20 ' History of Animal Plagues, 



While the white fillet cover'd that of wool, 

 As paused the lingering priest, it fell and died : 

 Or had the flamen timely struck the blow, 

 On altars placed, fibres refuse their blaze, 

 And question'd prophets can no answer give : 

 And scarce the steel employ'd is tinged with blood, 

 That barely stains the surface of the soil.' 



His pictures of the various animals passing through the 

 different stages of the disease are most vivid and strikino; and 

 betray much feehng for the sufferings they endure. 



' Hence amidst springing grass young cattle die. 

 And yield their gentle lives at loaded stalls ; 

 Hence madden fawning dogs, and the sick swine 

 With suffocation shake, and panting cough.' 



The horse obtains the larii'est share of notice. 



' He falls — his fire all lost — his grass forgot — 

 The victor horse ; from fountains turns away, 

 And quick and oft beats with his feet the ground ; 

 Fallen are his ears — uncertain is his heat. 

 And clammy chills proclaim approaching death ; 

 Arid and hard, his skin resists the touch. 

 These earliest signs announce the fatal pest ; 

 But if in progress the disease grows fierce. 

 Then are the eyes inflamed, and deep the breath 

 Is drawn, sometimes with heavy groans ; the flanks 

 Distend with lengthen'd sobs ; the nostrils run 

 \ Black blood, and the rough tongue clings 

 To the obstructed jaws. Through the inserted horn 

 Lenasan streams infused once gave relief. 

 And this for the dying seem'd the only hope. 

 But this inflamed the pest, when strong in rage 

 They burn'd, and now themselves, 'mid pangs of death 

 (May the gods guard the pious, and thus curse our foes I) 

 Tore their own mangled limbs with naked teeth.' 



'o* 



Next, the toiHng, ' traihng-footcd ox ^ has his history told. 



' Lo ! as the bull under the plough-share smokes, 

 He falls, and vomits mingled foam and gore. 

 And makes his final groan. The ploughman sad 

 Disjoins the ox that mourns his brother's fate, 



