Content if thus sequestered I may raise
A monitor's, though not a poet's praise,
And while I teach an art too little known,
To close life wisely, may not waste my own.

THE TASK:

IN

SIX BOOKS.

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE history of the following production is briefly this: A lady, fond of blank verse, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a subject. He obeyed; and having much leisure, connected another subject with it; and pursuing the train of thought to which his situation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair- -a Volume.

In the poem on the subject of Education, he would be very sorry to stand suspected of having aimed his censure at any particular school. His objections are such as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omission even of such discipline as they are susceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand pa rents, mourning under the bitterest of all disappointments, attest the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular instance of it.

BOOK I.

THE SOFA.

Argument of the First Book.

Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the Sofa.-A Schoolboy's ramble.-A walk in the country. The scene described. Rural sounds as well as sights delightful.-Anotherwalk. Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected.Colonnades commended.-Alcove, and the view from it.The wilderness.-The grove.-The thresher.-The necessity and the benefits of exercise.-The works of nature superior to, and in some instances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.-Change of scene sometimes expedient.-A common described, and the charac ter of crazy Kate introduced. Gipsies.-The blessings of civilized life. That state most favourable to virtue.-The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai. His present state of mind supposed.-Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities. Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured.-Fete champêtre.-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures.

I SING the SOFA. I, who lately sang

Truth, Hope, and Charity,* and touched with awe
The solemn chords, and with a trembling hand,
Escaped with pain from that adventurous flight,
Now seek repose upon a humbler theme;
The theme though humble, yet august and proud
The occasion-for the Fair commands the song.

Time was, when clothing sumptuous or for use,
Save their own painted skins, our sires had none.

* See Poeins, pages 112, 153, 176,

As yet black breeches were not; satin smooth, hası sub
Or velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile: ab kocas trul
The hardy chief upon the rugged rock

Washed by the sea, or on the gravelly banksy dad T
Thrown up by wintry torrents roaring loud,
Fearless of wrong, reposed his wearied strength.
Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next
The birth-day of Invention; weak at first,
Dull in design, and clumsy to perform.
Joint-stools were then created; on three legs
Upborne they stood. Three legs upholding firm boys
A massy slab, in fashion square or round.

On such a stool immortal Alfred sat,

And swayed the sceptre of his infant realms :
And such in ancient halls and mansions drear
May still be seen; but perforated sore,
And drilled in holes, the solid oak is found, bod
By worms voracious eaten through and through.
At length a generation more refined

Improved the simple plan; made three legs four,
Gave them a twisted form vermicular,

And o'er the seat, with plenteous wadding stuffed,
Induced a splendid cover, green and blue,
Yellow and red, of tapestry richly wrought u
And woven close, or needle work sublime.
There might ye see the piony spread wide,
The full-blown rose, the shepherd and his lass,
Lapdog and lambkin with black staring eyes,
And parrots with twin cherries in their beak.

Now came the cane from India smooth and bright
With nature's varnish; severed into stripes,
That interlaced each other, these supplied
Of texture firm a lattice-work, that braced
The new machine, and it became a chair.