ODE TO HEALTH, 1730. O HEALTH! capricious maid! Why dost thou shun my peaceful bow'r, Since thou, alas! art flown, It 'vails not whether Muse or Grace, Age not forbids thy stay; Thou yet might'st act the friendly part ; Thou scorn'st the city-air; I breathe fresh gales o'er furrow'd ground, I plunge into the wave; And tho' with purest hands I raise A rural altar to thy praise, Thou wilt not deign to save. 10 20 Amid my well-known grove, Thou hear'st the sportsman's claim, Is thought thy foe? Adieu, Ye midnight lamps! ye curious tomes! Is it the clime you flee? Yet 'midst his unremitting snows There was, there was a time, When tho' I scorn'd thy guardian care, Nor made a vow nor said a pray❜r, I did not rue the crime, Who then more bless'd than I? When the glad schoolboy's task was done, 30 35 1 How jovial then the day! What since have all my labours found, Thus climbing life to gaze around, Wert thou, alas! but kind, Methinks no frown that Fortune wears, Whate'er my stars include, What other breasts convert to pain, Repair this mould'ring cell, And bless'd with objects found at home, How pleas'd my soul should dwell! Temperance should guard the doors ; From room to room should Mem'ry stray,... And, ranging all in neat array, Enjoy her pleasing stores There let them rest unknown, The types of many a pleasing scene; 60 65 68 TO A LADY OF QUALITY, FITTING UP HER LIBRARY, 173%. AH! what is science, what is art, What can the tedious tomes bestow, Say, wretched Fancy! thus refin'd The polish'd bard, of genius vain, Sages, with irksome waste of time, 10 15 20 Yet why, Asteria, tell us why We scorn the crowd when you are nigh? Why learning then deserve our care? Who can unpleas'd your shelves behold Where are our humbler tenets flown? ANACREONTIC, 1738. "Twas in a cool Aonian glade A vagrant Muse drew nigh, and found But hush-from this auspicious hour |