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The WishThe Wish
WELL then ! I now do plainly see
This busy world and I shall ne`er agree.
The very honey of all earthly joy
Does of all meats the soonest cloy ;
And they, methinks, deserve my pity
Who for it can endure the stings,
The crowd and buzz and murmurings,
Of this great hive, the city.
Ah, yet, ere I descend to the grave
May I a small house and large garden have ;
And a few friends, and many books, both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too !
And since love ne`er will from me flee,
A Mistress moderately fair,
And good as guardian angels are,
Only beloved and loving me.
O fountains ! when in you shall I
Myself eased of unpeaceful thoughts espy?
O fields ! O woods ! when, when shall I be made
The happy tenant of your shade?
Here`s the spring-head of Pleasure`s flood :
Here`s wealthy Nature`s treasury,
Where all the riches lie that she
Has coin`d and stamp`d for good.
Pride and ambition here
Only in far-fetch`d metaphors appear ;
Here naught but winds can hurtful murmurs scatter,
And naught but Echo flatter.
The gods, when they descended, hither
From heaven did always choose their way :
And therefore we may boldly say
That `tis the way too thither.
How happy here should I
And one dear She live, and embracing die !
She who is all the world, and can exlude
In deserts solitude.
I should have then this only fear :
Lest men, when they my pleasures see,
Should hither throng to live like me,
And so make a city here.
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