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THE

TA S K,

A

POE M,

IN SIX BOOKS.

BY WILLIAM COWPER,

OF THE INNER TEMPLE, ESQ.

Fit surculus arbor.

ANONYM.

To which are added,

BY THE SAME AUTHOR,

An EPISTLE to JOSEPH HILL, Esq. TIROCINIUM, or a REVIEW of SCHOOLS, and the HISTORY of JOHN GILPIN.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR J. JOHNSON, No 72, ST. PAUL'S

CHURCH-YARD:

1785.

[Copy of the title-page of Cowper's second publication.]

ADVERTISEMENT

THE history of the following production is briefly this. A lady, fond of blank verse, demanded a poem of that kind from the author, and gave him the SOFA for a subject. He obeyed; and, having much leisure, connected another subject with it; and, pursuing the train of thought to which his situation and turn of mind led him, brought forth at length, instead of the trifle which he at first intended, a serious affair-a Volume.

In the poem on the subject of Education, he would be very sorry to stand suspected of having aimed his censure at any particular school. His objections are such as naturally apply themselves to schools in general. If there were not, as for the most part there is, wilful neglect in those who manage them, and an omission even of such discipline as they are susceptible of, the objects are yet too numerous for minute attention; and the aching hearts of ten thousand parents, mourning under the bitterest of all disappointments, attest the truth of the allega tion. His quarrel, therefore, is with the mischief at large, and not with any particular instance of it.

THE TASK

BOOK I

THE SOFA

ARGUMENT.-Historical deduction of seats, from the stool to the sofa-A schoolboy's ramble-A walk in the country-The scene described-Rural sounds as well as sights delightful-Another walk-Mistake concerning the charms of solitude corrected-Colonnades commended-Alcove, and the view from it-The wilderness-The grove-The thresher-The necessity and the benefits of exercise-The works of nature superior to, and in some instances inimitable by, art―The wearisomeness of what is commonly called a life of pleasure— Change of scene sometimes expedient-A common described, and the character of crazy Kate introduced upon it-Gipsies-The blessings of civilized lifeThat state most favourable to virtue-The South Sea islanders compassionated, but chiefly Omai-His present state of mind supposed-Civilized life friendly to virtue, but not great cities-Great_cities, and London in particular, allowed their due praise, but censured-Fête champêtre-The book concludes with a reflection on the fatal effects of dissipation and effeminacy upon our public measures.

I

SING the Sofa. I who lately sang

Truth, Hope, and Charity, and touched with awe
The solemn chords, and with a trembling hand
Escaped with pain from that adventurous flight,
Now seek repose upon an humbler theme;
The theme though humble, yet august and proud
The occasion-for the Fair commands the song.

Time was, when clothing sumptuous or for use,
Save their own painted skins, our sires had none.
As yet black breeches were not, satin smooth,
Or velvet soft, or plush with shaggy pile:
The hardy chief, upon the rugged rock
Washed by the sea, or on the gravelly bank
Thrown up by wintry torrents roaring loud,
Fearless of wrong, reposed his weary strength.
Those barbarous ages past, succeeded next
The birthday of invention, weak at first,
Dull in design, and clumsy to perform.

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