OF 8ELBORNE. 



135 



died, perhaps for want of proper sustenance; but the owner 

 thought that by their fierce and wild demeanour they 

 frighted their foster-mothers, and so were starved. 



Virgil, as a familiar occurrence, by way of simile, de- 

 scribes a dove haunting the cavern of a rock, in such 

 engaging numbers, that I cannot refrain from quoting the 

 passage : and John Dryden has rendered it so happily in 

 our language, that without further excuse I shall add his 

 translation also. 



" Qualis spelunca subito coinmota Columba, 

 Cui domus et dulces latebroso in pumice nidi, 

 Fertur in arva volans, plausumque exterrita pennis 

 Dat tecto ingentem mox acre lapsa quieto, 

 Badit iter liquidum, celeres neque commovet alas." 



" As when a dove her rocky hold forsakes, 

 Boused, in a fright her sounding wings she shakes ; 

 The cavern rings with clattering : out she flies, 

 And leaves her callow care, and cleaves the skies : 

 At first she flutters : but at length she springs 

 To smoother flight, and shoots upon her wings." 





