Book 2
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And that of trees and all the race of herbs.
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And then, while occupied in these discussions
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They turned to gourds their deep investigations,
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Asking their species and their character.
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A. And to what sage conclusion did they come?
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What was their definition, of what genus
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Did they decide this plant to be, my friend?
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I pray you tell 'em, if you know at least.
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B. At first they all stood silent for a while,
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And gazed upon the ground and knit their brows
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In profound solemn meditation:
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Then on a sudden, while the assembled youths
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Were stooping still considering the matter,
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One said a gourd was a round vegetable;
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But others said it was a kind of grass;
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While others class'd it as a sort of tree.
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On hearing this, a certain old physician
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Coming from Sicily interrupted them
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As but a pack of triflers. They were furious,
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Greatly enraged, and all most loudly cried
