ADVERTISEMENT. THE history of the following production is briefly this....A lady, fond of blank verse, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a subject. He obeyed; and, having much leisure, connected another subject with it; and, pursuing the train of thought to which his situation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair....a Volume! ARGUMENT OF THE FIRST BOOK. con 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 cerning the charms of solitude corrected....Colonpades 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. |