against him, that he loses; and one lofs may be of “O fortunatos nimiùm, bona fi fua norint, It is but half poffeffion not to understand that happinefs which we poffefs: a foundation of good fense, and a cultivation of learning, are required to give a feafoning seasoning to retirement, and make us taste the bleffing. God has bestowed on your lordship the first of thefe, and you have bestowed on yourself the fecond. Eden was not made for beasts, though they were suffered to live in it, but for their mafter, who ftudied God in the works of his creation. Neither could the devil have been happy there with all his knowledge, for he wanted innocence to make him fo. He brought envy, malice, and ambition into paradife, which foured to him the sweetness of the place. Wherever inordinate affections are, it is hell. Such only can enjoy the country, who are capable of thinking when they are there, and have left their paffions behind them in the town. Then they are prepared for folitude; and in that folitude is prepared for them "Et fecura quies, et nefcia fallere vita." As I began this dedication with a verse of Virgil, fo I conclude it with another. The continuance of your health, to enjoy that happiness which you so well deferve, and which you have provided for yourself, is the fincere and earnest wish of Your lordship's moft devoted, and moft obedient fervant, JOHN DRYDEN. The Poet, in the beginning of this Book, propounds the general defign of each Georgic: and, after a folemn invocation of all the gods who are any way related to his fubject, he addreffes himself in particular to Auguftus, whom he compliments with divinity; and after ftrikes into his bufinefs. He fhews the different kinds of tillage proper to different foils, traces out the original of agriculture, gives a catalogue of the husbandman's tools, fpecifies the employments peculiar to each feafon, defcribes the changes of the weather, with the figns in heaven and earth that forebode them. Inftances many of the prodigies that happened near the time of Julius Cæfar's death. And fhuts up all with a fupplication to the gods for the safety of Augustus, and the prefervation of Rome. WHAT makes a plenteous harveft, when to turn The fruitful foil, and when to fow the corn; The The care of fheep, of oxen, and of kine; 10 Ye Deities! who fields and plains protect, Leave for a while, O Pan! thy lov'd abode : From fields and mountains to my fong repair. Thou founder of the plough and plough-man's toil; rear; Come all ye gods and goddesses that wear 25 rain : 20 30 Whether |