or prey;
"But not devour them when destroy'd. From thence
"Wide spread the horrid practice, and the sow,
"Doom'd the first victim, is decreed to die,
"For digging up with crooked snout the seed;
"And blasting all the prospect of the year.
"The goat had gnaw'd the vine;--the culprit bled
"On Bacchus' altars to appease his ire.
"These two their fate deserv'd. But how, O sheep!
"Ye harmless flocks, have ye this merited,
"Form'd to receive protection from mankind?
"Who in your swelling dugs bland liquors bear,
"Who give your fleecy coverings, garments soft
"For us to form; and more in life than death
"Assist our wants. What has the ox deserved?
"A simple harmless beast, and born for toil,
"Of guile and fraud devoid? Forgetful man!
"And undeserving of the harvest's boon,
"Who could, the crooked joke just from his neck
"Remov'd, his faithful tiller sacrifice;
"Smite with the axe that neck with labor worn,
"With which so oft he had the soil renew'd;
"Which had so many crops on him bestow'd.
"Nor is this all, the savage deed perform'd,
"They implicate the heavenly gods themselves,
"Pretend th' almighty deities delight
"To see the slaughter of laborious steers.
"Spotless must be the victim; in his form
"Perfection: (fatal thus too much to please!)
"With gold and fillets gay, the beast is led
"Before the altar, hears the unknown prayers,
"And sees the meal, the product of his toil,
"Betwixt his horns full in his forehead flung:
"Then struck, he stains the weapon with his blood,
"The weapon in reflecting waves beneath
"Haply beheld before. Next they inspect
"His torn-out living entrails, and from thence
"Learn what the bosoms of the gods intend.
"Whence, man, such passion for forbidden food?
"How dar'st thou, mortal man! in flesh indulge?
"O! I conjure you, do it not; my words
"Deep in your minds revolve, when to your mouth
"The mangled members of the ox you raise,
"Know, and reflect, your laborer you devour.

"And now the god inspires my tongue, my tongue
"Shall follow what th' inspiring god directs,
"My truths I will disclose, display all heaven,
"And oracles of mind divine reveal.
"I sing of mighty things, by none before
"Investigated; what has long lain hid.
"It glads me through the lofty heavens to go;
"To sail amid the clouds, the sluggish earth
"Left far below; and on the shoulders mount
"Of mighty At