Society in Winter. What now avails that noble thirst of fame, Which stung thy fervent breast? that treasur'd store Of YOUTHFUL Patriots, who sustain her name ? 565 570 With them would search, if Nature's boundless frame Was call'd, late-rising from the void of night, Or sprung eternal from th' ETERNAL MIND; In full perfection, to th' astonish'd eye. Then would we try to scan the moral World 580 流 Society in Winter. Which, though to us it seems embroil'd, moves on By WISDOM's finest hand, and issuing all In general Good. The sage historic Muse Should next conduct us through the deeps of time: Show us how empire grew, declin'd, and fell, 585 In scatter'd states; what makes the nations smile; 590 Of purest heaven, which lights the public soul Of patriots, and of heroes. But if doom'd, In powerless humble fortune, to repress Then, ev'n superior to ambition, we Would learn the private virtues; how to glide 595 600 Through shades and plains, along the smoothest stream Of rural life: or snatch'd away by hope, Through the dim spaces of futurity,... With earnest eye anticipate those scenes 605 Winter Amusements. In endless growth and infinite ascent, Rises from state to state, and world to world. We, shifting for relief, would play the shapes Of frolic fancy; and incessant form Whence lively Wit excites to gay surprise; Or folly-painting Humour, grave himself, Calls Laughter forth, deep-shaking every nerve. 610 615 Heard solemn, goes the goblin-story round; 620 Or, frequent in the sounding hall, they wake The kiss, snatch'd hasty from the side-long maid, 625 On purpose guardless, or pretending sleep: The leap, the slap, the haul; and, shook to notes Of native music, the respondent dance. Thus jocund fleets with them the winter-night. |