THE

FLEECE.

BOOK III.

I

THE ARGUMENT.

Ntroduction. Recommendation of labor. The feveral methods of spinning. Defcription of the loom, and of weaving. Variety of looms. The fulling-mill defcribed, and the progress of the manufacture. Dying of cloth, and the excellence of the French in that art. Frequent negligence of our artificers. The ill confequences of idleness. Country-workhoufes propofed; with a defeription of one. Good effects of industry exemplified in the prospect of Burstal and Leeds; and the cloth-market there defcribed. Preference of the labors of the loom to other manufactures, illuftrated by fome comparisons. Hiftory of the art of weaving: its removal from the Netherlands, and fettlement in feveral parts of England. Cenfure of those, who would reject the perfecuted and the ftranger. Our trade and profperity owing to them. Of the manufacture of tapestry, taught us by the Saracens. Tapestries of Blenheim defcribed. Different arts, procuring wealth to different countries. Numerous inhabitants, and their industry, the fureft fource of it. Hence a wish, that our country were open to all men. View of the roads and rivers, through which our manufactures are conveyed. Our navigations not far from the feats of our manufactures: other countries lefs happy. The difficult work of Egypt in joining the Nile to the Red Sea; and of France in attempting, by canals, a communication between the ocean and the Mediterranean. Such junctions may more easily be performed in England, and the Trent and Severn united to the Thames. Defcription of the Thames, and the port of London.

THE

THE

FLEECE.

P

BOOK III.

ROCEED, Arcadian muse, resume the pipe

Of Hermes, long difus'd, tho' fweet the tone, And to the fongs of nature's chorifters

Harmonious. Audience pure be thy delight,
Though few: for ev'ry note which virtue wounds,
However pleafing to the vulgar herd,

To the purg'd ear is difcord. Yet too oft
Has falfe diffembling vice to am'rous airs
The reed apply'd, and heedlefs youth allur'd:
Too oft, with bolder found, enflam'd the rage
Of horrid war. Let now the fleecy looms
Direct our rural numbers, as of old,

When plains and fheepfolds were the mufes' haunts.
So thou, the friend of ev'ry virtuous deed
And aim, though feeble, fhalt thefe rural lays

Approve,

Approve, O HEATHCOTE, whose benevolence Vifits our vallies; where the pafture spreads, And where the bramble; and would justly act True charity, by teaching idle want

And vice the inclination to do good,

Good to themselves, and in themselves to all,
Through grateful toil. Ev'n nature lives by toil:
Beaft, bird, air, fire, the heav'ns, and rolling worlds,
All live by action: nothing lies at rest,
But death and ruin: man is born to care;
Fashion'd, improv'd, by labor. This of old,
Wise states obferving, gave that happy law,
Which doom'd the rich and needy, ev'ry rank,
To manual occupation; and oft call'd
Their chieftainsfrom thefpade, or furrowing plough,
Or bleating sheepfold. Hence utility
Through all conditions; hence the joys of health;
Hence ftrength of arm, and clear judicious thought;
Hence corn, and wine, and oil, and all in life
Delectable. What fimple nature yields
(And nature does her part) are only rude
Materials, cumbers on the thorny ground;

'Tis toil that makes them wealth; that makes the (Yet useless, rifing in unshapen heaps)

[Aecce,

Anon, in curious woofs of beauteous hue,
A vefture usefully fuccinct and warm,
Or, trailing in the length of graceful folds,
A royal mantle. Come, ye village nymphs,
The scatter'd mists reveal the dusky hills;
Grey dawn appears; the golden morn ascends,
And paints the glitt'ring rocks, and purple woods,
And flaming fpires; arife, begin your toils;
Behold the fleece beneath the spiky comb
Drop its long locks, or, from the mingling card,
Spread in foft flakes, and fwell the whiten'd floor.
Come,village nymphs, ye matrons, and ye maids,
Receive the soft material: with light step
Whether ye turn-around the fpacious wheel,
Or, patient fitting, that revolve, which forms
A narrower circle. On the brittle work
Point your quick eye; and let the hand affift
To guide and stretch the gently-lefs'ning thread:
Even, unknotted twine will praise your skill.

A diff'rent spinning ev'ry diff'rent web

Afks