446 -S%> on iht Duke of Bedford* NoT« 



By ufeful arts to meliorate the foil. 



Improve its culture, and extend its fame. 



By him the Plough its honour'd rank refum'd, 

 Flocks, tillage, herds, uneqaallM luilre ihed ; 



Eiich form improv'd the rural arts afTum'd, 



Arts f which fupport, and Britain s grandeur fprcad. 



To guide the Plough more ufeful good imparts, 

 Than fkill in arms to dare the martial deed ; 



To (limulate States to (hine in rural arts. 

 Is nobler far than conqu'ring hofls to lead. 



Charm'd with thefe arts, he towns and cities rear'd, 

 Made defarts bloom, and groves the waftes adorn ; 



Peopled lone wilds, the barren woodlands clear'd, 

 And bade the vallies wave with golden corn. 



By tafle improv'd, fair rofe the cultured farm. 



Flocks, herds, and villas, grac'd the flow'ry plains ; 



Hcc^lth, peace, and joy, fpread round each grateful charm, 

 Contentment cheer'd, and Plenty blefs'd the fwains. 



Vice fled the vales, with Luxury's blading train ; 



Ambition, guile, and treach'ry were unknown ; 

 Amid their toils foft flow'd the cheerful ftrain. 



And round the cots the Loves and Graces flione. 



Sweet fcenes of blifs ! — which Bedford bade to fmilc, 

 No more his prefence (hall your charms reftore ! 



Yet memxory oft fliall mark his glorious toil. 



And, forrowing, mufe on joys that rife no more. 



'Mid culturM wilds where flocks untended ftray. 

 Where paftures fmile, and golden harvefts wave, 



The fwains, enraptur'd as they roam, fliall fay, — 



** Thefe waltes to bloom, the noble Bedford gave. " 



Bring fnow-drops, violets, and the primrofe bloom, 



The crocus, dafl"odils, and hyacinths ftrew ; 

 With Spring's firfl: flow'rs adorn his early tomb, 



His facred urn with love's foft tears bedew. 



Let fond remembrance mark his faultlefs fame. 

 Dwell on his virtues, and his deeds emblaze, — 



Dt-eds which awak'd great George's * loud acclaim. 

 And ftill (hall flourilli in his country's praife. 

 Ye t, 



f Paturage ct labourage font itrs dtux mammclles de I'Etat. 

 * On receiving the account of the death of the Duke of Bedford, 

 the King inoft feelingly excUimcd — " The death of /"o good a maa 

 • a public hia \ " 



