Scud through the air; their fancy represents His mortal talons, and his ravenous beak Destructive; glad to shun his hostile gripe, They quit their thefts, and unfrequent the fields.

SWINE TO BE KEPT FROM TREES.

Besides, the filthy swine will oft invade
Thy firm enclosure, and with delving snout
The rooted forest undermine: forthwith
Alloo thy furious mastiff, bid him vex

The noxious herd, and print upon their ears
A sad memorial of their past offence.

SNAILS IN THE ORCHARD.

The flagrant Procyon will not fail to bring Large shoals of slow, house-bearing snails, that creep O'er the ripe fruitage, paring slimy tracts In the sleek rinds, and unpressed cider drink. No art averts this pest; on thee it lies, With morning and with evening hand, to rid The preying reptiles; nor, if wise, wilt thou Decline this labor, which itself rewards With pleasing gain, whilst the warm limbec draws Salubrious waters from the nocent brood.

WASPS ON APPLE-TREES.

Myriads of wasps now also clustering hang, And drain a spurious honey from thy groves, Their winter food; though oft repulsed, again They rally, undismayed: but fraud with ease Ensnares the noisome swarms; let every bough Bear frequent vials, pregnant with the dregs Of Moyle, or Mum, or treacle's viscous juice; They, by the alluring odor drawn, in haste Fly to the dulcet cates, and, crowding, sip Their palatable bane; joyful thou 'It see The clammy surface all o'erstrewn with tribes Of greedy insects, that, with fruitless toil, Flap filmy pennons oft, to extricate Their feet, in liquid shackles bound, till death Bereave them of their worthless souls: such doom Waits luxury, and lawless love of gain!

HOT AND WORMS IN APPLES.MILITARY MINES.

Howe'er thou mayst forbid external force, Intestine evils will prevail; damp airs, And rainy winters, to the centre pierce Of firmest fruits, and by unseen decay The proper relish vitiate then the grub Oft unobserved invades the vital core, Pernicious tenant, and her secret cave Enlarges hourly, preying on the pulp Ceaseless; meanwhile the apple's outward form Delectable the witless swain beguiles, Till, with a writhen mouth, and spattering noise, He tastes the bitter morsel, and rejects Disrelished; not with the less surprise, than when Embattled troops with flowing banners pass Through flowery meads delighted, nor distrust The smiling surface; whilst the caverned ground, With grain incentive stored, by sudden blaze Bursts fatal, and involves the hopes of war

In fiery whirls; full of victorious thoughts, Torn and dismembered, they aloft expire.

CHOICE VARIETIES OF THE APPLE; THE GROVES OF ALCINOUS: THE PIPPIN MOILE; PERMAIN; OTTLEY; ELIOT; JOHNAPPLE; HARVEY; THRIFT; CODLING; POMROY; RUSSET; CAT'S-HEAD.

Now turn thine eye to view Alcinous' Groves, The pride of the Phæacian isle, from whence, Sailing the spaces of the boundless deep, To Ariconium precious fruits arrived: The Pippin burnished o'er with gold, the Moile Of sweetest honeyed taste, the fair Permain, Tempered, like comeliest nymph, with red and white. Salopian acres flourish with a growth Peculiar, styled the Ottley: be thou first This apple to transplant; if to the name Its merit answers, nowhere shalt thou find A wine more prized, or laudable of taste. Nor does the Eliot least deserve thy care, Nor John-apple, whose withered rind, intrenched With many a furrow, aptly represents Decrepid age; nor that from Harvey named, Quick-relishing: why should we sing the Thrift, Codling, or Pomroy, or of pimpled coat The Russet, or the Cat's-head's weighty orb, Enormous in its growth; for various use Though these are meet, though after full repast Are oft required, and crown the rich dessert?

PEAR-TREES A GOOD SHELTER; CHOICE PEAR-TREES; THE BOSBURY.

