Views in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Northamptonshire: illustrative of the works of Robert Bloomfield: accompanied with descriptions: to which is annexed a memoir of the poet's life . he well knew how to do/Mr. Austin, having himself a large family, couldpay but little attention to his young kinsn)an, morethan to ])roviding him with food and employment:in this respect, however, the treatment of his ser-vants and of his sons was the same; all workedhard, all lived well. Twas thus -with Giles ; meek, fatherless, and poor, Labour his portion, but he felt no more; No stripes, no tvrannyhis steps pursud,
Views in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Northamptonshire: illustrative of the works of Robert Bloomfield: accompanied with descriptions: to which is annexed a memoir of the poet's life . he well knew how to do/Mr. Austin, having himself a large family, couldpay but little attention to his young kinsn)an, morethan to ])roviding him with food and employment:in this respect, however, the treatment of his ser-vants and of his sons was the same; all workedhard, all lived well. Twas thus -with Giles ; meek, fatherless, and poor, Labour his portion, but he felt no more; No stripes, no tvrannyhis steps pursud, His life was constant, cheerful servitude : Strange to the world he ^vorc a bashful look, The fields his study, nature was his book : A little farm his generous master tiild, A\ ho with peculiar grace his station iiild ; By deeds of hospitality rndeard, Servd from afiection, for jiis worth reverd ; A happy offspring blest his plenteous board, 11 is fields were fruitful, and his barns well stord ; And fourscore ewes he fed, a sturdy team, And lowing kine that grazd beside the stream : Unceasing industry he kept in view, And never lackd a job for Giles to do. Farmers ROBERT BLOOMFIELD. 9 In this humble station our Poet acquired thatintimate knowledge of rural occupations and man-ners, the display of which forms the distinguishingfeature through all his writings. If the perceptivefaculties of his mind had not been improved byeducation, they were at least unclouded by itsdogmas; and the sensibility of his soul being awak-ened by the charms of nature, gave fervour to histhoughts, and he then attained that distinctness ofidea and individuality of conception, which becamethe basis of his subsequent greatness. Before the age of fifteen it v^as requisite to makesome change in the employment of young Bloom-field, as Mr. Austin had informed his mother thathe was so small of his age, as to be very litdelikely to be able to get his hving by hard labour :she wrote therefore to her two
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Keywords: ., bookauthorbrayleye, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1810, bookyear1818
