CARAWAY. 129 



" Nor wanting; is 



the smoking sirloin stretch'd immense 



From side to side ; in which, with desperate knife, 

 They deep incision make, and talk the while 

 Of England's glory, ne'er to be defaced." 



Autumn. 



The Romans held their rural festivities 

 with religious mirth, and which had great ana- 

 logy to the customs of old English farmers. 



" But, first of all, Immortal Powers adore, 

 With annual rites great Ceres' aid implore, 

 With joy her altars on the grass restore. 



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Then you and all your village neighbours join, 

 And offer honey, mix'd with milk and wine, 

 To Ceres' name ; in solemn pomp lead thrice 

 Around the fields the destined sacrifice. 

 With all your rural train in chorus sing, 

 And to your homes with vows the goddess bring : 

 Nor is it lawful to unload the ground, 

 Till you perform those rites with joyful sound, 

 And dancing, sing her praise, with oaken garlands crown'd." 



Vihgil, Georgics, book i. 



This elegant poet tells us, at the end of 

 the second book of the Georgics, that the 

 ancient farmers entered into the holyday 

 sports of their domestics. 



" When harmless holydays inspire, 



He and his friends, around a cheerful fire, 



Upon the grass their careless limbs recline, 



To Bacchus quaff, and pour out sprightly wine ; 



VOL. I. K 



