262 



A DISCOURSE 



BOOK III. Viminibus Salices foecundae, frondibus Ulmi : , 



At Myrtus validis hastilibus, et bona bello 

 Cornus : Ityraeos Taxi torquentur in arcus. 

 Nec Tiliae laeves, aut torno rasile Buxum, 

 Non formam accipiunt, ferroque cavantur acuto : 

 Nec non et torrentern undam levis innatat Alnus 

 Missa Pado; nec non et apes examina condunt 



Corticibusque cavis, vitiosaeque Ilicis alveo. georg. ii. 



Pines are for masts an useful wood, 



Cedar and Cypress, to build houses good : 



Hence covers for their carts, and spokes for v/heels 



Swains make, and ships do form their crooked keels : 



With twigs the Sallows, Elms with leaves are freight ; 



Myrtles stout spears, and Cornel good for fight : 



The Yews into Ityrean bows are bent ; 



Smooth Limes and Box, the turner's instrument 



Shaves into form, and hollow cups does trim ; 



And down the rapid Po Ught Alders swim : 



In hollow bark bees do their honey stive, 



And make the trunk of an old Oak their hive. 



The most ingenious Ovid introduces the miraculous groves raised by 

 the melodious song of Orpheus : 



■ Non Chaonis abfuit arbos, 



Non nemus Heliadum, non frondibus iEsculus altis. 

 Nec Tiliae moUes, nec Fagus, et innuba Laurus. 

 Et Coryli fragiles, et fraxinus utilis hastis, 

 Enodisque Abies, curvataque glandibus Ilex, 

 Et Platanus genialis, Acerque coloribus impar, 

 Amnicolaeque simul Salices, et aquatica Lotos, 

 Perpetuoque virens Buxus, tenuesque Myricae. 

 Et bicolor Myrtus, et baccis caerula Tinus : 

 Vos quoque flexi-pedes Hederae venistis, et una 

 Pampineae vites, et amictte Vitibus Ulmi : 

 Ornique, et Piceae, Pomoque onerata rubenti 

 Arbutus, et lentae victoris prasmia Palmse : 

 Et succincta comas, hirsutaque vertice Pinu s 



Grata Deum matri. met. x. 



nor trees of Chaony, 



The Poplar, various Oaks that pierce the sky. 

 Soft Linden, smooth-rind Beech, unmarried Bays, 

 The brittle Hasel, Ash, whose spears we praise. 



