CANTO ii. REPRODUCTION OF LIFE. 67 



Wakes from his trance, alarm'd with young Desire, 

 Finds his new sex, and feels ecstatic fire ; 

 From flower to flower with honey'd lip he springs, 

 And seeks his velvet loves on silver wings. 



VI. The Demon, Jealousy, with Gorgon frown 

 Blasts the sweet flowers of Pleasure not his own, 

 Rolls his wild eyes, and through the shuddering grove 

 Pursues the steps of unsuspecting Love; 310 



Or drives o'er rattling plains his iron car, 

 Flings his red torch, and lights the flames of war. 



Here Cocks heroic burn with rival rage, 

 And Quails with Quails in doubtful fight engage ;- 

 Of armed heels and bristling plumage proud, 

 They sound the insulting clarion shrill and loud, 



others fins, and others claws, from their ceaseless efforts to procure 

 food or to secure themselves from injury. He contends, that none 

 of these changes are more incomprehensible than the transformation 

 of caterpillars into butterflies; see Botanic Garden, Vol. I. Additional 

 Note XXXIX. 



