ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. Hiftorical deduction of feats, from the stool to the Sofa.A School-boy's ramble.-A walk in the country.The fcene defcribed.-Rural founds as well as fights delightful.-Another walk.--Mistake concerning the charms of folitude corrected.-Colonnades com-. mended.—Alcove, and the view from it.—The wilderness.-The grove. The thresher.- The neceffity and the benefits of exercise. The works of nature fuperior to, and in feme inftances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.Change of scene fometimes expedient.-A common defcribed, aud the character of crazy Kate introduced. Gipfies.The bleffings of civilized life. That state most favourable to virtue-The South Sea illanders compafionated, but chiefly Omai.-His prefent ftate of mind fuppofed.— Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities. - Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praife, but cenfured.-Fete champetre.The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of diffipation and effeminacy upon our public measures. THE TAS A S K. BOOK I. THE SOFA. I SING the SOFA. I, who lately fang Truth, Hope, and Charity*, and touch'd with awe The folemn chords, and with a trembling hand, Escap'd with pain from that advent'rous flight, Now feek repose upon an humbler theme; The theme though humble, yet august and proud Th' occafion-for the Fair commands the fong. Time was, when clothing fumptuous or for use, Save their own painted skins, our fires had none. As yet black breeches were not; fatin fmooth, Or velvet foft, or plush with fhaggy pile: And fway'd the fceptre of his infant realms: And drill'd in holes, the folid oak is found, By worms voracious eating through and through. At length a generation more refin'd Improv'd the fimple plan; made three legs four, |