The Frenchman's darling? are they not all proofs,
That man immur'd in cities, ftill retains
His inborn inextinguishable thirst
Of rural scenes, compenfating his lofs
By fupplemental fhifts, 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
Sufpend their crazy boxes, planted thick,
And water'd duly. There the pitcher stands
A fragment, and the fpoutlefs tea-pot there;
Sad witneffes how close-pent man regrets
The country, with what ardour he contrives
A peep at Nature, when he can no more.
Hail, therefore, patronefs of health and eafe
And contemplation, heart-confoling joys,
And harmless pleasures in the throng'd abode
Of multitudes unknown, hail, Rural Life!
Addrefs himself who will to the pursuit
Of honours, or emolument, or fame,
I shall not add myself to such a chace,
Thwart his attempts, or envy his fuccefs.
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
Juft 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 fenfe,
To artifts ingenuity and skill;
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.
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM.
NOWLEDGE and Wisdom, far from being one,
Have oft-times no connexion. Knowledge dwells
In heads replete with thoughts of other men ;
Wisdom, in minds attentive to their own.
Knowledge, a rude unprofitable mass,
The mere materials with which Wisdom builds,
Till smooth'd and fquar'd and fitted to its place,
Does but incumber whom it seems t' enrich.
Knowledge is proud that he has learn'd fo much;
Wisdom is humble that he knows no more.
ON THE IMPORTANCE OF MAN.
WHY did the fiat of a God give birth
Το yon fair Sun, and his attendant Earth?
And when descending he refigns the skies,
Why takes the gentler Moon her turn to rise,
Whom Ocean feels through all his countless waves,
And owns her pow'r on ev'ry shore he laves?
Why do the Seasons still enrich the year,
Fruitful and young as in their first career?
Spring hangs her infant bloffoms on the trees,
Rock'd in the cradle of the western breeze;
Summer in hafte the thriving charge receives.
Beneath the shade of her expanded leaves,
Till Autumn's fiercer heats and plenteous dews
Dye them at last in all their glowing hues-
'Twere wild profufion all, and bootless waste,
Pow'r mifemploy'd, munificence misplac'd,
Had not its Author dignified the plan,
And crown'd it with the majesty of Man.
WHY female minds are overcharg'd with spleen,
What forms ill-nature, and promotes chagrin;
Why Celia frets when Chloe is a toast,
How fans are broke, and reputations loft,
I fing: a theme how irksome, to explore
Things unattempted and unknown before!
Ye virtuous wives, and antiquated maids,
Who hate the plays, and fhun the masquerades
Ye wanton prudes, who can in fecret fin;
You who are not, and you who once have been:
To
you alone my fage advice is due ;
You rail at others, and I fing to you.
From eastern climes, and regions far away,
Where earlier Phoebus paints the rifing day,
The fource of spleen is brought; a shrub how dear
(But nothing can be useful that is near)
Green are its leaves, and pleafant to the view,
Nor boasts th' untrodden grafs a fairer hue:
I wift not what in Heav'n its name may be,
'Tis known to mortal men by that of tea.
O'er rolling feas, thro' various dangers fought,
At much expence this precious ill is bought:
Unnumber'd fums the wearied merchant greet,
And husbands tremble at th' approaching fleet.
On this our nymphs of all degrees repast,
For all degrees for mischief have a taste:
On tea's pernicious poifon they regale,
An inspiration never known to fail.
The rites begin: Hence, ye profane, retire!
Now abfent characters in heaps expire ;
Each nimble tongue's employ'd, and every ear;
(For filence never is admitted here)
Zealous they offer up each spotless name,
And flay at once whole hecatombs of fame.
How alter'd is Belinda grown of late!
How wan in face, how awkward in her gait !
But should a form the force of fpite withstand,
Still they have reputation at command.
Chloe has made a tedious country jaunt ;
Oh! 'tis convenient to go fee an aunt.
Where Clelia buys her washes is not known,
But fure I am the lays them roundly on.
How much perverted now are female ways
Since times of yore, and Befs's golden days;
When hearty food for spleen was a relief,
And dames of honour breakfafted on beef!
With pond'rous joints the groaning boards were spread,
And every damfel had her pound of bread;
Then belles with belles, with toafts could toafts agree;
They knew no fcandal for they drank no tea.
Take heed, ye Fair! your own condition know;
Permit not beauty to be beauty's foe:
From common enemies yourselves defend,
And feem at least to be each other's friend:
Our fex alone has spite enough in ftore,
Nor need your joint endeavours furnish more.
Virtue, alas! is blafted but too foon
By midnight boasters and the lewd buffoon;
Fops who, to flander you, themselves forfwear,
And think it merit to belie the Fair.
Join not with thefe each other to betray,
Nor let your own example point the way.
If tea must flourish, let your theme be beaus,
Pins, fashions, flounces, fops, and furbeloes.
Excufe my forward zeal, who like a friend,
While I prefume to counsel, yet commend:
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