B. III.
Preserving HEALTH.
71
Whate'er you study, in whate'er you sweat,
Indulge your taste. Some love the manly foils;
160The tennis some; and some the graceful dance.
Others, more hardy, range the purple heath,
Or naked stubble; where from field to field
The sounding coveys urge their labouring flight;
Eager amid the rising cloud to pour
165The gun's unerring thunder: And there are
Whom still the [1]meed of the green archer charms.
He chuses best, whose labour entertains
His vacant fancy most: The toil you hate
Fatigues you soon, and scarce improves your limbs.
170As beauty still has blemish; and the mind
The most accomplish'd its imperfect side;
Few bodies are there of that happy mould
- ↑ This word is much used by some of the old English poets, and signifies Reward or Prize.
But
