CHAP, in S YL V A 35 



room, and space to amplifie and expand themselves, 

 and would therefore be planted at more remote 

 distances, and free from all encumbrances: And this 

 upon consideration how slowly a full-grown oak 

 mounts upwards, and how speedily they spread, and 

 dilate themselves to all quarters, by dressing and due 

 culture; so as above forty years advance is to be gain'd 

 by this only industry: And, if thus his Majesties 

 forests and chases were stor'd, viz. with this spreading 

 tree at handsom intervals, by which grazing might 

 be improv'd for the feeding of deer and cattel under 

 them, (for such was the old Sa/fus) benignly visited 

 with the gleams of the sun, and adorn'd with the 

 distant land-skips appearing through the glades, and 

 frequent vallies ; 



1 ( betwixt 



Whose rows the azure sky is seen immix'd, 

 With hillocks, vales, and fields, as now we see 

 Distinguished in a sweet variety ; 

 Such places which wild apple-trees throughout 

 Adorn, and happy shrubs grow all about,) 



As the poet describes his olive-groves, nothing could 

 be more ravishing ; for so we might also sprinkle 

 fruit-trees amongst them (of which hereafter) for 

 cyder, and many singular uses, and should find such 

 goodly plantations the boast of our rangers, and forests 

 infinitely preferable to any thing we have yet beheld, 

 rude, and neglected as they are : I say, when his 

 Majesty shall proceed (as he hath design'd) to animate 



1 (Caerula distinguens inter plaga currere posset 

 Per tumulos, & convalles, camposque profusa : 

 Ut nunc esse vides vario distincta lepore 

 Omnia, que pomis intersita dulcibus ornant 

 Arbustisque tenent felicibus obsita circum). Lueret. I. 5. 



