Since, dearest friend, 'tis your desire to see A true receipt of happiness from me, These are the chief ingredients, if not all: Take an estate neither too great nor small, Which @3quantum sufficit@1 the doctors call; Let this estate from parents' care descend, The getting it too much of life does spend. Take such a ground, whose gratitude may be A fair encouragement for industry; Let constant fires the winter's fury tame, And let thy kitchens be a vestal flame; Thee to the town let never suit at law, And rarely, very rarely, business draw; Thy active mind in equal temper keep, In undisturbed peace, yet not in sleep; Let exercise a vigorous health maintain, Without which all the composition's vain. In the same weight prudence and innocence take, @3Ana@1 of each does the just mixture make. But a few friendships wear, and let them be By nature and by fortune fit for thee; Instead of art and luxury in food, Let mirth and freedom make thy table good. If any cares into thy day-time creep, At night, without wine's opium, let them sleep; Let rest, which Nature does to darkness wed, And not lust, recommend to thee thy bed. Be satisfied, and pleased with what thou art, Act cheerfully and well th' allotted part, Enjoy the present hour, be thankful for the past, And neither fear, nor wish th' approaches of the last. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...HELEN, THE SAD QUEEN by PAUL VALERY AUTUMN MORNING AT CAMBRIDGE by FRANCES CROFTS DARWIN CORNFORD TO A CHILD DURING SICKNESS by JAMES HENRY LEIGH HUNT AT FONT-GEORGES by THEODORE FAULLAIN DE BANVILLE RESIGNATION by HARRY RANDOLPH BLYTHE |