Book IV.

_Instead of_ ll. 3-22:

“Brother,” said George, “when I beheld you last, The time how distant!--Well! the time is past-- I had not then these comforts you behold, Things that amuse us when we’re getting old. These Pictures now! experienced men will say, They’re genuine all, and so perhaps they may; They cost the money, that I’m sure is true, And therefore, Richard, I will say it too. Music you find; for hither ladies come; They make infernal uproar in the room. I bear it. Why? because I must expect To pay for honour, and I fear neglect. And if attraction from your person flies, You must some pleasure from your purse devise: But this apart--the triflers should not know That they can comfort or regret bestow.” (O.M.)

_instead of_ ll. 76-7:

“That gun itself, that breaks upon the ear, Has something suited to the dying year.” “The dying partridge!” cried, with much disdain, Th’ offended ’Squire--“Our laws are made in vain: The country, Richard, would not be amiss, But for these plagues, and villanies like this; Wealth breeds the curse that fixes on the land, And strife and heritage go hand in hand.” (O.M.)

_instead of_ ll. 88-130:

They walk’d along, through mead and shaded wood, And stubble ground, where late abundance stood, And in the vale, where winter waters glide, O’er pastures stretching up the mountain side. With a shrewd smile, but mix’d with look severe, The landlord view’d the promise of the year. “See! that unrivall’d flock! they, they alone Have the vast body on the slender bone; They are the village boast, the country’s theme, Fleece of such staple! flesh in such esteem!” Richard gave praise, but not in rapturous style; He chose his words, and spoke them with a smile: “Brother,” said he, “and if I take you right, I am full glad--these things are your delight; I see you proud, but,”--speaking half aside-- “Is, now, the pleasure equal to the pride?” A transient flush on George’s face appear’d, Cloudy he look’d, and then his looks were cleared: “Look at yon hind!” said he,--“in very deed, His is the pride and pleasure in the breed; He has delight, he judges--I the name, And the whole praise--I speak it to my shame. Oh! Richard, Richard, tell me, if you can, What will engage and fix the mind of man?” “Suppose,” said he, “we look about the green, } In yonder cots some objects may be seen, } T’ excite our pity, or relieve our spleen,” } “Oh! they are thieves and blockheads,” George replied, “Unjust, ungrateful, and unsatisfied; To grasp at all, their study, thought, and care, All would be thieves and plunderers, if they dare; His envious nature not a clown conceals, But bluntly shows the insolence he feels.” “And whence,” said Richard, “should the vice proceed, But from their want of knowledge, and their need? Let them know more, or let them better feel, And I’ll engage they’ll neither threat nor steal.” “Brother,” said George, “your pity makes you blind To all that’s vile and odious in mankind; ’T is true your notions may appear divine, But for their justice--let us go and dine.” (O.M.)

=Book V.=

l. 182. woe. l. 415. controul.

=Book VI.=

_The Book opens:_

The evening came: “My Brother, what employs Thy mind?” said Richard; “what disturbs thy joys? Hast thou not all the good the world can give, And liv’st a life that kings might sigh to live? Can nothing please thee? Thou wert wont to seize On passing themes, and make the trifles please. Thy Muse has many a pleasant fancy bred, And clothed in lively manner!----is she dead?” “Not dead but sick, and I too weary grow Of reaping nothing from the things I sow. What is the pleasure--thou perhaps canst say-- Of playing tunes, if none can hear thee play? Timid and proud, the world I cannot court, Nor show my labours for the critic’s sport. Hast thou the courage, Richard? hast thou tried An Author’s perils? hast thou felt his pride? For vain the efforts, and they quickly tire, If we alone our precious things admire.” “Not so,” said Richard, and acquired a look That some expression from his feelings took; “Oh! my dear Brother, if this Muse of mine, Who prompts the idle thought, the trifling line, If she who calmly looks around, nor more Muse of the Mad, the Foolish, and the Poor, If she can pleasure--and she can--impart, Can wing the fancy, can enlarge the heart; What must a Muse of strength, of force, of fire, In the true Poet’s ample mind inspire? What must he feel, who can the soul express Of saint or hero?--he must be no less. Nor less of evil minds he knows the pain, But quickly lost the anguish and the stain, While with the wisest, happiest, purest, best, His soul assimilates and loves to rest. Crowns would I spurn, and empires would I lose, For inspiration from the sacred Muse.” “A song,” said George, “and I my secret store, Confined in dust and darkness, will explore. Poet with poet, bard and critic too, We fear no censure, and dread no review. A judge so placed must be to errors kind, And yield the mercy that he hopes to find; Begin then, Richard, put thy fears aside; } Shall I condemn, who must myself be tried? } In me at least my Brother may confide. } In hope of wearing, I shall yield the bays, And my self-love shall give my rival praise.” (O.M.)

