655

"Huge Breaden's † stony summit once I climb'd "After a kidling: Damon, what a scene! "What various views unnumber'd spread beneath! 66 Woods, tow'rs, vales, caves, dells, cliffs, and torrent floods,

"And here and there, between the spiry rocks, "The broad flat sea. Far nobler prospects these "Than gardens black with smoke in dusty towns, "Where stenchy vapours often blot the sun : 661 "Yet, flying from his quiet, thither crowds "Each greedy wretch for tardy-rising wealth, "Which comes too late, that courts the taste in vain, "Or nauseates with distempers. Yes, ye Rich! 665 “Still, still be rich, if thus ye fashion life; "And piping, careless, silly shepherds we, "We silly shepherds, all intent to feed

"Our snowy flocks, and wind the sleeky Fleece." "Deem not, howe'er, our occupation mean," 670 Damon reply'd, "while the Supreme accounts "Well of the faithful shepherd, rank'd alike "With king and priest: they also shepherds are; "For so th' All-seeing stiles them, to remind Elated man, forgetful of his charge."

675

"But haste, begin the rites: see purple Eve "Stretches her shadows: all ye Nymphs and Swains! "Hither assemble. Pleas'd with honours due,

679

Sabrina, guardian of the crystal flood, "Shall bless our cares, when she by moonlight clear "Skims o'er the dales, and eyes our sleeping folds;

685

"Or in hoar caves around Plynlymmon's brow, "Where precious minerals dart their purple gleams, "Among her sisters she reclines; the lov'd "Vaga, profuse of graces, Ryddol rough, "Blithe Ystwith, and Clevedoc †, swift of foot; "And mingles various seeds of flow'rs and herbs, "In the divided torrents, ere they burst

"Thro' the dark clouds, and down the mountain roll. «Nor taint-worm shall infect the yeaning herds, 690 "Nor penny-grass, nor spear-wort's pois'nous leaf." He said with light fantastic toe the nymphs Thither assembled, thither every swain;

:

And o'er the dimpled stream a thousand flow`rs, Pale lilies, roses, violets, and pinks,

695

Mix'd with the greens of burnet, mint, and thyme, And trefoil sprinkled with their sportive arms.

Such custom holds along th' irriguous vales From Wreakin's brow to rocky Dolvoryn ‡, Sabrina's early haunt, ere yet she fled

700

The search of Guendolen, her stepdame proud,
With envious hate enrag'd. The jolly cheer,
Spread on a mossy bank, untouch'd abides
Till cease the rites: and now the mossy bank
Is gaily circled, and the joily cheer
Dispers'd in copious measure; early fruits,
And those of frugal store, in husk or rind;
Steep'd grain, and curdled milk with dulcet cream

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Vaga, Ryddol, Ystwith, and Clevedoc, rivers, the springs of which rise In the sides of Plynlymmon.

1 Delvoryn, a ruinous castle in Montgomeryshire, on the banks of the

Soft temper'd, in full merriment they quaff,
And cast about their gibes; and some apace
Whistle to roundelays: their little-ones
Look on delighted ; while the Mountain-woods
And winding vallies with the various notes

710

715

Of pipe, sheep, kine, and birds, and liquid brooks,
Unite their echoes: near at hand the wide
Majestic wave of Severn slowly rolls
Along the deep-divided glebe: the flood,
And trading bark with low contracted sail,
Linger among the reeds and copsy banks
To listen, and to view the joyous scene.

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BOOK II.

The Argument.

INTRODUCTION. Recommendation of mercifulness to animals. Of the winding of wool. Diversity of wool in the Fleece: skill in the assorting of it, particularly among the Dutch. The uses of each sort. Severe winters pernicious to the Fleece. Directions to prevent their effects. Wool lightest in common fields: inconveniencies of common fields. Vulgar errors concerning the wool of England: its real excellencies; and directions in the choice. No good wool in cold or wet pastures; yet all pastures improvable exemplified in the drainage of Bedford Level. Britain in ancient times not esteemed for wool. Countries esteemed for wool before the Argonautic expedition. Of that expedition, and its consequences. Countries afterwards esteemed for wool. The decay of arts and sciences in the barbarous ages: their revival, first at Venice. Countries noted for wool in the present times. Wool the best of all the various materials for clothing. The wool of our island peculiarly excellent is the combing wool. Methods to prevent its exportation. Apology of the Author for treating on this subject. Bishop Blaize the inventor of wool-combing. Of the dying of wool. Few dyes the natural product of England. Necessity of trade for importing them. The advantages of trade, and its utility in the moral world; exempilfied in the prosperity and ruin of the elder Tyre.

Now of the sever'd lock begin the song
With various numbers, thro' the simple theme
To win attention: this, ye Shepherd Swains!
This is a labour. Yet, O Wray! if thou
Cease not with skilful hand to point her way,
The lark-wing'd Muse above the grassy vale,
And hills, and woods, shall, singing, soar aloft;
And he whom learning, wisdom, candour, grace,
Who glows with all the virtues of his sire,
Royston! approve, and patronize the strain.
Thro' all the brute creation none as sheep

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10

For him their udders yield nectareous, streams;
For him their downy vestures they resign;

For him they spread the feast : ah ! ne'er may he 15
Glory in wants which doom to pain and death
His blameless fellow-creatures. Let disease,
Let wasted hunger, by destroying live,
And the permission use with trembling thanks,
Meekly reluctant: 't is the brute beyond;
And gluttons ever murders when they kill.
Ev'n to the reptile every cruel deed
Is high impiety. Howe'er not all,
Not of the sanguinary tribe are all ;

20

All are not savage. Come, ye gentle Swains! 25
Like Brama's healthy sons on Indus' banks,
Whom the pure stream and garden fruits sustain ;
Ye are the sons of Nature; your mild hands
Are innocent: ye, when ye shear, relieve.
Come, gentle Swains! the bright unsully'd locks 30
Collect; alternate songs shall sooth your cares,
And warbling music break from every spray.
Be faithful, and the genuine locks alone
Wrap round; nor alien flake nor pitch enfold;
Stain not your stores with base desire to add
Fallacious weight; nor yet, to mimic those,
Minute and light, of sandy Urchinfield†,
Lessen, with subtile artifice, the Fleece;
Equal the fraud: nor interpose delay,
Lest busy ether thro' the open wool

Urchinfield, the country about Ross in Herefordshire.

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