Page:The Village - Crabbe (1783).djvu/16

 Her's is the fault if here mankind complain Of fruitless toil and labour spent in vain; But yet in other scenes more fair in view, Where Plenty smiles—alas! she smiles for few, And those who taste not, yet behold her store, Are as the slaves that dig the golden ore, The wealth around them makes them doubly poor: Or will you deem them amply paid in health, Labour's fair child, that languishes with Wealth? Go then! and see them rising with the sun, Through a long course of daily toll to run; Like him to make the plenteous harvest grow, And yet not share the plenty they bestow; See them beneath the dog-star's raging heat, When the knees tremble and the temples beat; Behold them leaning on their scythes, look o'er The labour past, and toils to come explore; Rh