TJie Poets Herds. 287 



" Straight to the meadow then he whistling goes, 

 With well-known halloo calls his lazy cows, 

 Down the rich pasture heedlessly they graze. 

 Or hear the summons with an idle gaze ; 

 For well they know the cow-yard yields no more 

 Its tempting fragrance, nor its wint'ry store. 

 Reluctance marks their steps, sedate and slow. 

 The right of conquest all the law they know. 

 Subordinate they one by one succeed, 

 And one among them always takes the lead. 

 Is ever foremost, wheresoe'er they stray, 

 Allowed precedence, undisputed sway. 

 With jealous pride her station is maintained," 

 For many a broil that post of honour gained." 



Then comes Summer with its flies and " restless herds " 

 with tails perpetually on the swing. They rush from their 

 tormentors into the pools. 



"^^'hat lime the cow stands knee-deep in the pool. 

 Lashing her sides for anguish, 



Scaring off with sudden head reversed the insect swarm. 

 That basks and preys upon her sunny hide, 

 Or when she flies with tufted tail erect. 

 Trie breeze- fly's keen invasion to the shade. 

 Scampering madly." 



This breeze-fly is specially popular with the poets as 

 a summer detail. Spenser draws an illustration of the 

 " World's Vanity " therefrom — 



" In summer's day, when Phoebus fairly shone, 

 I saw a Bull as white as driven snowe, 

 With gilden homes embowed like the moone. 

 In a fresh flowring meadow lying lowe ; 

 Up to his eares the verdant grasse did g'owe, 

 And the gay flowres did ofi"er to be eaten ; 

 But he with fatnes so did overflowe. 

 That he all wallowed in the weedes downe bea'.en, 

 Ne car'd with them his daintie lips to sweeten : 

 Till that a Brize, a seemed little creature. 



