Читать книгу The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith - Оливер Голдсмит - Страница 14

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As different good, by Art or Nature given,

To different nations makes their blessings even. 80

Nature, a mother kind alike to all,

Still grants her bliss at Labour's earnest call;

With food as well the peasant is supplied

On Idra's cliffs as Arno's shelvy side;

And though the rocky-crested summits frown, 85

These rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.

From Art more various are the blessings sent;

Wealth commerce, honour, liberty, content.

Yet these each other's power so strong contest,

That either seems destructive of the rest. 90

Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,

And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.

Hence every state to one lov'd blessing prone,

Conforms and models life to that alone.

Each to the favourite happiness attends, 95

And spurns the plan that aims at other ends;

Till, carried to excess in each domain,

This favourite good begets peculiar pain.

But let us try these truths with closer eyes,

And trace them through the prospect as it lies: 100

Here for a while my proper cares resign'd,

Here let me sit in sorrow for mankind,

Like yon neglected shrub at random cast,

That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.

Far to the right where Apennine ascends, 105

Bright as the summer, Italy extends;

Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side,

Woods over woods in gay theatric pride;

THE TRAVELLER (R. Westall)