And fairly laid the Zodiac in the duft.
He therefore who would fee his flow'rs difpos'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 display,
Each for itself, and all as with one voice Confpiring, may atteft his bright design. Nor even then, difmiffing as perform'd His pleasant work, may he suppose it done. Few felf fupported flow'rs endure the wind Uninjur'd, but expect th' upholding aid Of the fmooth-fhaven prop, and neatly tied, Are wedded thus like beauty to old age, For int'reft fake, the living to the dead.
Some cloath the foil that feeds them, far diffus'd And lowly creeping, modest and yet fair, Like virtue, thriving most where little seen. Some, more afpiring, catch the neighbour shrub With clafping tendrils, and invest his branch, Elfe unadorn'd, with many a gay feftoon And fragrant chaplet, recompenfing well
The ftrength they borrow with the grace they lend All hate the rank fociety of weeds,
Noisome, and ever greedy to exhaust
Th' impov'rish'd earth; an overbearingrace, 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 restore Loft innocence, or cancel follies paft, But it has peace, and much fecures the mind From all affaults of evil, proving still
A faithful barrier, not o'erleap'd with ease By vicious custom, raging uncontroul'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 breast, 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 wish, that I poffefs not here ?
Health, leifure, means t' improve it, friendship,
No loose or wanton, though a wand'ring mufe, 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, felf-condemn'd, they must neglect the prize, And what they will not taste, must yet approve. What we admire we praife; and when we praife, 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 caufe of piety and facred truth,
And virtue, and those scenes which God ordain'd Should best secure them and promote them most ;
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 chate, though unconfin'd, whom I extol. Not as the prince in Shuhan, when he call'd, Vain-glorious of her charms, his Vashti forth the full pavilion. His defign
Was but to boast his own peculiar good, Which all might view with envy, none partake. My charmer is not mine alone; my fweets,
And she that sweetens all my bitters too,
Nature, enchanting Nature, in whose form And lineaments divine I trace a hand That errs not, and find raptures still renew'd, Is free to all men, univerfal prize.
Strange that fo fair a creature should yet want Admirers, and be destin'd to divide
With meaner objects, ev'n the few she finds! Stripp'd of her ornaments, her leaves and flow'rs, She lofes all her influence. Cities then
Attract us, and neglected Nature pines, Abandon'd, as unworthy of our love. But are not wholesome airs, though unperfum'd By rofes; and clear funs, though scarcely felt, And groves, if unharmonious, yet fecure
From clamour, and whofe very filence charms,. To be preferr❜d to fmoke, to the eclipse
That Metropolitan volcanos make,
Whose Stygian throats breathe darkness all day. long,
And to the ftir of commerce, driving flow, And thund'ring loud, with his ten thousand wheels? They would be, were not madnefs in the head, And folly in the heart; were England now What England was, plain, hofpitable, kind, And undebauch'd. But we have bid farewel
To all the virtues of those better days,
And all their honeft pleasures. Manfions once Knew their own mafters, and laborious hinds, Who had furviv'd the father, ferv'd the fon Now the legitimate and rightful Lord Is but a tranfient guest, newly arriv❜d, And foon to be fupplanted. He that faw His patrimonial timber caft its leaf,
Sells the laft fcantling, and transfers the price To some shrewd fharper, ere it buds again. Estates are landscapes, gaz'd upon awhile, Then advertis'd, and auctioneer'd away. The country starves, and they that feed th' o'er- charg'd
And furfeited lewd town with her fair dues, By a juft judgment strip and starve themselves. The wings that waft our riches out of fight Grow on the gamefter's elbows, and th' alert And nimble motion of those reftlefs joints, That never tire, foon fans them all away. Improvement too, the idol of the age, Is fed with many a victim. Lo! he comes- The omnipotent magician, Brown, appears. Down falls the venerable pile, th' abode Of our forefathers, a grave whisker'd race,
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