The Works of the English Poets: With Prefaces, Biographical and Critical

More pleafing morfels would afford

Than the fat olives of my fields ; Than fhards or mallows for the pot,

That keep the loofen'd body found,
Or than the lamb, that falls by lot

To the juft guardian of my ground.
Amidst these feasts of happy swains,
The jolly fhepherd smiles to fee
His flock returning from the plains;
The farmer is as pleas'd as he
To view his oxen sweating smoke,
Bear on their necks the loofen'd yoke :
To look upon his menial crew,

That fit around his chearful hearth,

And bodies spent in toil renew

With wholesome food and country mirth.

This Morecraft faid within himself,

Refolv'd to leave, the wicked town:

And live retir'd upon his own,

He call'd his money in ;

But the prevailing love of pelf, Soon fplit him on the former fhelf, He put it out again.

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