Class II. TAME SWA N. §6$ 



The fwan with arched neck 

 Between her white wings mantling, proudly rows 

 Her ftate with oary feet. Par. Loft, J3. VII. 



But we cannot help thinking that he had here an 

 eye to that- beautiful paflage in Silius Italicus on 

 the fame fubjecl, though the Englijh poet has great- 

 ly improved on it. 



Haud fee us Eridani flagnis, ripave Cayftri 



Innatat albus clor, pronoque immobile corpus 



Dat iluvio, et pedibus tacitas eremigat undas. Lib, XIV . 



In former times it was ferved up at every great 

 feaft, when the elegance of the table was meafured 

 by the fize and quantity of the good cheer. 

 Cygnets are to this day fattened at Norwich about 

 Chrifimas, and are fold for a guinea a piece. 



Swans were formerly held in fuch great efteern 

 in England, that by an act of Edward IV. c. 6. 

 " no one that poifeffed a freehold of lefs clear 

 yearly value than five marks, was permitted to 

 keep any, other than the fon of our fovereign lord the 

 king." And by the eleventh of Henry VII. c. 17. 

 the.punifhment for taking their eggs was imprifon^ 

 ment for a year and a day, and a fine at the king's 

 will. Though at prefent they are not fo highly 

 valued as a delicacy, yet great numbers are pre=- 

 ferved for their beauty ; we fee multitudes on the 

 "Thames and Trent, but no where greater numbers 

 than on the fait water inlet of the fea, near Ah 

 botjbury in Dorfetjhire. 



P p 2 Thefe 



