ON
A
FIT
of
the
GOUT
.
By
the
Same
.
WHerefore
was
man
thus
form'd
with
eye
sublime
,
With
active
joints
,
to
traverse
hill
or
plain
,
But
to
contemplate
nature
in
her
prime
,
Lord
of
this
ample
world
,
his
fair
domain
?
Why
on
this
various
earth
such
beauty
pour'd
,
But
for
thy
pleasure
,
man
,
her
sovereign
lord
?
Why
does
the
mantling
vine
her
juice
afford
Nectareous
,
but
to
cheer
with
cordial
taste
?
Why
are
the
earth
and
air
and
ocean
stor'd
With
beast
,
fish
,
fowl
;
if
not
for
man's
repast
!
Yet
what
avails
to
me
,
or
taste
,
or
sight
,
Exil'd
from
every
object
of
delight
?
So
much
I
feel
of
anguish
,
day
and
night
Tortur'd
,
benumb'd
;
in
vain
the
fields
to
range
Me
vernal
breezes
,
and
mild
suns
invite
:
In
vain
the
banquet
smokes
with
kindly
change
Of
delicacies
,
while
on
every
plate
Pain
lurks
in
ambush
,
and
alluring
fate
.
Fool
not
to
know
the
friendly
powers
create
These
maladies
in
pity
to
mankind
;
These
abdicated
reason
reinstate
,
When
lawless
appetite
usurps
the
mind
;
Heaven's
faithful
centries
at
the
door
of
bliss
Plac'd
to
deter
,
or
to
chastise
excess
.
Weak
is
the
aid
of
wisdom
to
repress
Passion
perverse
;
philosophy
how
vain
!
'Gainst
Circe's
cup
,
enchanting
sorceress
;
Or
when
the
Syren
sings
her
warbling
strain
.
Whate'er
or
sages
teach
,
or
bards
reveal
,
Men
still
are
men
,
and
learn
but
when
they
feel
.
As
in
some
free
and
well-pois'd
common-weal
Sedition
warns
the
rulers
how
to
steer
,
As
storms
and
thunders
rattling
with
loud
peal
,
From
noxious
dregs
the
dull
horizon
clear
;
So
when
the
mind
imbrutes
in
sloth
supine
,
Sharp
pangs
awake
her
energy
divine
.
Cease
,
then
,
ah
cease
,
fond
mortal
,
to
repine
At
laws
,
which
nature
wisely
did
ordain
;
Pleasure
,
what
is
it
?
rightly
to
define
,
'Tis
but
a
short
liv'd
interval
from
pain
:
Or
rather
each
alternately
renew'd
,
Give
to
our
lives
a
sweet
vicissitude
.