So when a smooth expanse receives impress'd
Calm nature's image on its wat'ry breast,

Down bend the banks, the trees impending grow,
And skies beneath with answering colours glow.
But if a stone the gentle sea divide,

Swift ruffling circles curl on every side;
And glimm'ring fragments of a broken sun;
Banks, trees, and skies in thick disorder run.

To clear this doubt, to know the world by sight,
To find if books or swains report it right,
(For yet by swains alone the world he knew,
Whose feet came wand'ring o'er the nightly dew)
He quits his cell; the pilgrim's staff he bore,
And fix'd the scallop in his hat before;
Then with the sun a rising journey went,
Sedate to think, and watching each event.

The morn was wasted in the pathless grass, And long and lonesome was the wild to pass : But when the southern sun had warm'd the day, A youth came posting o'er a crossing way;

His raiment decent, his complexion fair,
And soft in graceful ringlets wav'd his hair.
Then near approaching, Father, hail! he cry'd;
And hail, my son! the rev'rend sire reply'd;

Words followed words, from question answer flow'd,

And talk of various kinds deceiv'd the road:
Till each with other pleas'd, and loth to part,
While in their age they differ, join in heart.
Thus stands an aged elm in ivy bound,
Thus youthful ivy clasps an elm around.
But here the youth enjoin'd the eager sire,
Who into hidden truths did much inquire,

If he'd in silence each event behold,
He would to him some wondrous things unfold.
Now sunk the sun-the closing hour of day
Came onward, mantled o'er with sober grey;
Nature in silence bid the world repose;
When near the road a stately palace rose :
There by the moon, thro' ranks of trees they pass,
Whose verdure crown'd their sloping sides of grass.
It chanc'd, the noble master of the dome

Still made his house the wand'ring stranger's home.
Yet still his kindness, from a thirst of praise,
Prov'd the vain flourish of expensive ease,
The pair arrive, the livery'd servants wait;
Their lord receives them at the pompous gate;
The table groans with costly piles of food,
And all is more than hospitably good.

Then led to rest, the day's long toil they drown,
Deep sunk in sleep, and silk, and heaps of down.
At length 'tis morn, and at the dawn of day
Along the wide canals the zephyrs play;
Fresh o'er the gay parterres the breezes creep,
And shake the neighbouring wood to banish sleep.
Up rise the guests, obedient to the call;

An early banquet deck'd the splendid hall;

Rich, luscious wine a golden goblet grac'd,

Which the kind master forced his guests to taste:
Then pleas'd and thankful from the porch they go,
And, but the landlord, none had cause of wo;
His cup was vanish'd; for in secret guise
The younger guest purloin'd the glittering prize.
Now on they pass-when far upon the road,
The wealthy spoil the wily partner shew'd.

Disorder'd stops, to shun the danger near,
Then walks with faintness on, and looks with fear:
So seem'd the sire, he walk'd with trembling heart:
And much he wish'd, but durst not ask to part:
Murm'ring, he lifts his eyes, and thinks it hard,
That gen'rous actions meet a base reward.

While thus they pass, the sun his glory shrouds,
The changing skies hang out their sable clouds;
A sound in air presag'd approaching rain,
And beasts to coverts scud across the plain.
Warn'd by the signs, the wand'ring pair retreat,
To seek for shelter at a neighb'ring seat:
'Twas built with turrets on a rising ground,
And strong, and large, and unimprov'd around:
Its owner's temper, tim'rous and severe,
Unkind and griping, caus'd a desert there.

As near the miser's heavy door they drew, Fierce rising gusts with sudden fury blew ; The nimble light'ning mix'd with showers began, And o'er their heads loud rolling thunder ran. Here long they knock, but knock or call in vain, Driv'n by the wind, and batter'd by the rain.