’d the hopland cause, the Muse forebodes
This fole invention, both in use and fame,
The t mystic fan of Bacchus shall exceed.

205

* Dr. Hales.
* Mystica Vannus Iacchi.

S2

Virg. Geor. 1.

When