1 8 6 Gleanings from the 



which he devotes to them. When fine weather is 

 imminent : 



"In vain from fome high roof the mournful owl, 

 Watching the funfet, hoots till night grows late ;" 



and, 



" Lone on the roof with deathful cries the owl 

 Oft wails, prolonging with fad moans her grief;" 



and once more, 



" On tombs at times and ruined gables late, 

 Wailing to darknefs, fits th' ill-omened bird." 1 



A ftriking pafTage in the firft "Georgic," 404, is 

 another fign of Virgil's fondnefs in his poetry for 

 aflbciating birds with popular myths. It relates 

 to the ofprey, or more probably fome kind of 

 falcon, purfuing Ciris another unknown bird. 

 The ftory of Nifus and his daughter Scylla is 

 told in Ovid, and may be found in the "Ciris," 

 elaborated from Virgil's own few lines in this 

 paffage : 



" Towering aloft avenging Nifus Hies, 

 While dared below the guilty Scylla lies. 

 Wherever frightened Scylla flies away, 

 Swift Nifus follows and purfues his prey. 

 Where injured Nifus takes his airy courfe, 

 Thence trembling Scylla flies and fhuns his force. 

 This punifhment purfues th* unhappy maid, 

 And thus the purple hair is dearly paid." 2 



It may be worth while to fay that the word 

 "dared" in the fecond line of this tranilation is a 

 technical term of hawking ; meaning that a bird 

 lies clofe to the ground in terror at fome enemy 

 foaring above it. 



1 "Georg^" i. 403 ; " ^En.," i. 404; xii. 862. 



2 Dryden. 



