Nor envies he aught more their idle sport $275 Nor deems he wiser him, who gives his noon To Miss, the Mercer's plague, from shop to shop Wandering, and littering with unfolded silks 280 And soothed into a dream that he discerns The difference of a Guido from a daub, 285 Frequents the crowded auction. Station'd there As duly as the Langford of the show, Here unmolested, through whatever sign 290 295 300 These shades are all my own. The timorous hare, 305 Grown so familiar with her frequent guest, Scarce shuns me; and the stock-dove unalarm'd Sits cooing in the pine-tree, nor suspends it is not play enough; it is too grave and serious a diversion, and I am ashamed to lay out as much thought and study upon that as would serve to much better uses.-Montaigne, (Cotton's), i. 50. Drawn from his refuge in some lonely elm 310 315 Ascends the neighbouring beech; there whisks his brush And perks his ears, and stamps and scolds aloud, And anger insignificantly fierce. 320 The heart is hard in nature, and unfit For human fellowship, as being void Of sympathy, and therefore dead alike To love and friendship both, that is not pleased Nor feels their happiness augment his own. The bounding fawn that darts across the glade When none pursues, through mere delight of heart, 325 The horse, as wanton and almost as fleet, 330 That skims the spacious meadow at full speed, Then stops and snorts, and throwing high his heels The very kine that gambol at high noon, The total herd receiving first from one 335 That leads the dance, a summons to be gay, Though wild their strange vagaries, and uncouth With which kind nature graces every scene 340 All that are capable of pleasure pleased, 345 A far superior happiness to theirs, The comfort of a reasonable joy. Man scarce had risen, obedient to His call Who form'd him, from the dust his future grave, When he was crown'd as never king was since. 350 God set the diadem upon his head, And angel choirs attended. Wondering stood The new-made monarch, while before him pass'd, All happy and all perfect in their kind, The creatures, summon'd from their various haunts 355 To see their sovereign, and confess his sway. 360 He ruled with meekness, they obeyed with joy. And no distrust of his intent in theirs. So Eden was a scene of harmless sport, Where kindness on his part who ruled the whole 365 And fear as yet was not, nor cause for fear. But sin marr'd all; and the revolt of man, That source of evils not exhausted yet, Was punish'd with revolt of his from him. 370 Garden of God, how terrible the change Thy groves and lawns then witness'd! every heart, Each animal of every name, conceived A jealousy and an instinctive fear, And conscious of some danger, either fled 375 Precipitate the loathed abode of man, Or growl'd defiance in such angry sort, As taught him too to tremble in his turn. Thus harmony and family accord Were driven from Paradise; and in that hour 380 The seeds of cruelty that since have swell'd To such gigantic and enormous growth, Were sown in human nature's fruitful soil. 385 Regardless of their plaints. To make him sport, To gratify the frenzy of his wrath, Or his base gluttony, are causes good And just in his account, why bird and beast Should suffer torture, and the streams be dyed 390 Earth groans beneath the burthen of a war Adds tenfold bitterness to death, by pangs 395 400 405 Within the confines of their wild domain; And if he spares him, spares him on the terms Of royal mercy, and through generous scorn 410 To rend a victim trembling at his foot. In measure as by force of instinct drawn, 415 The spaniel dying for some venial fault, Under dissection of the knotted scourge. So little mercy shows who needs so much! 420 425 430 |