One tender hand her drooping head sustains, 276
One points, expressive to the flow'ry plains,
Soon the fond youth perceiv'd her influence roll
Deep in his breast, to melt his manly soul;
As when Favonius joins the solar blaze,
And each fair fabric of the frost decays,
Soon to his breast the soft harangue convey'd
Resolves too partial to the specious maid.

280

291

He sigh'd, he gaz'd, so sweetly smil'd the dame, Yet sighing, gazing, seem'd to scorn his flame, 285 And oft as Virtue caught his wand'ring eye, A crimson blush condemn'd the rising sigh. 'Twas such the ling'ring Trojan's shame betray'd, When Maia's son the frown of Jove display'd; When wealth, fame, empire, could no balance prove For the soft reign of Dido and of love. Thus ill with arduous glory love conspires, Soft tender flames with bold impetuous fires! Some hov'ring doubts his anxious bosom mov'd, And Virtue, zealous fair those doubts improv❜d. "Fly, fly, fond Youth! the too indulgent maid, 296 Nor err, by such fantastic scenes betray'd. "Tho' in my path the regged thorn be seen, "And the dry turf disclose a fainter green; "Tho' no gay rose or flow'ry product shine, 300 The barren surface still conceals the mine.

Each thorn that threatens, ev'n the weed that grows "In Virtue's path, superior sweets bestows

"Yet should those boasted specious toys allure,304 "Whence couldfond Sloth theflatt'ring gifts procure? "The various wealth that tempts thy fond desire, "'Tis I alone, her greatest foe, acquire.

"I from old Ocean rob the treasur'd store ; "I thro' each region latent gems explore : "'Twas I the rugged brillant first reveal'd, 310 "By num'rous strata deep in earth conceal'd; "'Tis I the surface yet refine, and show "The modest gems intrinsic charms to glow; "Nor swells the grape, nor spires its feeble tree, "Without the firm supports of industry. 315 "But grant we Sloth the scene herself has drawn, "The mossy grotto and the flow'ry lawn; "Let Philomela tune th' harmonious gale, "And with each breeze eternal sweets exhale; "Let gay Pomona slight the plains around, 320 "And choose, for fairest fruits, the favour'd ground; "To bless the fertile vale should Virtue cease, "Nor mossy grots nor flow'ry lawns could please, "Nor gay Pomona's luscious gifts avail, "The sound harmonious, or the spicy gale. 325 "Seest thou yon rocks in dreadful pomp arise, "Whose rugged cliffs deform th' encircling skies, "Those fields, whence Phoebus all their moisture "And,tooprofuselyfond,disrobestheplains? [drains, "When I vouchsafe to tread the barren soil, 330 "Those rocks seem lovely, and those deserts smile;

"The form thou view'st to ev'ry scene with ease "Transfers its charms, and ev'ry scene can please. "When I have on those pathless wilds appear'd, "And the lone wand'rer with my presence cheer'd, "Those cliffs the exile has with pleasure view'd, "And cali'd that desert Blissful Solitude!

337

"Nor I alone to such extend my care, "Fair blooming Health surveys her altars there "Brown Exercise will lead thee where she reigns, "And with reflected lustre gild the plains: 348 "With her, in flow'r of youth and beauty's pride, "Her offspring, calm Content and Peace, reside; "One ready off'ring suits each neighb'ring shine, "And all obey their laws who practise mine. 245 "But Health averse, from Sloth's smooth region flies, "And in her absence Pleasure droops and dies; "Her bright companions, Mirth, Delight, Repose, "Smile where she smiles, and sicken when she goes: "A galaxy of pow`rs! whose forms appear "For ever beauteous, and for ever near.

350

"Nor will soft Sleep to Sloth's request incline,

"He from her couches flies unbid to mine.

"Vain is the sparkling bowl, the warbling strain, "Th' incentive song, the labour'd viand vain! 355 "Where she, relentless, reigns without control, "And checks each gay excursion of the soul; "Unmov'd tho' Beauty, deck'd in all its charms, "Grace the rich couch, and spread the softest arms;

"Till joyless indolence suggests desires,

"Or drugs are sought to furnish languid fires; "Such languid fires as on the vitals prey,

"Barren of bliss, but fertile of decay :

360

"As artful heats, "pply'd to thirsty lands, "Produce no flow'rs, and but debase the sands 365 "But let fair Health her cheering smiles impart ! "How sweet is Nature, how superfluous Art! "'Tis she the fountain's ready draught commends, "And smooths the flinty couch which Fortune lends; "And when my hero from his toils retires, "Fills his gay bosom with unusual fires,

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375

"And while no checks th' unbounded joy reprove, "Aids and refines the genuine sweets of love. "His fairest prospect rising trophies frame, "His sweetest music is the voice of Fame; "Pleasures to Sloth unknown! she never found "How fair the prospect, or how sweet the sound. "SeeFame's gaystructure from yon summitcharms, "And fires the manly breast to arts or arms;

Nor dread the steep ascent by which you rise 380 Fromgrov'lingvales to tow'rswhich reach the skies. "Love, fame, esteem, 't is labour must acquire, The smiling offspring of a rigid sire!

"To fix the friend your service must be shown; "All ere they lov'd your merit lov'd their own; 385 "That wond'ring Greece your portrait may admire,

That tuneful bards may string for you their lyre,

"That books may praise, or coins record your name, "Such, such rewards 't is toil alone can claim ! "And the same column which displays to view 390 "The conqu'ror's name, displays the conquest too. "'Twas slowExperience, tedious mistress! taught "All that e'er nobly spoke or bravely fought : "'Twas she the patriot, she the bard, refin'd "In arts that serve, protect, or please, mankind. "Not the vain visions of inactive schools,. "Not Fancy's maxims, not Opinion's rules, "E'er form'd the man whose gen'rous warmth ex"T'enrich his country or to serve his friends. [tends "On active worth the laurel War bestows; "Peace rears her olive for industrious brows; "Nor earth, uncultur'd, yields its kind supplies, "Nor heaven its show'rs, without a sacrifice.

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400

"See, far below such grov'lling scenes of shame "As lull to rest Ignavia's slumb'ring dame; 405 "Her friends, from all the toils of Fame secure, "Alas! inglorious, greater toils endure; "Doom'd all to mourn who in her cause engage, "A youth enervate, and a painful age, "A sickly sapless mass if Reason flies, "And if she linger impotently wise!

410

"A thoughtless train, who, pamper'd,sleek, and gay, "Invite old age, and revel youth away;

"From life's fresh vigour move the load of care,

"And idly place it where they least can bear; 415