116 NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 
Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, by way of simile, describes a dove 
haunting the cavern of a rock in such engaging numbers, that I 
cannot refrain from quoting the passage: and John Dryden has 
rendered it so happily in our language, that without further excuse 
I shall add his translation also :— 
“€ Qualis spelunca subitO commota Columba, 
Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 
Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 
Dat tecto ingentem—mox aere lapsa quieto, 
Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas.” 
** As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 
Rous’d, in a fright her sounding wings she shakes 3 
The cavern rings with clattering :—out she flies, 
And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies ; 
At first she flutters :—but at length she springs 
To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings.” 
I ‘am, ece-z 
