INTRODUCTORY ESSAY. 



II. 



Good God ! how sweet are all things here ! 

 How beautiful the fields appear ! 



How cleanly do we feed and lie ! 

 Lord ! what good hours do we keep ! 

 How quietly we sleep ! 



What peace ! what unanimity ! 

 How innocent from the lewd fashion, 

 Is all our business, all our recreation ! 



III. 



Oh, how happy here's our leisure ! 

 Oh, how innocent our pleasure ! 

 Oh, ye valleys ! Oh, ye mountains ! 

 Oh, ye groves, and chrystal fountains, 

 How I love at liberty, 

 By turns, to come and visit ye ! 



IV. 



Dear Solitude, the soul's best friend, 



That man acquainted with himself dost make, 



And, all his Maker's wonders to entend, 



With thee I here converse at will, 



And would be glad to do so still, 



For, it is thou alone, that keep'st the soul awake. 



How calm, and quiet a delight, 



Is it, alone 

 To read, and meditate, and write ; 



By none offended, and offending none? 

 To walk, ride, sit, or sleep at one's own ease 1 

 And, pleasing a man's self, none other to displease. 



