The pleasures of retirement.

HAPPY the man, whose wish and care

A few paternal acres bound;

Content to breathe his native air,

In his own ground.

Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
Whose flocks supply him with attire ;
Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
In winter, fire.

Blest, who can unconcern'dly find

Hours, days, and years, slide soft away,

In health of body, peace of mind;

Quiet by day;

Sound sleep by night; study and ease,
Together mix'd; sweet recreation;
And innocence, which most does please,
With meditation.

Thus let me live, unseen, unknown;

Thus unlamented let me die,

Steal from the world, and not a stone

Tell where I lie.

POPE.

SECTION II

The sluggard.

'Tis the voice of the sluggard: I heard him complain, "You have wak'd me too soon; I must slumber again." As the door on its hinges, so he on his bed

Turns his sides, and his shoulders, and his heavy head.

"A little more sleep, and a little more slumber?”
Thus he wastes half his days, and hours without
number:

And when he gets up, he sits folding his hands,
Or walks about saunt'ring, or trifling he stands.

I pass'd by his garden, and saw the wild brier,
The thorn, and the thistle, grow broader and higher.
The clothes that hang on him are turning to rags ;
And his money still wastes, till he starves or he begs.

I made him a visit, still hoping to find

He had ta'en better care for improving his mind:
He told me his dreams, talk'd of eating and drinking;
But he scarce reads his Bible, and never loves thinking.

Said I then to my heart, "Here's a lesson for me;
That man's but a picture of what I might be:
But thanks to my friends for their care in my breeding,
Who taught me betimes to love working and reading!

WATTS.

SECTION III.

Creation and Providence.

I SING th' almighty pow'r of God,
That made the mountains rise;
That spread the flowing seas abroad,
And built the lofty skies.

I sing the wisdom that ordain'd
The sun to rule the day :

The moon shines full at his command,
And all the stars obey.

I sing the goodness of the Lord,

That fill'd the earth with food:

He form'd the creatures with his word, And then pronounc'd them good.

Lord! how thy wonders are display'd,
Where'er I turn mine eye;

If I survey the ground I tread,
Or gaze upon the sky!

There's not a plant or flow'r below,

But makes thy glories known;

And clouds arise and tempests blow,
By order from thy throne.

Creatures (as num'rous as they be)

Are subject to thy care ;

There's not a place where we can flee,
But God is present there.

In heav'n he shines with beams of love;
With wrath in hell beneath!

'Tis on his earth I stand and move,
And 'tis his air I breathe.

His hand is my perpetual guard;
He keeps me with his eye:

Why should I then forget the Lord,

Who is for ever nigh?

SECTION IV.

A morning in spring.

Lo! the bright, the rosy morning,

Calls me forth to take the air:

Cheerful spring, with smiles returning,
Ushers in the new-born year.

Nature, now in all her beauty,

With her gently-moving tongue,

Prompts me to the pleasing duty,

Of a grateful morning song.

WATTS.

See the early blossoms springing!

See the jocund lambkins play! Hear the lark and linnet singing, Welcome to the new-born day!

Vernal music, softly sounding,

Echoes through the verdant grove :

Nature, now with life abounding,
Swells with harmony and love.

Now the kind refreshing showers,
Water all the plains around:
Springing grass, and painted flowers,
In the smiling meads abound,

Now their vernal dress assuming,
Leafy robes adorn the trees:
Odours now, the air perfuming,

Sweetly swell the gentle breeze.

Praise to thee, thou great Creator!

Praise be thine from every tongue:

Join, my soul, with ev'ry creature ;
Join the universal song!

For ten thousand blessings giv'n;

For the richest gifts bestow'd ;

Sound his praise through earth and heav'n;

Sound Jehovah's praise aloud!

FAWCETT.