BOOK.] Chace. 229 



Of ranker weeds, each {lomach-healiiig plant 

 Curious they crop, fick, fpiritlefs, forlorn. 

 Thefe inaufpicious days, on other cares 

 Employ thy precious hours, th' improving friend 

 With open arms embrace, and from his lips 

 Glean fcience, feafon'd with good-natur'd wit. 

 Butif th' inclement fk-ies and angry Jove 

 Forbid the pleafing intercourfe, thy books 

 Invite thy ready hand, each facred page 

 Rich with the wife remarks of heroes old ; 

 Converfe familiar with th' illuftrious dead ; 

 With great examples of old Greece or Rome 

 Enlarge thy free-born heart, and blefs kind Heav'n, 

 That Britain yet enjoys dear liberty. 

 That balm of life, that fweeteft blefFing, cheap 

 Tho' purehas'd with our blood. Well-bred, polite, 

 Credit thy calling. See ! how mean, how low. 

 The booklefs faunt'ring youth, proud of the fkut 

 That dignifies his cap, his flourifh'd belr. 

 And rufty couples gingling by his f^de. 

 Be thou of other mould ; and know that fuch 

 Tranfporting pleafures were by Heav'n ordain'd 

 Wifdom's relief, and virtue's great reward. 



0^3 BOOK 



