 | Miscellanies in Prose and Verse |  |
97
RASSELAS to IMLAC.
Inopem me copia fecit.
Ovid.
Ovid.
I know, my friend, kind nature here profuse,
Still pours with lib'ral hand her blooming store;
And mimick Art, for pleasure and for use
Fills each desire; scarce leaves a wish for more.
Still pours with lib'ral hand her blooming store;
And mimick Art, for pleasure and for use
Fills each desire; scarce leaves a wish for more.
Yet still unsatisfy'd, with ease oppress'd,
I drag, reluctant, pleasure's flow'ry chain,
Still wanting something, something unpossess'd,
To rouse, t'impel: but what I can't explain.
I drag, reluctant, pleasure's flow'ry chain,
Still wanting something, something unpossess'd,
To rouse, t'impel: but what I can't explain.
Anxious to act and yet pursuing nought,
The same dull tract I traverse round and round,
I pluck the blooming flow'rs with vacant thought,
Then drop them, listless, languid, on the ground.
The same dull tract I traverse round and round,
I pluck the blooming flow'rs with vacant thought,
Then drop them, listless, languid, on the ground.
98
And oh, I cry, ye harmless, gentle flocks,
From mine how diff'rent is your happy state,
You do not wish to pass yon hanging rocks,
Or feel like me dull time's oppressive weight.
From mine how diff'rent is your happy state,
You do not wish to pass yon hanging rocks,
Or feel like me dull time's oppressive weight.
No strong desires their peaceful breasts annoy
Some happier, distant region to explore,
Still here enjoying all they can enjoy,
They rest content, nor ask of heav'n for more.
Some happier, distant region to explore,
Still here enjoying all they can enjoy,
They rest content, nor ask of heav'n for more.
Not that I envy them their stupid ease,
Unfit for man endu'd with reason's force,
'Tis comfort still whate'er distresses seize
To feel the pow'r, to feel, and trace its source.
Unfit for man endu'd with reason's force,
'Tis comfort still whate'er distresses seize
To feel the pow'r, to feel, and trace its source.
With ceaseless pleasure languid and unbent
Here no alternative the soul impow'rs
To sep'rate ease from shadowing discontent,
But twilight gloom suspends the chearless hours.
Here no alternative the soul impow'rs
To sep'rate ease from shadowing discontent,
But twilight gloom suspends the chearless hours.
99
Then can you wonder I'm depriv'd of joy,
Since joys, my friend, imply sensations new;
Here constant pleasure does herself destroy,
And false perhaps appears, because too true.
Since joys, my friend, imply sensations new;
Here constant pleasure does herself destroy,
And false perhaps appears, because too true.
Where most she reigns, within the palace gate,
In sport and revelry's perpetual round,
Still I'm unblest, tho' gilded rooms of state
With musick's voice and festive mirth resound.
In sport and revelry's perpetual round,
Still I'm unblest, tho' gilded rooms of state
With musick's voice and festive mirth resound.
Tho' costly viands deck the genial board,
And juice nectareous crowns the laughing bowl,
To sense alone, these, pleasures can afford,
But cannot, Imlac, cannot touch the soul.
And juice nectareous crowns the laughing bowl,
To sense alone, these, pleasures can afford,
But cannot, Imlac, cannot touch the soul.
She mounts indignant, leaves as dross behind,
These sensual low pursuits for low desires,
On freedom's pinions, joyous, unconfin'd,
Far from this tinsel, gaudy scene retires.
These sensual low pursuits for low desires,
On freedom's pinions, joyous, unconfin'd,
Far from this tinsel, gaudy scene retires.
100
But soon rememb'rance checks her rapid flight,
The same dull, tasteless scenes again return,
Again disgusted with each worn delight,
I wander pensive, joyless and forlorn.
The same dull, tasteless scenes again return,
Again disgusted with each worn delight,
I wander pensive, joyless and forlorn.
How sweet that state where freedom reigns, how blest
Where social union man to man endears;
With friendship's balm to heal the wounded breast,
With pitying hand to wipe the widow's tears.
Where social union man to man endears;
With friendship's balm to heal the wounded breast,
With pitying hand to wipe the widow's tears.
Oh let me taste that great, that godlike pow'r,
Bless and be bless'd, cherish, assist mankind;
Protect the Innocent, relieve the Poor,
And lawless guilt in tenfold fetters bind.
Bless and be bless'd, cherish, assist mankind;
Protect the Innocent, relieve the Poor,
And lawless guilt in tenfold fetters bind.
The harden'd wretch who robb'd the orphan maid
Of all she had, of all her little store,
By him she lov'd, the most oppress'd, betray'd,
That wretch shall soonest feel my vengeful pow'r.
Of all she had, of all her little store,
By him she lov'd, the most oppress'd, betray'd,
That wretch shall soonest feel my vengeful pow'r.
101
Aid me, my friend, together let us try,
To pierce yon horrid rocks that bound our sight,
Or else with wings my struggling arms supply
To steer my devious course, and speed my flight.
To pierce yon horrid rocks that bound our sight,
Or else with wings my struggling arms supply
To steer my devious course, and speed my flight.
Methinks already poiz'd I skim the skies,
Groves, grots, and lawns, your pleasures I resign;
New social scenes now meet my ravish'd eyes,
The wide, the busy world, my friend, is mine.
Groves, grots, and lawns, your pleasures I resign;
New social scenes now meet my ravish'd eyes,
The wide, the busy world, my friend, is mine.
Stella.
| Miscellanies in Prose and Verse | |