Its author himself says of it:--"If the work cannot boast a regular plan (in which respect, however, I do not think it altogether indefensible), it may yet boast, that the reflections are naturally suggested always by the preceding passage, and that, except the fifth book, which is rather of a political aspect, the whole has one tendency, to discountenance the modern enthusiasm after a London life, and to recommend rural ease and leisure as friendly to the cause of piety and virtue." A regular plan, assuredly, _The Task_ has not.

It rambles through a vast variety of subjects, religious, political, social, philosophical, and horticultural, with as little of method as its author used in taking his morning walks.

Nor as Mr.Benham has shown, are the reflections, as a rule, naturally suggested by the preceding passage.

From the use of a sofa by the gouty to those, who being free from gout, do not need sofas,--and so to country walks and country life is hardly a natural transition.

It is hardly a natural transition from the ice palace built by a Russian despot, to despotism and politics in general.