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that elegant and entertaining story of Ovid's 

 Vertumnus and Pomona. 



" If that fair elm," he cried, " alone should stand, 

 No grapes Would glow with gold, and tempt the hand; 

 Or, if that vine without her elm should grow, 

 'Twould creep a poor neglected shrub below." 



Pliny states that the vines in Italy would 

 climb to the very top, and even out-top the 

 highest poplars ; on which account, the grape 

 gatherers, in time of vintage, put a clause in 

 the covenant of their bargains, when they 

 were hired, that in case their foot should slip 

 and their necks be broken, their masters 

 should give orders for their funeral fire and 

 tomb, at their own expense. 



