Should drown his labours in my friendly bowl; And at my table find himself at home. Whate’er you study, in whate’er you sweat, Indulge your taste. Some love the manly foils; The tennis some; and some the graceful dance. 160 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 The gun’s unerring thunder: And there are 165 Whom still the meed[6] 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. As beauty still has blemish; and the mind 170 The most accomplish’d its imperfect side; Few bodies are there of that happy mould But some one part is weaker than the rest: The legs, perhaps, or arms refuse their load, Or the chest labours. These assiduously, 175 But gently, in their proper arts employ’d, Acquire a vigor and elastic spring To which they were not born. But weaker parts Abhor fatigue and violent discipline. Begin with gentle toils; and, as your nerves 180 Grow firm, to hardier by just steps aspire. The prudent, even in every moderate walk, At first but saunter; and by slow degrees Increase their pace. This doctrine of the wise Well knows the master of the flying steed. 185 First from the goal the manag’d coursers play On bended reins; as yet the skilful youth Repress their foamy pride; but every breath The race grows warmer, and the tempest swells; Till all the fiery mettle has its way, 190 And the thick thunder hurries o’er the plain. When all at once from indolence to toil You spring, the fibres by the hasty shock Are tir’d and crack’d, before their unctuous coats, Compress’d, can pour the lubricating balm. 195 Besides, collected in the passive veins, The purple mass a sudden torrent rolls, O’erpowers the heart, and deluges the lungs With dangerous inundation: Oft the source Of fatal woes; a cough that foams with blood, 200 Asthma, and feller Peripneumonie[7], Or the slow minings of the hectic fire.