What though the pear-tree rival not the worth
Of Ariconian products? yet her freight
Is not contemned, yet her wide-branching arms
Best screen thy mansion from the fervent Dog
Adverse to life; the wintry hurricanes

In vain employ their roar, her trunk unmoved
Breaks the strong onset, and controls their rage.
Chiefly the Bosbury, whose large increase,
Annual, in sumptuous banquets claims applause.
Thrice acceptable beverage! could but art
Subdue the floating lee, Pomona's self

Would dread thy praise, and shun the dubious strife.
Be it thy choice, when Summer heats annoy,
To sit beneath her leafy canopy,
Quaffing rich liquids; O! how sweet to enjoy
At once her fruits and hospitable shade!

CHOICE APPLE-TREES; THE MUSK-APPLE; HISTORY OF THE

RED-STREAK. LORD SCUDAMORE.

But how with equal numbers shall we match The Musk's surpassing worth! that earliest gives Sure hopes of racy wine, and in its youth, Its tender nonage, loads the spreading boughs With large and juicy offspring, that defies The vernal nippings, and cold sideral blasts! Yet let her to the Red-streak yield, that once Was of the sylvan kind, uncivilized, Of no regard, till Scudamore's skilful hand Improved her, and by courtly discipline Taught her the savage nature to forget:

Hence styled the Scudamorean plant; whose wine

Whoever tastes, let him with grateful heart
Respect that ancient loyal house, and wish
The noble peer, that now transcends our hopes
In early worth, his country's justest pride,
Uninterrupted joy, and health entire.

THE RED-STREAK APPLE THE BEST OF APPLES; ITS PRAISE.

Let every tree in every garden own
The Red-streak as supreme; whose pulpous fruit
With gold irradiate, and vermilion, shines
Tempting, not fatal, as the birth of that
Primeval, interdicted plant, that won
Fond Eve in hapless hour to taste, and die.
This, of more bounteous influence, inspires
Poetic raptures, and the lowly muse
Kindles to loftier strains; even I perceive
Her sacred virtue. See! the numbers flow
Easy, whilst, cheered with her nectareous juice,
Hers and my country's praises I exalt.
Hail Herefordian plant, that does disdain

All other fields ! Heaven's sweetest blessing, hail!
Be thou the copious matter of my song,
And thy choice nectar; on which always waits
Laughter, and sport, and care-beguiling wit,
And friendship, chief delight of human life.
What should we wish for more? or why, in quest
Of foreign vintage, insincere, and mixed,
Traverse the extremest world? Why tempt the rage
Of the rough ocean? when our native glebe
Imparts, from bounteous womb, annual recruits
Of wine delectable, that far surmounts
Gallic or Latin grapes, or those that see
The setting sun near Calpe's towering height.

PRAISE OF

HEREFORDSHIRE ; ITS PRODUCTS; MEADOWS, WHEAT, HOPS, BARLEY, ALE, APPLES.

Nor let the Rhodian, nor the Lesbian vines, Vaunt their rich must, nor let Tokay contend For sovereignty; Phanæus' self must bow To the Ariconian vales and shall we doubt To improve our vegetable wealth, or let The soil lie idle, which, with fit manure, Will largest usury repay, alone Empowered to supply what nature asks Frugal, or what nice appetite requires? The meadows here, with battening ooze enriched, Give spirit to the grass; three cubits high The jointed herbage shoots; the unfallowed glebe Yearly o'ercomes the granaries with store Of golden wheat, the strength of human life. Lo, on auxiliary poles, the hops, Ascending spiral, ranged in meet array! Lo, how the arable with barley grain Stands thick, o'ershadowed, to the thirsty hind Transporting prospect! These, as modern use Ordains, infused, an auburn drink compose, Wholesome, of deathless fame. Here, to the sight, Apples of price, and plenteous sheaves of corn, Oft interlaced occur, and both imbibe Fitting congenial juice; so rich the soil,

So much does fructuous moisture o'er-abound!

SCENERY OF WEST-ENGLAND. THE BRITISH OAK, IRON, WOOL, SAFFRON.

