[89] Rich in his own conceit.] The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men who can render a reason. Proverbs, xxvi. 16.
[90] These let thy timely care provide before.] See Virgil, Georg. i. 167:
The sharpen’d share and heavy-timber’d plough:
And Ceres’ ponderous waggon rolling slow:
And Celeus’ harrows, hurdles, sleds to trail
O’er the press’d grain, and Bacchus’ flying sail:
These long before provide.
Warton.
[91] Jove subterrene.] Guietus supposes that the husband of Proserpine is invoked from the consanguinity between Pluto, Proserpine, and Ceres. But this is not the only reason. Grævius properly remarks, that the earth, and all under the earth, were subject to Pluto, as the air was to Jupiter: Pluto, therefore, was supposed the giver of those treasures which the earth produces: whether of metals or grain. He was in fact the same with Plutus: and both names are formed from the Greek word πλουτος, wealth.
[92] And scare the birds away.] So Virgil, Georg. i. 156: