SYLVA 271 



For some do best a rude confusion love ; 

 Some into even squares dispose their trees. 

 Where ev'ry side do's equal bounds possess. 

 Thus boxen legions with false arms appear 

 At chess, and represent a face of war. 

 Which sport to schaccia the Italians owe ; 

 The painted frames alternate colours show. 

 So should the field in space and form agree ; 

 And should in equal bounds divided be. 



Whether you plant young sets, or acorns sow, 

 Still order keep ; for so they best will grow. 

 Order to ev'ry tree like vigour gives, 

 And room for the aspiring branches leaves. 



When with the leaf your hopes begin to bud, 



Banish all wanton cattle from the wood. 



The browzing goat the tender blossom kills ; 



Let the swift horse then neigh upon the hills, 



And the free herds still in large pastures tread ; 



But not upon the new-sprung branches feed. 



For whose defence inclosures should be made 



Of twigs, or water into rills convey'd. 



When ripening time has made your trees dilate, 



And the strong roots do deeply penetrate, 



All the superfluous branches must be fell'd, 



Lest the oppressed trunk should chance to yield 



Under the weight, and so its spirits lose 



In such excrescencies ; but as for those 



Which from the stock you cut, they better thrive, 



As if their ruin caus'd them to revive. 



And the slow plant, which scarce advanc'd its head, 



Into the air its leavy boughs will spread. 



When from the fastned root it springs amain, 

 And can the fury of the north sustain ; 

 On the smooth bark the shepherds should indite 

 Their rural strifes, and there their verses write. 



But let no impious ax prophane the woods, 

 Or violate the sacred shades ; the Gods 

 Themselves inhabit there. Some have beheld 

 Where drops of blood from wounded oaks distill'd : 



