THE RETIREMENT. 



IRREGULAR STANZAS, 



ADDRKSSED TO 



MR. IZAAK WALTON. 



FAREWELL, thou busy world ! and may 



We never meet again : 

 Here I can eat, and sleep, and pray, 

 And do more good in one short day, 

 Than he, who his whole age out wears 

 Upon the most conspicuous theatres, 

 Where nought but vanity and vice do reign. 



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 ! 



Oh, how happy here's our leisure ! 

 Oh, how innocent our pleasure ! 

 Oh, ye valleys ! Oh, ye mountains ! 

 Oh, ye groves, and crystal fountains, 

 How I love at liberty, 

 By turns, to come and visit ye ! 



