From the full cistern lead the ductile streams, 

 To wash thy court well-pav'd, nor spare thy pains, 

 For much to health will cleanliness avail. 

 Seek'st thou for hounds to climb the rocky steep, 

 And brush th' entangled covert, whose nice scent 

 O'er greasy fallows and frequented roads 

 Can pick the dubious way ? Banish far off 

 Each noisome stench, let no offensive smell 

 Invade thy wide inclosure, but admit 

 The nitrous air and purifying breeze. 



Water and shade no less demand thy care : 

 In a large square th' adjacent field inclose, 

 There plant in equal ranks the spreading elm, 

 Or fragrant lime ; most happy thy design, 

 If at the bottom of thy spacious court, 

 A large canal fed by the crystal brook 

 From its transparent bosom shall reflect 

 Downward thy structure and inverted grove. 

 Here when the sun's too potent gleams annoy 

 The crowded kennel, and the drooping pack 

 Restless and faint loll their unmoisten'd tongues, 

 And drop their feeble tails ; to cooler shades 

 Lead forth the panting tribe ; soon shalt thou find 

 The cordial breeze their fainting hearts revive : 

 Tumultuous soon they plunge into the stream, 

 There lave their reeking sides, with greedy joy 

 Gulp down the flying wave, this way and that 

 From shore to shore they swim, while clamour loud 



46 



