once i can approve the s voice and make the course he my choice we meet at last in one sincere desire his wish and mine both prompt me retire tis done � he steps into the welcome chaise at his ease behind four handsome that whirl away from business and debate the of the state ask not the boy who when the breeze of mom first shakes the glittering drops from every thorn his flock then under bank or bush sits cherry stones or rush how fair is freedom � he was always free to his rustic name upon a tree to the or with ill fashioned hook to draw the from the brook are life s prime pleasures in his simple view his flock the chief concern he ever knew she shines but little in his heedless eyes the good we never miss we rarely prize but ask the noble in state affairs � william escaped from office and its constant cares what charms he sees in freedom s smile expressed in freedom lost so long now the tongue whose strains were as commands at home and felt in foreign lands shall own itself a in that cause or plead its silence as its best applause he knows indeed that whether dressed or rude wild without art or subdued nature in every form delight but never marked her with so just a sight her hedge row shrubs a store with and wild roses o er green and lands the stream that its o er the downs that almost escape the inquiring eye that melt and fade into the distant sky beauties he lately as he passed seem all created since he travelled last master of all the he designed no rough annoyance in his mind what early philosophic hours he keeps how regular his meals how sound he sleeps not he that on the head while morning with a windy red begins a long look out for distant land nor till evening watch his giddy stand then swift descending with a seaman s haste slips to his and forgets the blast he chooses company but not the squire s whose wit is whose good breeding nor yet the parson s who would gladly come when abroad though proud at home nor can he much affect the neighbouring peer whose toe of too near but wisely seeks a more convenient friend with whom forms he a man whom marks of grace teach while they flatter him his proper place a the english poets who comes when called and at a word speaks with reserve and with applause some plain who without pretence to birth or wit nor gives nor takes offence on whom he rests well pleased his weary powers and talks and laughs away his vacant hours the tide of life swift always in its course may run in cities with a force but nowhere with a current so serene or half so clear as in the rural scene yet how is all earthly bliss what obvious truths the wisest heads may miss some pleasures live a month and some a year but short the date of all we gather here no happiness is felt except the true that does not charm the more for being new this observation as it chanced not made or if the thought occurred not duly weighed he sighs � for after all by slow degrees the spot he loved has lost the power to please to cross his pony day by day seems at the best but dreaming life away the prospect such as might despair he views it not or sees no beauty there with aching heart and discontented looks returns at noon to or to books but feels while grasping at his faded joys a secret thirst of his he the of every post to be told of battles won or lost his own though late tis criminal to leave a sinking state flies to the and received with grace kisses hands and shines again in place william what to read from the same a mind or to bear the weight of subjects of her care whatever hopes a change of scene must change her nature or in vain an is a watch that wants both hands as useless if it goes as when it stands books therefore not the scandal of the shelves in which print out themselves nor those in which the stage gives vice a blow with what success let modem manners show nor his who for the of thousands born built god a church and laughed his word to scorn skilful alike to seem devout and just and religion with a sly side thrust nor those of learned who chase a panting syllable through time and space start it at home and hunt it in the dark to to greece and into s ark but such as learning without false pretence the friend of truth the associate of sound sense and such as in the zeal of good design strong judgment in the scripture mine all such as manly and great souls produce worthy to live and of eternal use behold in these what leisure hours demand amusement and true knowledge hand in hand luxury gives the mind a childish cast and while she the taste habits of close attention thinking heads become more rare as till authors hear at length one general cry and entertain us or we die english poets the loud demand from year to year the same beggars invention and makes fancy lame till farce itself most mournfully i � calls for the kind assistance of a tune and novels witness every month s review their name and offer nothing new the mind into needful sport should turn to writers of an sort whose wit well managed and whose classic style give truth a lustre and make wisdom smile a comparison addressed to a young lady sweet stream that winds through yonder 