OF FOREST-TREES. 



13 



Jam, quae seminibus jactis se sustulit arbos. 

 Tarda venit, seris factura nepotibus umbram. 



Trees, which from scatter'd seeds to spring are made. 

 Come slowly on for our grand-children's shade. 



And, indeed, I know divers are of this opinion ; and possibly in some 

 luckier soils, and where extraordinary care is had in transplanting and 

 removing cumbrances, &c. there may be reason for it : But I affirm it 

 for the most part, and find I have the suffrage of another no inelegant 

 poet, if not in a full assent to my assertion, yet in the choice of my pro- 

 cedure for their perfection : 



Quamvis ipsa de stirpe parentis 

 PuUulet, et tenues tollat se quercus in auras, 

 Aut mutata solo, ramis exsultet opacis ; 

 Forma tamen nemoris non sit mihi gratior uUa, 

 Quam quod per campos, poslto de setnine, crevit. 

 Et quamquam sit agro prselongum tempus inerti 

 Durandum, ac tardae surgant de semine quercus. 

 His tamen, his longe veniunt felicius umbrae. 

 Nam certum est de glande satas radicibus imis 

 Altius in terram per se descendere plantas : 

 Majoresque adeo in coelum profundere ramos. 

 Seu quod dediscant mutatam semina matrem, 

 Degeneremque ferant alieno ex ubere prolem : 

 Sive quod ipsa sibi cognatae inolescere terrae 



Glans primo melius paulatim assuevit ab ortu. rapin. Horl. 



.Though suckers which the stock repair. 

 Will with thick branches crowd the empty air ; 

 Or the ground-oak transplanted, boughs may shoot ; 

 Yet no such grove does with my fancy suit. 

 As what from acorns set on even rows. 

 In open fields at their due distance grows. 

 What though your ground long time must fallow lie. 

 And seedling-oaks yield but a slow supply ? 

 No walks else can be for like beauty prais'd: 

 For certain 'tis that plants from acorns rais'd. 

 As to the centre deeper fibi'es spread. 

 So to the Zenith more advance their head : 

 Be it that plants for natural moisture pine. 

 And as expos'd, at change of soil decline ; 

 Or that the acorn with its native mould. 

 Does thrive and spread, and firm alliance hold. 



INTROD. 



GEOR. lib. ii. 



