University of Virginia Library

My happy Life, to a Friend.

Dearest in Friendship, if you'll know
Where I my self, and how bestow,
Especially when as I range,
Guided by Nature, to love change:
Beleeve, it is not to advance
Or add to my inheritance;
Seeking t'engross by Power (amiss)
What any other Man calls his:
But full contented with my owne,
I let all other things alone;
Which better to enjoy 'thout strife,
I settle to a Countrey life;
And in a sweet retirement there,
Cherish all Hopes, but banish fear,
Offending none; so for defence
Arm'd Capapee with Innocence;
I doe dispose of my time thus,
To make it more propitious.
First, my God serv'd; I doe commend
The rest to some choice Book or Friend,
Wherein I may such Treasure finde
T'inrich my nobler part, the Minde.
And that my Body Health comprise,
Use too some moderate Exercise;
Whether invited to the field,
To see what Pastime that can yield,
With horse, or hound, or hawk, or t'bee
More taken with a well-grown Tree;
Under whose Shades I may reherse
The holy Layes of Sacred Verse;
Whilst in the Branches pearched higher,
The wing'd Crew sit as in a quier:
This seems to me a better noise
Than Organs, or the dear-bought voice
From Pleaders breath in Court and Hall
At any time is stockt withall:
For here one may (if marking well)
Observe the Plaintive Philomel
Bemoan her sorrows; and the Thrush
Plead safety through Defendant Bush:
The Popingay in various die
Performes the Sergeant; and the Pie
Chatters, as if she would revive
The Old Levite prerogative,
And bring new Rotchets in again;
Till Crowes and Jackdaws in disdain
Of her Pide-feathers, chase her thence,
To yeeld to their preheminence:
For you must know't observ'd of late,
That Reformation in the State,
Begets no less by imitation,
Amidst this chirping feather'd Nation;
Cuckoes Ingrate, and Woodcocks some
Here are, which cause they't seasons come,
May be compar'd to such as stand
At Terms, and their returns command;
And lest Authority take cold,
Here's th' Ivyes guest of wonder, th' Owl,
Rufft like a Judge, and with a Beak,
As it would give the charge and speak:
Then 'tis the Goose and Buzzards art
Alone, t'perform the Clients part;
For neither Dove nor Pigeon shall,
Whilst they are both exempt from gall.
The Augur, Hern, and soaring Kite,
Kalendar weather in their flight;
As doe the Cleanlier Ducks, when they
Dive voluntary, wash, prune, play;
With the fair Cygnet, whose delight
Is to out-vie the snow in white.
And therefore alwayes seeks to hide
Her feet, lest they allay her pride.
The Moor-hen, Dobchick, Water rail,
With little Washdish or Wagtail;
The Finch, the Sparrow, Jenny Wren,
With Robin that's so kinde to men;
The Whitetail, and Tom Tit obey
Their seasons, bill and tread, then lay;
The Lyrick Lark doth early rise,
And mounting, payes her sacrifice;
Whilst from some hedg, or close of furrs,
The Partridge calls its Mate, and churrs;
And that the Countrey seem more pleasant,
Each heath hath Powt, and wood yeelds Phesant;
Iunoes delight with Cock and Hens
Turkies, are my Domestick friends:
Nor doe I bird of Prey inlist,
But what I carry on my Fist:
Now not to want a Court, a King-
Fisher is here with Purple wing,
Who brings me to the spring-head, where
Crystall is Lymbeckt all the yeere,
And every Drop distils, implies
An Ocean of Felicities;
Whilst calculating, it spins on,
And turns the Pebles one by one,
Administring to eye and eare
New Stars, and musick like the Sphere;
When every Purle Calcin'd doth run,
And represent such from the Sun:
Devouring Pike here hath no place,
Nor is it stor'd with Roach or Dace;
The Chub or Cheven not appeare,
Nor Millers Thumbs, nor Gudgeons here,
But nobler Trowts, beset with stones
Of Rubie and of Diamonds,
Bear greatest sway, yet some intrench,
As sharp-finn'd Pearch, and healing Tench;
The stream's too pure for Carp to lie,
Subject to perspicuitie,
For it must here be understood,
There are no beds of sand and Mud,
But such a Gravell as might pose
The best of Scholars to disclose,
And books and learning all confute,
Being clad in water Tissue sute.
These cool delights help'd with the air
Fann'd from the Branches of the fair
Old Beech or Oak, enchantments tie
To every senses facultie;
And master all those powers should give
The will any prerogative:
Yet when the scorching Noon-dayes heat,
Incommodates the Lowing Neat,
Or Bleating flock, hither each one
Hasts to be my Companion.
And when the Western Skie with red-
Roses bestrews the Day-stars bed:
The wholsome Maid comes out to Milk
In russet-coats, but skin like silk;
Which though the Sun and Air dies brown,
Will yeeld to none of all the Town
For softness, and her breaths sweet smell,
Doth all the new-milcht Kie excell;
She knows no rotten teeth, nor hair
Bought, or Complexion t'make her fair;
But is her own fair wind and dress,
Not envying Cities happiness:
Yet as she would extend some pitty
To the drain'd Neat she frames a ditty,
Which doth inchant the beast, untill
It patiently lets her Paile fill;
This doth the babbling Eccho catch,
And so at length to me't doth reach:
Straight roused up, I verdict pass,
Concluding from this bonny Lass,
And the Birds strains, 'tis hard to say
Which taught Notes first, or she, or they:
Thus ravish'd, as the night draws on
Its sable Curtain, in I'm gon
To my poor Cell; which 'cause 'tis mine,
I judge it doth all else out-shine,
Hung with content and weather-proof,
Though neither Pavement nor roof
Borrow from Marble-quarr below,
Or from those Hills where Cedars grow.
There I embrace and kiss my Spouse,
Who like the Vesta to the house,
A Sullibub prepares to show
By care and love what I must owe.
Then calling in the Spawn and frie,
Who whilst they live ne'r let us die;
But every face is hers or mine,
Though minted yet in lesser Coin,
She takes an Apple, I a Plumbe,
Encouragements for all and some:
Till in return they crown the herth
With innocent and harmless merth,
Which sends us Joyfull to our rest,
More than a thousand others blest.