Nor are the hills unamiable, whose tops To heaven aspire, affording prospect sweet To human ken; nor at their feet the vales Descending gently, where the lowing herd Chews verdurous pasture; nor the yellow fields Gayly interchanged, with rich variety," Pleasing, as when an emerald green, enchased In flamy gold, from the bright mass acquires A nobler hue, more delicate to sight. Next add the sylvan shades, and silent groves, Haunt of the Druids, whence the hearth is fed With copious fuel; whence the sturdy oak, A prince's refuge once, the eternal guard Of England's throne, by sweating peasants felled, Stems the vast main, and bears tremendous war To distant nations, or with sovereign sway Awes the divided world to peace and love. Why should the Chalybes or Bilboa boast Their hardened iron; when our mines produce As perfect martial ore? Can Tmolus' head Vie with our saffron odors? or the fleece Bætic, or finest Tarentine, compare With Lemster's silken wool?

THE MEN OF WEST-ENGLAND; THE SILURES TRIBE; BRYDGES; THE CHANDOS FAMILY.

Where shall we find Men more undaunted, for their country's weal More prodigal of life? In ancient days, The Roman legions and great Cæsar found Our fathers no mean foes and Cressy plains, And Agincourt, deep-tinged with blood, confess What the Silures' vigor unwithstood Could do in rigid fight; and chiefly what Brydges' wide-wasting hand, first gartered knight, Puissant author of great Chandos' stem, High Chandos, that transmits paternal worth, Prudence, and ancient prowess, and renown, To his noble offspring. O thrice happy peer! That, blest with hoary vigor, view'st thyself Fresh blooming in thy generous son; whose lips, Flowing with nervous eloquence exact, Charm the wise senate, and attention win In deepest councils: Ariconium, pleased, Him, as her chosen worthy, first salutes. Him on the Iberian, on the Gallic shore, Him hardy Britons bless; his faithful hand Conveys new courage from afar, nor more The general's conduct than his care avails. THE CECIL FAMILY; ALTERENNIS; ALDRICH; BURLEIGH; HANMER; BROMLEY; WINTON.

Thee also, glorious branch of Cecil's line, This country claims; with pride and joy to thee Thy Alterennis calls: yet she endures Patient thy absence, since thy prudent choice Has fixed thee in the muse's fairest seat, Where Aldrich reigns, and from his endless store Of universal knowledge still supplies

His noble care; he generous thoughts instils

Of true nobility, their country's love
(Chief end of life), and forms their ductile minds
To human virtues by his genius led,
Thou soon in every art preeminent

Shalt grace this isle, and rise to Burleigh's fame.
Hail, high-born peer! And thou, great nurse of arts,
And
men, from whence conspicuous patriots spring,
Hanmer, and Bromley; thou, to whom with due
Respect Wintonia bows, and joyful owns
Thy mitred offspring; be forever blest
With like examples, and to future times,
Proficuous, such a race of men produce,
As, in the cause of virtue firm, may fix
Her throne inviolate. Hear, ye gods, this vow
From one, the meanest in her numerous train ;
Though meanest, not least studious of her praise.

THE BEAUFORT FAMILY.

Muse, raise thy voice to Beaufort's spotless fame, To Beaufort, in a long descent derived From royal ancestry, of kingly rights Faithful asserters: in him centring meet Their glorious virtues, high desert from pride Disjoined, unshaken honor, and contempt Of strong allurements. O, illustrious prince! O, thou of ancient faith! Exulting, thee In her fair list this happy land inrolls.

THE EARL OF WEYMOUTH.

Who can refuse a tributary verse

To Weymouth, firmest friend of slighted worth
In evil days? whose hospitable gate,
Unbarred to all, invites a numerous train

Of daily guests; whose board, with plenty crowned,
Revives the feast-rites old: meanwhile his care
Forgets not the afflicted, but, content

In acts of secret goodness, shuns the praise,
That sure attends. Permit me, bounteous lord,
To blazon what though hid will beauteous shine;
And with thy name to dignify my song.

ROBERT HARLEY.

