That first excites desire, and then supplies;
  Unknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy,
  To fill the languid pause with finer joy;
  Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,
  Catch every nerve, and vibrate ’through the frame. 220
  Their level life is but a smould’ring fire,
  Unquenched by want, unfanned by strong desire;
  Unfit for raptures, or, if raptures cheer
  On some high festival of once a year,
  In wild excess the vulgar breast takes fire, 225
  Till, buried in debauch, the bliss expire.

  But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow: 
  Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low;
  For, as refinement stops, from sire to son
  Unaltered, unimproved, the manners run, 230
  And love’s and friendship’s finely-pointed dart
  Fall blunted from each indurated heart. 
  Some sterner virtues o’er the mountain’s breast
  May sit, like falcons, cow’ring on the nest;
  But all the gentler morals, such as play 235
  Thro’ life’s more cultured walks, and charm the way,
  These, far dispersed, on timorous pinions fly,
  To sport and flutter in a kinder sky.

  To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,
  I turn; and France displays her bright domain. 240
  Gay, sprightly land of mirth and social ease,
  Pleased with thyself, whom all the world can please,
  How often have I led thy sportive choir,
  With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire? 
  Where shading elms along the margin grew, 245
  And freshened from the wave the Zephyr flew;
  And haply, though my harsh touch, faltering still,
  But mocked all tune, and marred the dancer’s skill,
  Yet would the village praise my wonderous power,
  And dance, forgetful of the noontide hour. 250
  Alike all ages.  Dames of ancient days
  Have led their children through the mirthful maze,
  And the gay grandsire, skilled in gestic lore,[30]
  Has frisked beneath the burthen of threescore.

  So blest a life these thoughtless realms display; 255
  Thus idly busy rolls their world away;[31]
  Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear,
  For honor forms the social temper here. 
  Honor, that praise which real merit gains,
  Or even imaginary worth obtains, 260
  Here passes current:  paid from hand to hand,
  It shifts in splendid traffic round the land;
  From courts to camps, to cottages, it strays,
  And all are taught an avarice of praise. 
  They please, are pleased; they give to get esteem; 265
  Till, seeming blest, they grow to what they seem.