When gay good-nature dresses her in smiles. `He grac'd a college, in which order yet Was sacred; and was honour'd, lov'd, and wept, That no restraints can circumscribe them more Than they themselves by choice, for wisdom's sake; Nor can example hurt them: what they see Of vice in others but enhancing more The charms of virtue in their just esteem. Pure, from so foul a pool, to shine abroad, Ben'et Coll. Cambridge. Expos'd their inexperience to the snare, And left them to an undirected choice. See, then, the quiver broken and decay'd, What wonder if, discharg'd into the world, Have we not track'd the felon home, and found His birth-place and his dam? The country mournsMourns, because ev'ry plague that can infest Society, and that saps and worms the base Of th' edifice that policy has rais'd, Swarms in all quarters; meets the eye, the ear, And suffocates the breath at ev'ry turn. Profusion breeds them; and the cause itself And the land stank-so num'rous was the fry. ARGUMENT OF THE THIRD BOOK. Self-recollection and reproof.-Address to domestic happiness.-Some account of myself.-The vanity of many of their pursuits who are reputed wise.—Justification of my censures. -Divine illumination necessary to the most expert philosopher.—The question, What is truth? answered by other questions.-Domestic happiness addressed again.-Few lovers of the country.— My tame hare.-Occupations of a retired gentleman in his garden.-Pruning.-Framing.-Greenhouse. —Sowing of flower-seeds.-The country preferable to the town even in the winter.-Reasons why it is deserted at that season.- Ruinous effects of gaming and of expensive improvement.-Book concludes with an apostrophe to the metropolis. |