The generous Purpose in the glowing breast.
Oh, speak the joy, ye, whom the sudden Tear 1155
Surprises often, while you look around,

And nothing strikes your eye but sights of Bliss;
All various Nature pressing on the heart—
An elegant Sufficiency, Content,

Retirement, rural Quiet, Friendship, Books, 1160
Ease and alternate Labour, useful Life,
Progressive Virtue, and approving Heaven!
These are the matchless joys of virtuous Love;
And thus their moments fly. The Seasons thus,
As ceaseless round a jarring world they roll, 1165
Still find them happy; and consenting SPRING
Sheds her own rosy garland on their heads:
Till Evening comes at last, serene and mild;
When after the long vernal Day of Life,
Enamour'd more, as more Remembrance swells
With many a proof of recollected Love,
Together down they sink, in social Sleep;
Together freed, their gentle Spirits fly

To scenes where Love and Bliss immortal reign.

VOL. II.

L

SUMMER.

Jam clarus occultum Andromeda pater
Ostendit ignem: jam Procyon furit,
Et stella vesani Leonis,

Sole dies referente siccos.

Jam pastor umbras, cum grege languido,
Rivumque fessus quærit, et horridi
Dumeta Sylvani, caretque
Ripa vagis taciturna ventis.

HOR.

[The subjoined Dedication was printed in the First and Second Editions of Summer, which were issued in 1727 and 1728.]

TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

MR. DODINGTON,

ONE OF THE LORDS OF HIS MAJESTY'S

TREASURY, ETC.

SIR.

Ir is not my purpose, in this address, to run into the common tract of dedicators, and attempt a panegyric which would prove ungrateful to you, too arduous for me, and superfluous with regard to the world. To you it would prove ungrateful, since there is a certain generous delicacy in men of the most distinguished merit, disposing them to avoid those praises they so powerfully attract. And when I consider that a character in which the Virtues, the Graces, and the Muses join their influence, as much exceeds the expression of the most elegant and judicious pen, as the finished beauty does the representation of the pencil, I have the best reasons for declining such an arduous undertaking. As, indeed, it would be super