Natural Hi/lory of the Ancients. 183 



elm." Another beautiful image defcribes Hecuba 

 and her daughters flying to the altars, when Troy 

 was taken, like pigeons flying wildly from the 

 black ftorm ("^neid," ii. 516). But perhaps 

 his fineft ftudy of the pigeon defcribes the rock- 

 dove darting from her cave, as we may obferve it 

 on our own cliffs at Speeton or Cromarty : 



" As, fudden ftartled from her cave, the dove 

 Whofe dear abode the darkling pumice hides, 

 Cleaves the air fwiftly, flapping through the cave 

 Till all its roof refounds, but foon, borne on, 

 Lightly flcims o'er the liquid plain, nor moves 

 Her pinions fleet." 1 



This is felicitoufly true to Nature. Eye and ear 

 are alike fatisfied, and it feems to bring the rum 

 of air and roar of waves round the bafe of the 

 fea-cliffs to the mind as it is read. Another 

 fimile relates what too frequently befalls fuch a 

 bird on its emerging from the cavern's gloom, and 

 is another highly finifhed picture : 



" With equal eafe the facred hawk purfues, 

 And fweeping upwards from his naked crag, 

 High o'er a flying cloud ftrikes down the dove, 

 Then grips and tears her with his crooked claws 

 Till gore and feathers float off down the breeze." 2 



A fimilar reminifcence ftrikes the poet as he 

 thinks of Tarchon triumphantly bearing off booty: 



" So, high aloft the tawny eagle fweeps, 

 Bearing away the ferpent flie has feized, 

 Wraps her feet round it and drives in her claws. 

 Wounded but dauntlefs ftill the angry fnake 

 Twines his thick folds and briflling with fet fcales, 

 HifTes and rears his threat'ning creft ; but fhe 

 Continues ftriking with her crooked beak, 

 O'erwhelms his rage, and wings the founding air." 3 



1 " yn.," v. 213. 2 Ibid., xi. 721. 3 Ibid., xi. 751. 



