Читать книгу The Complete Poetical Works of Oliver Goldsmith - Оливер Голдсмит - Страница 21

page 15

While the pent ocean rising o'er the pile,

Sees an amphibious world beneath him smile;

The slow canal, the yellow-blossom'd vale,

The willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail,

The crowded mart, the cultivated plain, 295

A new creation rescu'd from his reign.

Thus, while around the wave-subjected soil

Impels the native to repeated toil,

Industrious habits in each bosom reign,

And industry begets a love of gain. 300

Hence all the good from opulence that springs,

With all those ills superfluous treasure brings,

Are here displayed. Their much-lov'd wealth imparts

Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts;

But view them closer, craft and fraud appear, 305

E'en liberty itself is barter'd here.

At gold's superior charms all freedom flies,

The needy sell it, and the rich man buys;

A land of tyrants, and a den of slaves,

Here wretches seek dishonourable graves, 310

And calmly bent, to servitude conform,

Dull as their lakes that slumber in the storm.

Heavens! how unlike their Belgic sires of old!

Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold;

War in each breast, and freedom on each brow; 315

How much unlike the sons of Britain now!

Fir'd at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,

And flies where Britain courts the western spring;

Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride,

And brighter streams than fam'd Hydaspes glide. 320