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Behold, this Living Stone
I rear for me!

Neer to be thrown

Down, envious Time, by thee!

Hars, let some set up!

If so they please;

He is my hope

And my pyramides!

THE PILLAR OF FAME.

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MY HAPPY LIFE.

TO A FRIEND.

DEAREST in friendship, if you'll know Where I myself, and how, bestow; Especially when as I range,

Guided by Nature to love change:
Believe, it is not to advance,
Or add to, my inheritance;
Seeking t' engross by power, amiss,
What any other man calls his.

But full contented with my own,
I let all other things alone!
Which better to enjoy 'thout strife,
I settle to a Country Life:
And in a sweet retirement there,
Cherish all hopes; but banish fear!
Offending none; so for defence,
Armed cap-à-pie with Innocence,
I do dispose of my time thus,
To make it more propitious.

First, my GOD served, I do commend The rest to some choice book, or friend; Wherein I may such treasure find T'inrich my nobler part, the mind.

And that my body, health comprise, Use too some moderate exercise! Whether invited to the field,

To see what pastime that can yield,
With horse, or hound, or hawk; or t' be
More taken with a well-grown tree;
Under whose shades, I may rehearse
The holy Lays of Sacred Verse!
Whilst in the branches perchèd higher,
The winged crew sit as in a quire.
This seems to me a better noise
Than Organs; or the dear-bought voice
From Pleader's breath, in Court, or Hall,
At any time is stocked withal.

For here one may, if marking well,
Observe the plaintive PHILOMEL

Bemoan her sorrows; and the thrush
Plead safety through defendant bush;
The popinjay, in various dye,
Performs the Sergeant; and the pie
Chatters as if she would revive
The old Levite prerogative,

And bring new rochets in again;
Till crows and jackdaws, in disdain

Of her pied feathers, chase her thence,
To yield to their pre-eminence.

For you must know 't observed, of late,
That Reformation in the State

Begets no less, by imitation,

Amidst this chirping feathered nation!

Cuckoos ingrate, and woodcocks some

Here are; which 'cause they 't seasons come, May be compared to such as stand

At terms, and their returns command.
And lest Authority take cold;

Here's th' ivy's guest of wonder, th' owl!
Ruffed like a Judge; and with a beak
As it would give the Charge and speak.
Then 'tis the goose and buzzard's art
Alone, to perform the Client's part;
For neither dove, nor pigeon, shall!
Whilst they are both exempt from gall.
The augur, hern, and soaring kite
Kalendar weather in their flight;
As do the cleanlier ducks, when they
Dive voluntary, wash, prune, play:
With the fair cygnet, whose delight
Is to outvie the snow in white;
And therefore always seeks to hide
Her feet, lest they allay her pride.

The moor-hen, dab-chick, water-rail,
With little wash-dish or wag-tail,
The finch, the sparrow, JENNY wren,
With robin that 's so kind to men,
The white-tail, and tom-tit, obey
Their seasons, bill and tread, then lay.
The lyric lark doth early rise,
And, mounting, pays her sacrifice;
Whilst, from some hedge, or close of firs,
The partridge calls its mate, and chirrs:
And that the Country seem more pleasant,
Each heath hath pout, and wood yields pheasant.
JUNO's delight, with cocks and hens,

Turkeys, are my domestic friends!
Nor do I bird of prey inlist,

But what I carry on my fist!

Now (not to want a Court) a King-
Fisher is here, with purple wing;
Who brings me to the spring-head, where
Crystal is limbecked all the year:
And every drop distilled implies
An ocean of felicities;

Whilst, calculating, it spins on,
And turns the pebbles one by one,
Administ'ring to eye and ear

New stars, and music like the Sphere;
When every purl calcined doth run,
And represent such from the sun.

Devouring pike here hath no place, Nor is it stored with roach, or dace; The chub or cheven not appear, Nor miller's-thumbs, nor gudgeons here: But nobler trouts, beset with stones Of ruby and of diamonds,

Bear greatest sway; yet some intrench, As sharp-finned perch and healing tench. The stream's too pure for carp to lie Subject to perspicuity.

For it must here be understood, There are no beds of sand and mud; But such a gravel as might pose

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