ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the Sofa.-A School-boy's ramble.-A walk in the country. The scene described-Rural sounds as well as sights delightful.-Another walk.-Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected.-Colonnades commended.-Alcove, and the view from it.The wilderness.-The grove.-The thresher.-The necessity and the benefits of exercise.-The works of nature superior to, and in some instances inimitable by, art.-The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure.-Change of scene sometimes expedient.-A common described, and the character of crazy Kate introduced.-Gipsies.-The blessings of civilized life.-That state most favourable to virtue. The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai.-His present state of mind supposed.-Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities. Great cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured.Fete champetre.-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures. THE THE TASK. BOOK I. THE SOFA. I SING the Sofa. I, who lately fang Truth, Hope, and Charity *, and touched with awe Time was, when clothing sumptuous or for use, Save their own painted skins, our fires had none. As yet black breeches were not; satin smooth, Or velvet foft, or plush with shaggy pile: *See Poems, vol. i. The hardy chief upon the rugged rock And fwayed the fceptre of his infant realms : And drilled in holes, the folid oak is found, At length a generation more refined Improved the fimple plan; made three legs four, And over the feat, with plenteous wadding ftuffed, . Lap-dog and lambkin with black staring eyes, Now came the cane from India smooth and bright These for the rich: the reft, whom fate had placed With base materials, fat on well-tanned hides, With here and there a tuft of crimson yarn, If cushion might be called, what harder feemed No want of timber then was felt or feared In Albion's happy ifle. The lumber ftood |