But who is he, that on the winding stream Of Vaga first drew vital breath, and now Approved in Anna's secret councils sits, Weighing the sum of things, with wise forecast Solicitous of public good? How large His mind, that comprehends whate'er was known To old, or present time; yet not elate, Not conscious of its skill? What praise deserves His liberal hand, that gathers but to give, Preventing suit? O, not unthankful muse, Him lowly reverence, that first deigned to hear Thy pipe, and screened thee from opprobrious tongues. Acknowledge thy own Harley, and his name Inscribe on every bark; the wounded plants Will fast increase, faster thy just respect.

THE WOMEN OF HEREFORD.

Such are our heroes, by their virtues known, Or skill in peace and war of softer mould,

1 Advantageous.

The female sex, with sweet attractive airs,
Subdue obdurate hearts. The travellers oft,
That view their matchless forms with transient
glance,

Catch sudden love, and sigh for nymphs unknown,
Smit with the magic of their eyes nor hath
The Dædal hand of nature only poured
Her gifts of outward grace; their innocence
Unfeigned, and virtue most engaging, free
From pride, or artifice, long joys afford
To the honest nuptial bed, and in the wane
Of life rebate the miseries of age.

WOMAN'S LOVE AND WOMAN'S FRIENDSHIP.
And is there found a wretch, so base of mind,
That woman's powerful beauty dares condemn,
Exactest work of heaven? He ill deserves
Or love, or pity; friendless let him see
Uneasy, tedious days, despised, forlorn,
As stain of human race but may the man,
That cheerfully recounts the females' praise,
Find equal love, and love's untainted sweets
Enjoy with honor. O, ye gods! might I
Elect my fate, my happiest choice should be
A fair and modest virgin, that invites
With aspect chaste, forbidding loose desire,
Tenderly smiling; in whose heavenly eye
Sits purest love enthroned: but if the stars
Malignant these my better hopes oppose,
May I, at least, the sacred pleasure know
Of strictest amity; nor ever want

A friend, with whom I mutually may share
Gladness, and anguish, by kind intercourse
Of speech and offices.

THE LADY TREVOR; THE AUTHOR'S FRIEND IN SICKNESS.
May in my mind

Indelible a grateful sense remain

Of favors undeserved!-0 thou! from whom
Gladly both rich and low seek aid; most wise
Interpreter of right, whose gracious voice
Breathes equity, and curbs too rigid law
With mild, impartial reason; what returns
Of thanks are due to thy beneficence
Freely vouchsafed, when to the gates of death
I tended prone? If thy indulgent care
Had not prevened, among unbodied shades

I now had wandered; and these empty thoughts
Of apples perished: but, upraised by thee,
I tune my pipe afresh, each night and day,
Thy unexampled goodness to extol
Desirous; but nor night nor day suffice
For that great task; the highly honored name
Of Trevor must employ my willing thoughts
Incessant, dwell forever on my tongue.

THE SYCOPHANT AND HYPOCRITE DENOUNCED.

Let me be grateful, but let far from me
Be fawning cringe, and false, dissembling look,
And servile flattery, that harbors oft

In courts and gilded roofs. Some loose the bands

Of ancient friendship, cancel Nature's laws
For pageantry, and tawdry gewgaws. Some
Renounce their sires, oppose paternal right
For rule and power; and others' realms invade,
With specious shows of love. This traitorous wretch
Betrays his sovereign. Others, destitute
Of real zeal, to every altar bend,

By lucre swayed, and act the basest things
To be styled honorable.

THE HONEST MAN DESCRIBED; HIS PEACE.
The honest man,
Simple of heart, prefers inglorious want
To ill-got wealth; rather from door to door
A jocund pilgrim, though distressed, he'll rove,
Than break his plighted faith; nor fear, nor hope,
Will shock his steadfast soul; rather debarred
Each common privilege, cut off from hopes
Of meanest gain, of present goods despoiled,
He'll bear the marks of infamy, contemned,
Unpitied; yet his mind, of evil pure,
Supports him, and intention free from fraud.
If no retinue with observant eyes
Attend him, if he can't with purple stain
Of cumbrous vestments, labored o'er with gold,
Dazzle the crowd, and set them all agape;
Yet clad in homely weeds, from envy's darts
Remote he lives, nor knows the nightly pangs
Of conscience, nor with spectres' grisly forms,
Demons, and injured souls, at close of day
Annoyed, sad interrupted slumbers finds.
But (as a child, whose inexperienced age
Nor evil purpose fears, nor knows) enjoys
Night's sweet refreshment, humid sleep, sincere.

