8 NATURAL HISTORY [Qtiadrnpeds. 



Forms a deep pool ; this bank abrupt and high, 

 And that fair spreading in a pebbled shore. 

 Urg'd to the giddy brink, much is the toil. 

 The clamour much, of men, and boys, and dogs. 

 Ere the soft fearful people to the flood 

 Commit their woolly sides. And oft the swaiu, 

 On some impatient seizing, hurls them in : 

 £mbolden'd then, nor hesitating more. 

 Fast, fast they plunge, amid the flushing wave. 

 And, panting, labour to the farthest shore. 

 Repeated thus, till deep the well wash'd fleece 

 Has drunk the flood, and from his lively haunt 

 The trout is banish'd by the sordid stream ; 

 Heavy, and dripping, to the breezy brow 

 Slow move the harmless race, where, as they spread 

 Their swelling treasures to the sunny ray. 

 Inly disturb'd, and wond'ring what this wild 

 Outrageous tumult means, their loud complaints 

 The country fill ; and, toss'd from rock to rock, 

 Incessant bleatings run around the hills. 

 At last of snowy white, the gather'd flocks 

 Are in the wattled pen innumerous press'd 

 Head above head ; and, rang'd in lusty rows, 

 The shepherds sit, and whet the sounding shears. 

 The housewife waits to roll her fleecy stores. 

 With all her gay dress'd maids attending round. 

 One chief, in gracious dignity enthron'd, 

 Shines o'er the rest, the pastoral queen, and rays 

 "V Her smiles, sweet beaming, on her shepherd king; 



While the glad circle round them yield their souls 

 To festive mirth, and wit that knows no gall. 

 Meanwhile, their joyous task goes on apace: 

 Some mingling stir the melted tar ; and some. 

 Deep on the new shorn vagrant's heaving side, 



1 



> 



