THE TASK.

IN SIX BOOKS.

'Fit surculus arbor. -ANONYM.

VOL. II.

B

ADVERTISEMENT.

THE history of the following production is briefly this: A lady, fond of blank verse, demanded a poem of that kind from the Author, and gave him the SOFA for a subject. He obeyed; and having much leisure, connected another subject with it; and pursuing the train of thought to which his situation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair-a Volume.

In the poem on the subject of Education, he would be very sorry to stand suspected of having aimed his censure at any particular school. His objections are such as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omission even of such discipline as they are susceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand parents, mourning under the bitterest of all disappointments, attest the truth of the allegation. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular instance of it.

THE TASK.

BOOK I.

THE SOFA.

ARGUMENT:-Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the sofa, I -A schoolboy's ramble, 109-A walk in the country, 140-The scene described, 159-Rural sounds as well as sights delightful, 181-Another walk, 210-Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected, 233Colonnades commended, 252-Alcove, and the view from it, 278-The wilderness, 350-The grove, 354-The thresher, 356-The necessity and the benefits of exercise, 367-The works of nature superior to, and in many instances inimitable by art, 409-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure, 462-Change of scene sometimes expedient, 506-A common described, and the character of Crazy Kate introduced, 526-Gipsies, 557-The blessings of a civilised life, 592— The state most favourable to virtue, 600-The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai, 620-His present state of mind supposed, 654-Civilised life friendly to virtue, but not great cities, 678-Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured, 693 - Fête champêtre, 739-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures, 749.

I SING the SOFA. I who lately sang

Truth, Hope, and Charity, and touched with awe
The solemn chords, and with a trembling hand,
Escaped with pain from that adventurous flight,
Now seek repose upon an humbler theme;
The theme though humble, yet august and proud
The occasion-for the Fair commands the song.

Time was, when clothing, sumptuous or for use,
Save their own painted skins, our sires had none.

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As yet black breeches were not, satin smooth,
Or velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile;
The hardy chief, upon the rugged rock
Washed by the sea, or on the gravelly bank
Thrown up by wintry torrents roaring loud,
Fearless of wrong, reposed his weary strength.
Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next
The birthday of Invention; weak at first,
Dull in design, and clumsy to perform.
Joint-stools were then created; on three legs
Upborne they stood. Three legs upholding firm
A massy slab, in fashion square or round.
On such a STOOL immortal Alfred sat,
And swayed the sceptre of his infant realms;
And such in ancient halls and mansions drear
May still be seen; but perforated sore,
And drilled in holes, the solid oak is found,
By worms voracious eating through and through.
At length a generation more refined

ΙΟ

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20

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Improved the simple plan; made three legs four,
Gave them a twisted form vermicular,

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And o'er the seat, with plenteous wadding stuffed,
Induced a splendid cover, green and blue,
Yellow and red, of tapestry richly wrought
And woven close, or needlework sublime.
There might ye see the peony spread wide,

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The full-blown rose, the shepherd and his lass,
Lapdog and lambkin with black, staring eyes,

And parrots with twin cherries in their beak.

Now came the cane from India, smooth and bright

With Nature's varnish; severed into stripes

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That interlaced each other, these supplied

Of texture firm a lattice-work, that braced

The new machine, and it became a CHAIR.
But restless was the Chair; the back erect
Distressed the weary loins that felt no ease;
The slippery seat betrayed the sliding part
That pressed it, and the feet hung dangling down,

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Anxious in vain to find the distant floor.

In modest mediocrity, content

With base materials, sat on well-tanned hides,

These for the rich: the rest, whom Fate had placed

Obdurate and unyielding, glassy smooth,

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With here and there a tuft of crimson yarn,

Or scarlet crewel, in the cushion fixed;

If cushion might be called, what harder seemed

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Than the firm oak of which the frame was formed.

No want of timber then was felt or feared

In Albion's happy isle. The lumber stood
Ponderous, and fixed by its own massy weight.

But elbows still were wanting; these, some say,
An alderman of Cripplegate contrived,

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And some ascribe the invention to a priest
Burly and big, and studious of his ease.
But rude at first, and not with easy slope
Receding wide, they pressed against the ribs,
And bruised the side, and, elevated high,
Taught the raised shoulders to invade the ears.
Long time elapsed or e'er our rugged sires
Complained, though incommodiously pent in,
And ill at ease behind. The ladies first
'Gan murmur, as became the softer sex.
Ingenious Fancy, never better pleased

Than when employed to accommodate the fair,
Heard the sweet moan with pity, and devised
The soft SETTEE; one elbow at each end,
And in the midst an elbow, it received,
United yet divided, twain at once;

So sit two kings of Brentford on one throne,
And so two citizens who take the air,
Close packed and smiling, in a chaise and one.
But relaxation of the languid frame,
By soft recumbency of outstretched limbs,
Was bliss reserved for happier days;-so slow
The growth of what is excellent, so hard
To attain perfection in this nether world.

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