VIRTUE -JOIN PRECIOUS'- TIME 



A Wish 



This only grant me, that my means may He 

 Too low for envy, for contempt too high. 



Some honour I would have, 

 Not from great deeds, but good alone. 

 The unknown are better, than ill known; 



Rumour can ope the grave. 

 Acquaintance I would have, but when't depends 

 Not on the number, but the choice of friends. 



Books should, not business, entertain the light, 

 And sleep, as undisturb'd as death, the night. 



My house a cottage more 

 Than palace, and should fitting be, 

 For all my use, no luxury. 



My garden painted o'er 

 With nature's hand, not art's; and pleasures 



yield, 

 Horace might envy in his Sabine field. 



Thus would I double my life's fading space, 

 For he that runs it well, twice runs his race. 

 And in this true delight, 



[109] 



