Would fpare, that loves them, offices like thefe?)
Well they reward the toil. The fight is pleas'd,
The fcent regal'd, each odorif'rous leaf,

Each op'ning bloffom, freely breathes abroad
Its gratitude, and thanks him with its fweets.

So manifold, all pleasing in their kind,
All healthful, are th' employs of rural life,
Reiterated as the wheel of time

Runs round; ftill ending, and beginning ftill.
Nor are these all. To deck the shapely knoll,
That, foftly fwell'd and gaily drefs'd, appears
A flow'ry ifland, from the dark green lawn
Emerging, must be deem'd a labour due

To no mean hand, and afks the touch of taste.
Here also grateful mixture of well-match'd
And forted hues (each giving each relief,

And by contrasted beauty fhining more)

Is needful. Strength may wield the pond'rous spade,

May turn the clod, and wheel the compoft home;

But elegance, chief grace the garden fhows,
And most attractive, is the fair result

Of thought, the creature of a polish'd mind.
Without it all is gothic as the fcene

To which th' infipid citizen reforts

Near yonder heath; where industry mispent,
But proud of his uncouth ill-chofen task,

Has made a heav'n on earth; with funs and moons

Of close-ramm'd ftones has charg'd th' encumber'd foil,

And fairly laid the zodiac in the duft.

He, therefore, who would fee his flow'rs dispos'd
Sightly and in just order, ere he gives

The beds the trusted treasure of their feeds,

Forecafts the future whole; that, when the scene
Shall break into its preconceiv'd difplay,

Each for itself, and all as with one voice
Confpiring, may atteft his bright defign.
Nor even then, difmiffing as perform'd
His pleasant work, may he fuppofe it done.
Few felf-fupported flow'rs endure the wind

Uninjur'd, but expect th' upholding aid

Of the smooth-fhaven prop, and, neatly tied,
Are wedded thus, like beauty to old age,

For int'reft fake, the living to the dead.

Some clothe the foil that feeds them, far diffus'd

And lowly creeping, modeft and

yet fair,

Like virtue, thriving moft where little feen:

Some, more afpiring, catch the neighbour shrub
With clafping tendrils, and inveft his branch,

Elfe unadorn'd, with many a gay festoon
And fragrant chaplet, recompenfing well

The strength they borrow with the grace they lend.
All hate the rank fociety of weeds,

Noifome, and ever greedy to exhaust

Th' impov'rish'd earth; an overbearing race,

That, like the multitude made faction-mad,
Disturb good order, and degrade true worth.

Oh, bleft feclufion from a jarring world,
Which he, thus occupied, enjoys! Retreat

Cannot indeed to guilty man reftore

Loft innocence, or cancel follies past;
But it has peace, and much fecures the mind.
From all affaults of evil; proving ftill

A faithful barrier, not o'erleap'd with ease
By vicious custom, raging uncontroll'd
Abroad, and defolating public life.
When fierce temptation, feconded within
By traitor appetite, and arm'd with darts
Temper'd in hell, invades the throbbing breaft,
To combat may be glorious, and fuccefs

Perhaps may crown us; but to fly is fafe.

Had I the choice of fublunary good,

What could I wifh, that I poffefs not here?

Health, leifure, means t' improve it, friendship, peace,

No loofe or wanton, though a wand'ring, muse,

And conftant occupation without care.

Thus bleft, I draw a picture of that blifs;

Hopeless, indeed, that diffipated minds,

And profligate abusers of a world

Created fair fo much in vain for them,

Should feek the guiltlefs joys that I defcribe,
Allur'd by my report: but fure no lefs,

That, self-condemn'd, they must neglect the prize,
And what they will not taste must yet approve.
What we admire we praife; and, when we praise,
Advance it into notice, that, its worth
Acknowledg'd, others may admire it too.
I therefore recommend, though at the risk
Of popular difguft, yet boldly still,

The cause of piety and facred truth,

And virtue, and thofe fcenes which God ordain'd
Should beft fecure them and promote them moft;
Scenes that I love, and with regret perceive
Forfaken, or through folly not enjoy'd.

Pure is the nymph, though lib'ral of her fmiles,
And chafte, though unconfin'd, whom I extol.
Not as the prince in Shufhan, when he call'd,
Vain-glorious of her charms, his Vashti forth

Το

grace the full pavilion. His defign