Whilft birds in air, or fifh in ftreams we find,
Or damfels fret with aged partners join'd;
As long as nymphs shall with attentive ear
A fiddle rather than a fermon hear:
So long the brightest eyes fhall oft perufe
These useful lines of my inftructive muse;
Each belle fhall wear them wrote upon her fan,
And each bright beau fhall read them-if he can.

AN

ΑΝ

EPISTLE,

Written in the COUNTRY,

To the Right Hon. the Lord LoVELACE then in Town.

SEPTEMBER, 1735.

N days, my Lord, when mother Time,
Tho' now grown old, was in her prime,
When SATURN firft began to rule,
And Jove was hardly come from school,
How happy was a country life!
How free from wickedness and strife!
Then each man liv'd upon his farm,
And thought and did no mortal harm;
On moffy banks fair virgins flept;
As harmless as the flocks they kept;
Then love was all they had to do,

And nymphs were chafte, and swains were true.

But now, whatever poets write,

'Tis fure the cafe is alter'd quite,

Virtue no more in rural plains,
Or innocence, or peace remains;
But vice is in the cottage found,
And country girls are oft unfound;
Fierce party rage each village fires,
With wars of justices and 'fquires
Attorneys, for a barley ftraw,RLING
Whole ages hamper folks in law,
And ev'ry neighbour's in a flame
About their rates, or tythes, or game:
Some quarrel for their hares and pigeons,
And fome for diff'rence in religions:
Some hold their parfon the beft preacher,
The tinker fome a better teacher;
These to the church they fight for ftrangers,
Have faith in nothing but her dangers;
While those a more believing people,
Can fwallow all things but a fteeple.

But I, my Lord, who, as you know, Care little how thefe matters go,pon And equally deteft the ftrife 63 & golek all And ufual joys of country life,w jamu Ed y Have by good fortune little fhareva d Of its diverfions, or its care;

For feldom I with 'fquires unite, mand
Who hunt all day and drink all night;
Nor reckon wonderful inviting, ed il a cl
A quarter feffions, or cock-fighting.