The peripatetic or, Sketches of the heart, of nature and society; In a series of politico-sentimental journals, in verse and prose, of the eccentric excursions of Sylvanus Theophrastus; Supposed to be written by himself [by John Thelwall] |
 | [I]. |
[What needs the lofty-vaulted dome] |
| II. |
| III. |
 | The peripatetic |  |
130
[What needs the lofty-vaulted dome]
What needs the lofty-vaulted dome,
Where Grandeur draws the breath of pride;
Or spacious grove's exotic gloom,
Where labour'd streams are taught to glide?
Where Grandeur draws the breath of pride;
Or spacious grove's exotic gloom,
Where labour'd streams are taught to glide?
What needs the splendid couch of state?
Its silken hangings? beds of down?
Or piles of herald-sculptur'd plate,
That oft the wasteful table crown?
Its silken hangings? beds of down?
Or piles of herald-sculptur'd plate,
That oft the wasteful table crown?
On his hard palate stretch'd, at eve,
See labour's opiate lull the swain!
Or see him pleas'd, at noon, receive
With grateful heart, his viands plain!
See labour's opiate lull the swain!
Or see him pleas'd, at noon, receive
With grateful heart, his viands plain!
What is it, then,—Ye great ones say—
Your ostentation would impart,
That may not gild the rustic day,
And cheer the peasant's honest heart?
Your ostentation would impart,
That may not gild the rustic day,
And cheer the peasant's honest heart?
Is't Health (her cheeks with roses spread)?
Or Joy that gilds the favour'd mind?
Lo! these, beneath the lowliest shed,
The honest rustic knows to find!
Or Joy that gilds the favour'd mind?
Lo! these, beneath the lowliest shed,
The honest rustic knows to find!
131
His narrow cabins not exclude
The guest your spacious chambers woo;
Nor homely walls, however rude,
Shut beauteous splendor from his view:
The guest your spacious chambers woo;
Nor homely walls, however rude,
Shut beauteous splendor from his view:
For, wasted on the zephyr's wing,
Free thro' his open casement glides
The rosy nymph, while perfum'd Spring
Around in cheerful pomp presides.
Free thro' his open casement glides
The rosy nymph, while perfum'd Spring
Around in cheerful pomp presides.
And, as for bliss!—What is it? Say—
Ye who the palm of knowledge claim—
If e'er with man 'twere known to stray:
What is't but Virtue's other name?
Ye who the palm of knowledge claim—
If e'er with man 'twere known to stray:
What is't but Virtue's other name?
| The peripatetic | |