That interlac'd each other, thefe fupply'd
Of texture firm a lattice-work, that brac'd
The new machine, and it became a chair.
But restless was the chair; the back erect
loins that felt no cafe ;

weary

Diftrefs'd the
The flipp'ry feat betray'd the fliding part

That prefs'd it, and the feet hung dangling down,
Anxious in vain to find the diftant floor.

These for the rich

the reft, whom fate had plac'd In modeft mediocrity, content

With base materials, fat on well-tann'd hides
Obdurate and unyielding, glaffy fmooth,
With here and there a tuft of crimson yarn,
Or fcarlet crewel in the cushion fix'd:

If cushion might be call'd, what harder feem'd
Than the firm oak of which the frame was form'd.
No want of timber then was felt or fear'd
In Albion's happy isle. The umber stood
Pond'rous, and fixt by its own maffy weight.
But elbows ftill were. wanting; thefe, some say,
An Alderman of Cripplegate contrived,
And fome afcribe the invention to a priest.
Burly and big and ftudious of his eafe.
But rude at firft, and not with eafy flope
Receding wide, they prefs'd against the ribs,
And bruifed the fide, and elevated high
Taught the rais'd shoulders to invade the ears.
Long time elapfed or e'er our rugged fires
Complain'd, though incommodiously pent in,..
And ill at ease behind. The Ladies first

'Gan murmur, as became the softer sex. Ingenious fancy, never better pleas'd

Than when employ'd t' accommodate the fair,
Heard the sweet moan with pity, and devised *
The foft fettee; one elbow at each end,
And in the midst an elbow, it receiv'd
United yet divided, twain at once.

So fit two Kings of Brentford on one throne ;
And so two citizens who take the air
Close pack'd and smiling in a chaise and one.
But relaxation of the languid frame
By foft recumbency of outftretched limbs,
Was biifs referved for happier days. So flow.
The growth of what is excellent, fo hard
T attain perfection in this nether world..
Thus first neceffity invented ftools,
Convenience next fuggefted elbow chairs,
And luxury th' accomplished Sofa laft.

The Nurse fleeps fweetly, hired to watch the fick Whom fnoring fhe difturbs. As fweetly he Who quits the coach-box at the midnight hour. To fleep within the carriage more fecure, His legs depending at the open door. Sweet fleep enjoys the Curate in his defk, The tedious Rector drawling o'er his head, And fweet the Clerk below: but neither fleep Of lazy Nurfe, who fnores the fick man dead, Nor his who quits the box at midnight hour To flumber in the carriage more fecure,

Nor

Nor fleep enjoy'd by Curate in his desk,
Nor yet the dozings of the Clerk are sweet,.
Compared with the repofe the SOFA yields.

Oh, may I live exempted (while I live
Guiltless of pamper'd appetite obfcene)
From pangs arthritic that infeft the toe
Of libertine excefs. The SOFA fuits.
The gouty limb, 'tis true; but gouty limb
Though on a SOFA, may I never feel:
For I have loved the rural walks through lanes
Of graffy fwarth close cropt by nibbling sheep,-
And skirted thick with intertexture firm
Of thorny boughs: have loved the rural walk
O'er hills, through vallies, and by rivers brink,-
E'er fince a truant boy I pafs'd my bounds
T' enjoy a ramble on the banks of Thames.
And ftill remember, nor without regret
Of hours that forrow fince has much endear'd,
How oft, my flice of pocket ftore confumed,
Still hung'ring pennylefs and far from home,
I fed on fcarlet hips and ftony haws,
Or blufhing crabs, or berries that embofs
The bramble, black as jet, or floes auftere.
Hard fare! but fuch as boyish appetite
Difdains not, nor the palate undepraved:
By culinary arts unfav'ry deems.
No SOFA then awaited my return,
Nor SOFA then I needed. Youth repairs
His wafted fpirits quickly, by long toil

Incurring

Incurring fhort fatigue; and though our years
As life declines, fpeed rapidly away,
And not a year but pilfers as he goes

Some youthful grace that age would gladly keep,
A tooth or auburn lock, and by degrees

Their length and color from the locks they spare ;:
Th' elastic spring of an unwearied foot

That mounts the ftile with eafe, or leaps the fence,
That play of lungs inhaling and again
Refpiring freely the fresh air, that makes
Swift pace or fteep afcent no toil to me,
Mine have not pilfer'd yet; nor yet impair'd
My relish of fair profpect; fcenes that footh'd
Or charm'd me young, no longer young, I find
Still foothing and of power to charm me still.
And witnefs, dear companion of my walks,
Whofe arm this twentieth winter I perceive
Fast lock'd in mine, with pleasure fuch as love
Confirm'd by long experience of thy worth
And well-tried virtues could alone inspire-
Witnefs a joy that thou hast doubled long.
Thou know'ft my praife of nature most fincere,
And that my raptures are not conjured up
To ferve occafions of poetic pomp,
But genuine, and art partner of them all.
How oft upon yon eminence, our pace
Has flacken'd to a pause, and we have borne
The ruffling wind fcarce confcious that it blew,
While admiration feeding at the eye,

And ftill unfated, dwelt upon the scene!

Thence

Thence with what pleasure have we just discern'd
The distant plough flow-moving, and befide
His lab'ring team that fwerv'd not from the track,
The sturdy fwain diminish'd to a boy!

Here Oufe, flow winding through a level plain
Of fpacious meads with cattle fprinkled o'er,
Conducts the eye along his finuous course
Delighted. There, faft rooted in his bank
Stand, never overlook'd, our fav'rite elms
That screen the herdsman's folitary hut;
While far beyond and overthwart the stream
That as with molten glafs inlays the vale,
The floping land recedes into the clouds ;
Difplaying on its varied fide, the grace

Of hedge-row beauties numberlefs, fquare tow'r,
Tall fpire, from which the found of chearful bells
Juft undulates upon the lift'ning ear;

Groves, heaths, and smoking villages remote.
Scenes must be beautiful which daily view'd
Please daily, and whose novelty furvives
Long knowledge and the fcrutiny of years.
Praife juftly due to thofe that I defcribe.

Nor rural fights alone, but rural sounds
Exhilarate the fpirit, and restore
The tone of languid Nature. Mighty winds
That fweep the fkirt of fome far-fpreading wood
Of ancient growth, make mufic not unlike
The dafh of ocean on his winding fhore,
. And lull the fpirit while they fill the mind,

Unnumber'd