This busy world and I shall ne'er agree.
The very honey of all earthly joy

Does of all meats, the soonest cloy :
And they, methinks, deserve my pity;
Who for it, can endure the stings,
The crowd, and buz, and murmurings
Of this great hive, the City.

II.

Ah, yet, ere I descend to th'grave,
May I a small house, and large garden have!
And a few friends, and many books; both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too!
And since love ne'er will from me flee,

A mistress, moderately fair,

As good as guardian angels are,

Only beloved, and loving me!

III.

O fountains! when, in you, shall I Myself, eased of unpeaceful thoughts, espy? O fields! O woods! when? when shall I be made The happy tenant of your shade?

Here's the spring-head of pleasure's flood!

Here's wealthy Nature's treasury,

Where all the riches lie! that She

Has coined and stampt for good.

IV.

Pride and Ambition here,

Only in far fetch'd metaphors appear;

Here, nought but winds can hurtful murmurs scatter; And nought but echo flatter!

The gods, when they descended, hither

From heaven did always choose their way;

And therefore we may boldly say,

That 'tis the way to thither.

V.

How happy here, should I

And one dear She live; and embracing, die!
She who is all the world, and can exclude
In deserts, solitude!

I should have then this only fear:
Lest men, when they my pleasure see,
Should hither throng to live like me;
And so make a City here.

To the friendly Reader.

ORASMUCH as the Almighty GOD hath blessed and enriched this noble Kingdom with the sweet dew of His heavenly goodness; and stored therein many hidden rich and pleasant treasures for our benefits, to reveal unto us when His good pleasure is: I think therefore, every man is rather born to profit his native soil and common weal in revealing the same secrets and hidden treasure to his country, if they be showed [to] him; than to seek after his own private gain and glory thereby. So I have taken upon me, good gentle Reader, to unfold some of the same hidden treasures to my country; which I suppose is manifested unto me. Albeit there be a great number that can more sweetly, and with pleasanter words and sugared style, than I, set out the matter to thee, if they knew it, in far better method and order; yet the zeal and duty I bear to my country, being partly fed with hope of thy good patience, gentle Reader, and partly emboldened with the forewarning that Ecclesiastes c. ii. giveth, which is, That no man shall be condemned before his tale be told, and inquisition thereof made: whereby righteous judgement may thereof follow lest he, as SOLOMON sayeth, Procure to himself folly and shame, in giving sentence of a matter before he hear it :

These things, I say, have moved me to put forth my simple mind in writing to my country; and praying thee, of thy good courtesy, to peruse it, and to thoroughly weigh the depths thereof in the