NATURAL HISTORY OF SELBORNE. 



Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, byway 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 : 



1 Qualis spelunca subitb commota Columba, 

 Cui domus, et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 

 Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 

 Dat tecto ingentem mox acre lapsa quieto, 

 Radit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas." 



' As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 

 Rous'd, in affright her sounding wings she shakes ; 

 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, &c. 



