The Frenchman's * darling? are they not all proofs
That man, immurd in cities, still retains
His inborn inextinguishable thirst
Of rural scenes, compensating his lofs
By supplemental shifts, the best he may?
The most unfurnish'd with the means of life,
And they that never pass their brick-wall bounds
To range the fields and treat their lungs with air,
Yet feel the burning instinct: over head
Suspend their crazy boxes, planted thick,
And water'd duly. There the pitcher stands
A fragment, and the spoutless tea-pot there;
Sad witnesses how close-pent man regrets
The country, with what ardour he contrives
A peep at nature, when he can no more.

Hail, therefore, patroness of health, and ease, And contemplation, heart-consoling joys And harmless pleasures, in the throng'd abode Of. multitudes unknown ! hail, rural life! Address himself who will to the pursuit Of honours, or emoluments, or fame;

I lhall not add myself to such a chase,
Thwart his attempts, or envy his success.
Some must be great. Great offices will have
Great talents. And God gives to ev'ry man
The virtue, temper, understanding, taste,
That lifts him into life; and lets him fall
Just in the niche he was ordain'd to fill.
To the deliv’rer of an injur'd land
He gives a tongue t'enlarge upon, an heart
To feel, and courage to redress her wrongs;
To monarchs dignity; to judges sense ;
To artists ingenuity and lkill;
To me an unambitious mind, content
In the low vale of life, that early felt
A with for ease and leisure, and ere long
Found here that leisure and that ease I wish'd.

7

THE TA S K.

BOOK V.

ARGUMENT OF THE FIFTH BOOK.

A frosty morning.-The foddering of cattle. The

woodman and his dog.–The poultry.-Whimsical effects of frost at a waterfall.—The Empress of Ruffia's palace of ice.

Amusements of monarchs.War, one of them.—Wars, whence.--And whence monarchy.--The evils of it.-English and French loyalty contrasted.-The Bastile, and a prisoner there.--Liberty the chief recommendation of this country.--Modern patriotism questionable, and why.—The perishable nature of the best human inftitutions.-Spiritual liberty not perishable.--The Navish state of man by nature.—Deliver him, Deift, if you can:-Grace must do it.—The respective merits of patriots and martyrs stated.-Their different treatment.-Happy freedom of the man whom grace makes free.--His relish of the works of God. --Address to the Creator.