With crowds attended of your ancient race, 50 You seek the champion sports, or sylvan chase: With well-breath'd beagles you surround the wood, Even then, industrious of the common good: And often have you brought the wily fox To suffer for the firstlings of the flocks; Chased even amid the folds; and made to bleed, Like felons, where they did the murderous deed. This fiery game your active youth maintain'd; Not yet by years extinguish'd, though restrain'd: You season still with sports your serious hours: 60 For age but tastes of pleasures youth devours. The hare in pastures or in plains is found, Emblem of human life, who runs the round; And, after all his wandering ways are done, His circle fills, and ends where he begun-- Just as the setting meets the rising sun. Thus princes ease their cares; but happier he, Who seeks not pleasure through necessity, Than such as once on slippery thrones were placed; And chasing, sigh to think themselves are chased. 70 So lived our sires, ere doctors learn'd to kill, And multiplied with theirs the weekly bill. The first physicians by debauch were made: Excess began, and sloth sustains the trade, Pity the generous kind their cares bestow To search forbidden truths (a sin to know), To which, if human science could attain, The doom of death, pronounced by God, were vain. In vain the leech would interpose delay; Fate fastens first, and vindicates the prey. 80 What help from art's endeavours can we have? Gibbons[26] but guesses, nor is sure to save: But Maurus[27] sweeps whole parishes, and peoples every grave; And no more mercy to mankind will use, Than when he robb'd and murder'd Maro's Muse. Wouldst thou be soon despatch'd, and perish whole, Trust Maurus with thy life, and Milbourn[28] with thy soul. By chase our long-lived fathers earn'd their food; Toil strung the nerves, and purified the blood: But we their sons, a pamper'd race of men, 90 Are dwindled down to threescore years and ten. Better to hunt in fields for health unbought, Than fee the doctor for a nauseous draught. The wise, for cure, on exercise depend; God never made his work for man to mend.