252 STUDIES OF NATURE. 



applies that afFefting image, to the felf-fame hours 

 of the night, in the view of prefenting a new con- 

 traft, of the different ufes which vice and virtue 

 make of the fame time. 



* Inde ubi prima quies medio jam no£lis abadse 



CuiTiculo expulerat fomnum ; cum fcemina, primùm 

 Cui tolerare colo vitam tenuique Minerva, 

 Impofitum cinerem et fopitos fufcitat ignes, 

 Koftem addens operi, famulafque ad lumina longo 

 Exercet penfo ; caflum ut fervare cubile 

 Conjugis, et poffit parvos educere natos. 



^NEiD. B. viii. L. 407 — 41 5„ 



" At the hour which terminates the firft ileep, 

 *' when the car of Night had as yet performed but 

 *' half it's courfe ; that feafon when firfl the careful 

 *' houfewife, accuftomed to earn her living by the 

 ** labours of the diftaff, and the feeble indufbry of 

 *' the arts of Minerva, blows away the gathered 

 " afhes, and roufes up the Numbering flame, 

 «* making night itfelf contribute to her thrift, and 



* But rofe refrefii'd, impatient, from the bed. 



When half the filent hours of night were fled. 



What time the poor, laborious, frugal dame, 



Ir"* J Who plies the dillafF, ftirs the dying flame; 



Employs her handmaids by the winking light. 



And lengthens out their taflc with half the night ; 



Thus to her children flie divides the bread, 



And guards the honours of her homely bed. 



Pitt. 



'f inures 



