Is dreary, so with him all seasons please 12. And earth be punished for its tenant's sake, Recovering fast its liquid music, prove. 255 261 Who then that has a mind well strung and tuned To contemplation, and within his reach A scene so friendly to his favourite task, Would waste attention at the chequer'd board 14, 265 His host of wooden warriors to and fro Marching and counter-marching, with an eye As fixt as marble, with a forehead ridged And furrow'd into storms, and with a hand Trembling, as if eternity were hung In balance on his conduct of a pin 15? Nor envies he aught more their idle sport Who pant with application misapplied To trivial toys, and pushing ivory balls Across the velvet level, feel a joy 12 With thee conversing I forget all time, Par. Lost, iv. 637. 13 Dissolving snows in livid torrents lost. 270 275 15 Or if he [Alexander] played at chess, what string of his soul was not touched by this idle and childish game! I hate and avoid it because it is not play enough; it is too grave and serious a diversion, and I am ashamed to lay out as much thought and study upon that as would serve to much better uses.- Montaigne, (Cotton's), i. 50. S. C.-9. R Akin to rapture, when the bauble finds Nor deems he wiser him, who gives his noon 280 285 290 Here unmolested, through whatever sign The sun proceeds, I wander. Neither mist, Nor freezing sky, nor sultry, checking me, Nor stranger intermeddling with my joy. Even in the spring and play-time of the year 295 That calls the unwonted villager abroad 300 With all her little ones, a sportive train, To gather king-cups in the yellow mead, Grown so familiar with her frequent guest, 306 Scarce shuns me; and the stock-dove unalarm'd Sits cooing in the pine-tree, nor suspends 310 315 And anger insignificantly fierce. 320 The heart is hard in nature, and unfit For human fellowship, as being void Of sympathy, and therefore dead alike With sight of animals enjoying life, 325 Nor feels their happiness augment his own. When none pursues, through mere delight of heart, And spirits buoyant with excess of glee; The horse, as wanton and almost as fleet, 330 That skims the spacious meadow at full speed, Then stops and snorts, and throwing high his heels Starts to the voluntary race again; The very kine that gambol at high noon, The total herd receiving first from one 335 That leads the dance, a summons to be gay, Their efforts, yet resolved with one consent To give such act and utterance as they may To ecstasy too big to be suppressed;- Man scarce had risen, obedient to His call 340 345 350 The creatures, summon'd from their various haunts To see their sovereign, and confess his sway. 356 Vast was his empire, absolute his power, And own, the law of universal love. 360 He ruled with meekness, they obeyed with joy. No cruel purpose lurk'd within his heart, And no distrust of his intent in theirs. So Eden was a scene of harmless sport, Begat a tranquil confidence in all, And fear as yet was not, nor cause for fear. 370 Garden of God, how terrible the change Thy groves and lawns then witness'd! every heart, Each animal of every name, conceived A jealousy and an instinctive fear, And conscious of some danger, either fled 375 Precipitate the loathed abode of man, Thus harmony and family accord Were driven from Paradise; and in that hour 380 The seeds of cruelty that since have swell'd 385 To gratify the frenzy of his wrath, Or his base gluttony, are causes good 390 395 400 |