Must be detach'd, and where it strews the floor Swept with a woman's neatness, breeding else Contagion, and disseminating death. Discharge but these kind offices, (and who Would spare, that loves them, offices like these?) Well they reward the toil. The sight is pleas'd, The scent regal'd, each odorif'rous leaf, Each op'ning blossom, freely breathes abroad Its gratitude, and thanks him with its sweets. So manifold, all pleasing in their kind, All healthful, are th' employs of rural life, Reiterated as the wheel of time Runs round; still ending, and beginning still. Nor are these all. To deck the shapely knoll, That, softly swell'd and gaily dress'd, appears A flow'ry island, from the dark green lawn Emerging, must be deem'd a labour due To no mean hand, and asks the touch of taste.. Here also grateful mixture of well-match'd And sorted hues (each giving each relief, Is needful. Strength may wield the pond'rous spade, May turn the clod, and wheel the compost home; But elegance, chief grace the garden shows, And most attractive, is the fair result Of thought, the creature of a polish'd mind. To which th' insipid citizen resorts Near yonder heath; where industry mispent, Of close-ramm'd stones has charg'd th' encumber'd soil, And fairly laid the zodiac in the dust. He, therefore, who would see his flow'rs dispos'd Sightly and in just order, ere he gives The beds the trusted treasure of their seeds, Forecasts the future whole; that, when the scene Shall break into its preconceiv'd display, it done. His pleasant work, may he suppose Like virtue, thriving most where little seen: Else unadorn'd, with many a gay festoon The strength they borrow with the grace they lend. Noisome, 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, blest seclusion from a jarring world, Lost innocence, or cancel follies past; A faithful barrier, not o'erleap'd with ease Perhaps may crown us; but to fly is safe. What could I wish that I possess not here? Health, leisure, means t' improve it, friendship, peace, No loose or wanton, though a wand'ring, muse, And constant occupation without care. Thus blest, I draw a picture of that bliss; Hopeless, indeed, that dissipated minds, Created fair so much in vain for them, Should seek the guiltless joys that I describe, That, self-condemn'd, they must neglect the prize, The cause of piety and sacred truth, And virtue, and those scenes which God ordain'd Should best secure them and promote them most; |