Sidor som bilder
PDF
ePub

1

THE

T

A S K,

А РОЕМ.

IN SIX BOOK S.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK.

[ocr errors]

Hiftorical deduction of feats, from the stool to the Sofa.A School-boy's ramble.-A walk in the country.The fcene defcribed.-Rural founds as well as fights delightful.-Another walk.--Mistake concerning the charms of folitude corrected.-Colonnades com-. mended.—Alcove, and the view from it.—The wilderness.-The grove. The thresher.- The neceffity and the benefits of exercise. The works of nature fuperior to, and in feme inftances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.Change of scene fometimes expedient.-A common defcribed, aud the character of crazy Kate introduced. Gipfies.The bleffings of civilized life. That state most favourable to virtue-The South Sea illanders compafionated, but chiefly Omai.-His prefent ftate of mind fuppofed.— Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities.

[ocr errors]

- Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praife, but cenfured.-Fete champetre.The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of diffipation and effeminacy upon our public measures.

THE

TAS

A S K.

BOOK I.

THE

SOFA.

I SING the SOFA. I, who lately fang Truth, Hope, and Charity*, and touch'd with awe The folemn chords, and with a trembling hand, Escap'd with pain from that advent'rous flight, Now feek repose upon an humbler theme; The theme though humble, yet august and proud Th' occafion-for the Fair commands the fong.

Time was, when clothing fumptuous or for use, Save their own painted skins, our fires had none. As yet black breeches were not; fatin fmooth,

[blocks in formation]

Or velvet foft, or plush with fhaggy pile:
The hardy chief upon the rugged rock
Wash'd by the fea, or on the grav❜ly bank
Thrown up by wintry torrents roaring loud,
Fearless of wrong, repos'd his weary strength.
Those barb'rous ages paft, fucceeded next
The birth-day of invention; weak at first,
Dull in defign, and clumfy to perform.
Joint-stools were then created; on three legs
Upborn they stood. Three legs upholding firm
A maffy flab, in fashion fquare or round.
On fuch a stool immortal Alfred fat,

And fway'd the fceptre of his infant realms:
And fuch in ancient halls and mansions drear
May still be feen; but perforated fore,

And drill'd in holes, the folid oak is found,

By worms voracious eating through and through.

At length a generation more refin'd

Improv'd the fimple plan; made three legs four,

« FöregåendeFortsätt »