_instead of_ ll. 18-30:

“Wilt thou explain? I shall not grieve to share A lover’s sorrow, or a husband’s care?” Kindness like this had moved a sterner man, Richard much more. He smiled, and thus began:-- “No more I loved the sea; that plunge had tamed My blood, by youth in idleness inflamed: To my affairs I forced my mind t’ attend, And sought the town to counsel with a friend. Much we debated--Could I now resign My earthly views, and look to things divine? Could I to merchandise my mind persuade, And wait in patience for the gain of trade? Or if I could not early habits quit, Had I a stock, and could subsist on wit? “Measures like these became my daily themes, My airy castles, my projector’s dreams. But health, so long neglected, now became No more the blessing of my failing frame: A fever seized it, of that dangerous kind, That while it taints the blood, infects the mind. I traced her flight as Reason slowly fled, And her last act assured me Hope was dead: But Reason err’d, and when she came again To aid the senses and direct the brain, She found a body weak, but well disposed For life’s enjoyments, and the grave was closed. But danger past, and my recovery slow, } I sought the health that mountain gales bestow, } And quiet walks where peace and violets grow. } “Now, my dear Brother, when the languid frame Has this repose, and when the blood is tame, Yet strength increasing, and when every hour Gives some increase of pleasure and of power, When every sense partakes of fresh delight, And every object wakes an appetite; When the mind rests not, but for ever roves On all around, and as it meets approves; Then feels the heart its bliss, that season then is love. “Think of me thus disposed, and think me then Retired from crowded streets and busy men, In a neat cottage, by the sweetest stream That ever warbled in a poet’s dream; An ancient wood behold, so vast, so deep, That hostile armies might in safety sleep, Where loving pairs had no observers near, And fearing not themselves, had none to fear; There to fair walks, fresh meadows, and clear skies, I fled as flee the weary and the wise.” (O.M.)

_instead of_ ll. 174-5:

“With whom she tarried, a delighted guest! Delightful ever! blessing still and bless’d.” (O.M.)

l. 359. woe.

=Book VII=.

_Instead of_ ll. 533-4:

And thus she said, and with an air designed To look and be affectionate and kind. (U.P.)

l. 551. woe. _instead of_ ll. 593-8:

Come, my dear Friend, discard that Brow of Care: What was at first intended all things are; All by the mighty Cause for bliss designed The only good of Matter and in Mind. So was I taught by one who taught me all That I the first and only good can call! (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 601-2;

I meant again, in spite of every Cow, To pass that way and hear my Shepherd’s Vow. (U.P.)

_after_ l. 625:

When the sun is descended the moon will arise; And sweeter her softer and mellower Ray, When the blossom no longer is fair in our Eyes, The Fruit will enlarge and our losses repay; And when from the cheek the young Roses decay, Tis a Sign that the Fire is collected within: No longer for Boys the light flower to display, But manly Affections to wake and to win. (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 626-41:

My Damon was the first to wake The Flame that slept but cannot die; My Damon is the last to take The best the truest softest Sigh.

The Life between is nothing worth: O! cast it all as vile away. Save the sweet Day that gave it Birth, And this a fonder happier Day.

O tell me not what I have done, When there is so much done amiss; For who can fate and madness shun In such bewildering World as this?

Love can a thousand Faults forgive, Or with a tender Smile reprove; And now let nought in Memory live, But that we meet and that we love. (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 664-7:

Were you not Witness how I blossomed then, Blushing and blooming in the Eyes of Men; Made by one sex a Goddess, and denied Respect and notice by the other’s Pride? (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 682-91:

Is it not written, he who came to save The adultress [ ] of her Crime forgave; Would the lost sheep all graciously restore, And bade the weeping Sinner sin no more? Yes, this is true, but where the Eye that reads The broken Spirit or the Heart that bleeds? But where the Heart that could the Deed deplore, And where the Hand that would the Mind restore; That could the sinful Soul on trust receive And, tho’ all urged against Belief, believe? (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 702-9:

With Spirits low and ill-directed Mind She soon her [ ] of penitence resigned; And rushed again into the World, prepar’d To do whatever thoughtless Frenzy dared. And so she perished! Nay! while yet disposed T’ enjoy the world, the world’s adventures closed. (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 736-7:

To save from sin the long expected pay, And call hence Souls whose bodies waste away. (U.P.)

_instead of_ ll. 742-3:

And I a fellow sinner! who enquired If ought beside the feeble Heart required Was by, to watch the Dawn of Hope, to cheer The drooping Spirit, and to prove how dear The [Loving] Soul may be whose Turning is sincere. (U.P.)

_instead of_ l. 751:

To think for what was formed this Creature Man! (U.P.)

_instead of_ l. 757:

Gold, to enlarge the Treasures that abound. (U.P.)

_after_ l. 766:

I shuddered, R[ichard], at the general View-- The Work undone--What yet I had to do! (U.P.)

l. 781. woe. l. 782. woe. l. 789. woe.