THE EMPLOYMENTS OF THE VIRTUOUS MAN; DOING GOOD,
WITHOUT EVIL-SPEAKING OR ILL THOUGHTS OF OTHERS.

When Chanticleer, with clarion shrill, recalls
The tardy day, he to his labors hies
Gladsome, intent on somewhat that may ease
Unhealthy mortals, and with curious search
Examines all the properties of herbs,
Fossils, and minerals, that the embowelled earth
Displays, if by his industry he can

Ben'fit the human race or else his thoughts
Are exercised with speculations deep

Of good, and just, and meet, and the wholesome rules
Of temperance, and aught that may improve
The moral life; not sedulous to rail,
Nor with envenomed tongue to blast the fame
Of harmless men, or secret whispers spread,
'Mong faithful friends, to breed distrust and hate.
Studious of virtue, he no life observes
Except his own, his own employs his cares,
Large subject! that he labors to refine
Daily, nor of his little stock denies
Fit alms to Lazars, merciful, and meek.

VIRGIL'S LIFE; HOMER'S, SPENSER'S, MILTON'S.
Thus sacred Virgil lived, from courtly vice
And baits of pompous Rome secure; at court
Still thoughtful of the rural honest life,

And how to improve his grounds, and how himself: Best poet! fit exemplar for the tribe

Of Phoebus, nor less fit Mæonides,

Poor, eyeless pilgrim! and if after these,
If after these another I may name,
Thus tender Spenser lived, with mean repast
Content, depressed by penury, and pined
In foreign realm: yet not debased his verse
By fortune's frowns. And had that other bard,
O, had but he that first ennobled song
With holy raptures, like his Abdiel been;
'Mong many faithless, strictly faithful found;
Unpitied, he should not have wailed his orbs,
That rolled in vain to find the piercing ray
And found no dawn, by dim suffusion veiled!
But he however, let the muse abstain,
Nor blast his fame, from whom she learnt to sing
In much inferior strains, grovelling beneath
The Olympian hill, on plains and vales intent,
Mean follower. There let her rest a while,
Pleased with the fragrant walks, and cool retreat.

BOOK II.

ADDRESS TO THE EARL OF HARCOURT, ABSENT IN ITALY.

O Harcourt, whom the ingenuous love of arts
Has carried from thy native soil, beyond
The eternal Alpine snows, and now detains
In Italy's waste realms, how long must we
Lament thy absence? Whilst in sweet sojourn
Thou view'st the relics of old Rome; or what
Unrivalled authors by their presence made
Forever venerable, rural seats,

Tibur, and Tusculum, or Virgil's urn
Green with immortal bays, which haply thou,
Respecting his great name, dost now approach
With bended knee, and strew with purple flowers;
Unmindful of thy friends, that ill can brook
This long delay. At length, dear youth, return,
Of wit and judgment ripe in blooming years,
And Britain's isle with Latian knowledge grace.
Return, and let thy father's worth excite
Thirst of preeminence; see! how the cause
Of widows and of orphans he asserts
With winning rhetoric and well-argued law!
Mark well his footsteps, and, like him, deserve
Thy prince's favor, and thy country's love.

DEDICATION TO HARCOURT. — CIDER.

Meanwhile (although the Massic grape delights, Pregnant of racy juice, and Formian hills Temper thy cups, yet) wilt not thou reject Thy native liquors: lo! for thee my mill Now grinds choice apples, and the British vats O'erflow with generous cider; far remote Accept this labor, nor despise the muse, That, passing lands and seas, on thee attends.

THE CIDER-CROP PRECARIOUS.

Thus far of trees: the pleasing task remains, To sing of wines, and Autumn's blest increase.