Heav'n indulgent grant my Wish
For future Life, it shou'd be this;
Health, Peace, and Friendship I wou'd share
A Mind from Bus'ness free, and Care;
A Soil that's dry in temp'rate Air;
A Fortune from Incumbrance clear,
About a Hundred Pounds a Year;
A House not small, built warm and neat,
Above a Hut, below a Seat;
With Groops of Trees beset around,
In Prospect of the lower Ground,
Beneath the Summit of a Hill,
From whence the gushing Waters trill,
In various Streams and Windings flow
To aid a River just below;
At a small Distance from a Wood,
And near some Neighbours wise and good;
There would I spend my remnant Days,
Review my Life, and mend my Ways.
I'd be some honest Farmer's Guest,
That with a cleanly Wife is blest;
A friendly Cleric shou'd be near,
Whose Flock and Office were his Care;
My Thoughts my own, my Time I'd spend
In writing to some faithful Friend:
Or on a Bank, by purling Brook,
Delight me with some useful Book;
Some Sage, or Bard, as Fancy led;
Then ruminate on what I'd read.
Some moral Thoughts shou'd be my Theme,
Or verdant Field, or gliding Stream;
Or Flocks, or Herds, that Shepherds love;
The Shepherds wou'd my Song approve.
No Flatt'ry base, nor baser Spite,
Nor one loose Thought my Muse shou'd write;
Nor vainly try unequal Flight.
Great  Name let Poets sing,
That rise on a sublimer Wing:
I'd keep my Passions quite serene;
My Person and Apartment clean;
My Dress not slovenly, but mean.
Some Money still I'd keep in Store,
That I might have to give the Poor;
To help a Neighbour in Distress,
I'd save from Pleasure, Food, and Dress.
I'd feed on Herbs, the limpid Spring
Shou'd be my . — I'd sing;
And be much happier than a .
Thus calmly see my Sun decline;
My Life and Manners thus refine.
And acting in my narrow Sphere,
In chearful Hope, without one Care,
I'd quit the World, nor wish a Tear.