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A COUNTRY LIFE, by             Poem Explanation     Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: How sacred and how innocent / a country life appears
Last Line: But choose to spend my life.
Alternate Author Name(s): Orinda


How sacred and how innocent
A country life appears;
How free from tumult, discontent,
From flattery or fears!

This was the first and happiest life,
When man enjoy'd himself;
Till pride exchanged peace for strife,
And happiness for pelf.

'Twas here the poets were inspired,
Here taught the multitude;
The brave they here with honour fir'd,
And civilised the rude.

That golden age did entertain
No passion but of love;
The thoughts of ruling and of gain
Did ne'er their fancies move.

None then did envy neighbour's wealth
Nor plot to wrong his bed;
Happy in friendship and in health,
On roots, not beasts, they fed.

They knew no law nor physic then,
Nature was all their wit:
And if there yet remain to men
Content, sure this is it.

What blessings doth this world afford
To tempt or bribe desire!
Her courtship is all fire and sword,
Who would not then retire?

Then welcome dearest solitude,
My great felicity;
Though some are pleas'd to call thee rude,
Thou art not so, but we.

Them that do covet only rest,
A cottage will suffice:
It is not brave to be possest
Of earth, but to despise.

Opinion is the rate of things,
From hence our peace doth flow;
I have a better fate than kings,
Because I think it so.

When all the stormy world doth roar,
How unconcern'd am I!
I cannot fear to tumble lower
Who never could be high.

Secure in these unenvy'd walls,
I think not on the state,
And pity no man's case that falls
From his ambitious height.

Silence and innocence are safe;
A heart that's nobly true
At all these little arts can laugh
That do the world subdue.

While others revel it in state,
Here I'll contented sit,
And think I have as good a fate
As wealth and pomp admit.

Let some in courtship take delight,
And to the' Exchange resort;
Then revel out a winter's night,
Not making love, but sport.

These never knew a noble flame,
'Tis lust, scorn or design:
While vanity plays all their game,
Let peace and honour mine.

When the inviting spring appears,
To Hyde Park let them go,
And hasting thence be full of fears
To lose Spring-Garden show.

Let others (nobler) seek to gain
In knowledge happy fate,
And others busy them in vain
To study ways of state.

But I resolved from within,
Confirmed from without,
In privacy intend to spin
My future minutes out.

And from this hermitage of mine,
I banish all wild toys,
And nothing that is not divine
Shall dare to tempt my joys.

There are below but two things good,
Friendship and Honesty;
And only those of all I would
Ask for felicity.

In this retir'd and humble seat,
Free from both war and strife,
I am not forc'd to make retreat,
But choose to spend my life.





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