50 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



" The russet field rose high with waving grain ; 

 With bended sickles stand the reaper train. 

 Here stretch'd in ranks the levell'd swarths are found, 

 Sheaves heap'd on sheaves here thicken up the ground. 

 With sweeping stroke the mowers strew the lands ; 

 The gatherers follow, and collect in bands ; 

 And last the children, in whose arms are borne 

 (Too short to gripe them) the brown sheaves of corn. 

 The rustic monarch of the field descries, 

 With silent glee, the heaps around him rise. 

 A ready banquet on the turf is laid ; 

 Beneath an ample oak's extended shade 

 The victim ox the sturdy youth prepare ; 

 The reapers' due repast, the women's care." 



Pope's Homer. 



Barley (husked), says Pliny, was the most 

 ancient food in old times, as will appear by 

 the ordinary custom of the Athenians, accord- 

 ing to the testimony of Menander, as also 

 by the sirname given to sword-fencers, who 

 from their allowance or pension of barley 

 were called H or dear it, barleymen.* This 

 naturalist farther observes, that of all grains 

 barley is the softest, and least subject to ca- 

 sualties, and produces fruit speedily and pro- 

 fitably. 



The meal so highly commended by the 

 Greeks, was prepared from barley in the fol- 



« 



lowing manner. It was steeped in water, 



# Book xviii. chap. 7. 



