THE TASK. BOOK I. THE SOFA. ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. Historical deduction of seats, from the Stool to the Sofa-A Schoolboy's ramble-A walk in the country-The scene described -Rural sounds as well as sights delightful-Another walkMistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected-Colonnades commended--Alcove, and the view from it-The_wilderness-The grove-The thresher-The necessity and benefit of exercise -The works of nature superiour to, and in some instances inimitable by, art-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure--Change of scene sometimes expedient-A common described, and the character of crazy Kate introducedGipsies-The blessings of civilized life-That state most favourable to virtue-The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai-His present state of mind supposed-Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities-Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured-Fête champêtre-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures. I SING the Sofa. I, who lately sang Truth, Hope, and Charity,* and touch'd with awe Time was, when clothing, sumptuous or for use, 5 10 Thrown up by wintry torrents roaring loud, 15 20 On such a stool immortal Alfred sat, And sway'd the sceptre of his infant realms : And such in ancient halls and mansions drear 25 By worms voracious eating through and through. Improv'd the simple plan; made three legs four, 30 35 The full-blown rose, the shepherd and his lass, And parrots with twin cherries in their beak. Now came the cane from India, smooth and bright, With nature's varnish; sever'd into stripes, 40 That interlac'd each other, these supplied Of texture firm a lattice-work, that brac'd These for the rich; the rest, whom Fate had plac'd With base materials, sat on well-tann'd hides, 45 50 Obdurate and unyielding, glassy smooth, If cushion might be call'd, what harder seem'd Than the firm oak, of which the frame was form'd. In Albion's happy isle. The lumber stood Than when employ'd t' accommodate the fair, United, yet divided, twain at once. So sit two kings of Brentford on one throne; The nurse sleeps sweetly, hir'd to watch the sick, Whom snoring she disturbs. As sweetly he, Who quits the coach-box at a midnight hour, To sleep within the carriage more secure, His legs depending at the open door. Sweet sleep enjoys the curate in his desk, The tedious rector drawling o'er his head; And sweet the clerk below. But neither sleep Of lazy nurse, who snores the sick man dead; Nor his, who quits the box at midnight hour To slumber in the carriage more secure ; Nor sleep enjoy'd by curate in his desk; Nor yet the dozings of the clerk, are sweet, Compar'd with the repose the Sofa yields. O may I live exempted (while I live Guiltless of pamper'd appetite obscene) From pangs arthritic, that infest the toe Of libertine Excess. The Sofa suits The gouty limb, 'tis true: but gouty limb, Though on a Sofa, may I never feel: For I have lov'd the rural walk through lanes 90 95 100 105 Of grassy swarth, close cropp'd by nibbling sheep, 110 And skirted thick with intertexture firm Of thorny boughs; have lov'd the rural walk O'er hills, through valleys, and by rivers' brink, E'er since a truant boy I pass'd my bounds T'enjoy a ramble on the banks of Thames; 115 Of hours, that sorrow since has much endear'd, 120 Or blushing crabs, or berries, that emboss The bramble, black as jet, or sloes austere. 125 No Sofa then awaited my return; Incurring short fatigue; and, though our years, Some youthful grace, that age would gladly keep; 130 135 140 Their length and colour from the locks they spare ; 145 Thou know'st my praise of nature most sincere, 150 And that my raptures are not conjur❜d up To serve occasions of poetic pomp, But genuine, and art partner of them all. How oft upon yon eminence our pace Has slacken'd to a pause, and we have borne 155 The ruffling wind, scarce conscious that it blew, And still unsated, dwelt upon the scene. Thence, with what pleasure have we just discern'd 160 The sturdy swain diminish'd to a boy! Here Ouse, slow winding through a level plain |