For all the favage din of the swift pack, And clamours of the field? detefted sport, Of filent tears and heart-diftending fighs? Well-one at leaft is fafe. One fhelter'd hare Of cruel man, exulting in her woes. Much of her vigilant instinctive dread, Not needful here, beneath a roof like mine. Yes-thou may'ft eat thy bread, and lick the hand That feeds thee; thou may'ft frolic on the floor At evening, and at night retire secure То To thy ftraw couch, and slumber unalarm'd ; I knew at least one hare that had a friend. How various his employments, whom the world Calls idle, and who juftly, in return, Efteems that bufy world an idler too! Friends, books, a garden, and perhaps his pen, Delightful industry enjoy'd at home, And nature in her cultivated trim Drefs'd to his taste, inviting him abroad- Is but a loan to be repaid with use, When He shall call his debtors to account, From whom are all our bleffings, bus'ness finds To its just point, the fervice of mankind. That has a heart and keeps it; has a mind Has business; feels himself engag'd t' achieve A life all turbulence and noise, may seem, Or Or dives not for it, or brings up instead, The morning finds the felf-fequefter'd man His warm but fimple home, where he enjoys, In felfish filence, but imparted oft As aught occurs that fhe may fimile to hear, Or if the garden with its many cares, All well repay'd, demand him, he attends The welcome call, confcious how much the hand Of lubbard labor needs his watchful eye, Oft loit'ring lazily, if not o'erfeen, Or mifapplying his unfkilful strength. 4 Nor Nor does he govern only or direct, But much performs himself. No works indeed With pleasure more than ev'n their fruits afford, Which, fave himself who trains them, none can feel: These therefore are his own peculiar charge, No meaner hand may difcipline the shoots, None but his steel approach them. What is weak, Diftemper'd, or has loft prolific pow'rs, Impair'd by age, his unrelenting hand Dooms to the knife: nor does he spare the foft But barren, at th' expence of neighb'ring twigs With hopeful gems. The reft, no portion left Large |