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Old Mans WISH.
This Old-Man he doth Wish for Wealth in vain
But he thereby doth not the Treasure gain;
For if with Wishes he the same could have,
He would not mind nor think upon the Grave.
To a Pleasant new Play-House Tune.
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IF I live to grow old,
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(for I find I go down)
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Let this be my fate,
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in a Country Town:
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Let me have a warm house,
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with a stone at the Gate,
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And a cleanly young Girl,
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to rub my bald Pate;
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May I govern my passion,
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with an absolute sway,
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And grow wiser and better,
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as my strength wears away:
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Without Gout or Stone,
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by a gentle decay.
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In a country Town
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but a murmering brook,
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The Ocean at distance,
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on which I may look.
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With a spacious plain,
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without hedge or stile,
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And an easie Pad Nag
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to ride out a Mile:
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May I govern my passion,
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with an absolute sway,
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And grow wiser and better
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as my strength wears away:
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Without Gout or Stone,
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by a gentle decay.
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With a Pudding on Sunday,
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and stout humming Liquor,
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And remnants of Latine
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to puzzle the Vicar:
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With a hidden reserve
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of brisk Burgandy wine,
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To drink the Kings Health
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as oft as I dine.
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May I govern my passion,
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with an absolute sway,
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And grow wiser and better,
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as my strength wears away:
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Without Gout or Stone,
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by a gentle decay.
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With Plutarch and Horace,
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and one or two more
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Of the best wits that liv'd
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in the Ages before.
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With a dish of roast Mutton,
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not Venison nor Teal;
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And clean (tho' course) Linnen
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at every meal:
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May I govern my passion, etc.
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And if I should have guess,
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I must add to my wish,
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On Frydays a mess,
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of good buttered Fish:
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For full well I do know,
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and the truth I reveal,
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I.had better do so,
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then come short of a meal,
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May I govern my passion, etc.
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With Breeches and jerkin,
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of good country gray,
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And live without working,
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now my strength doth decay:
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With a Hogshead of Sherry,
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for to drink when I please
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With frends to be merry,
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and to live at my ease,
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May I govern my Passion, etc.
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Without Mollestation,
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may I spend my last days
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In sweet recreation,
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and sound forth the praise
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Of all those that are true
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to the King and his Laws.
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Since it be their due,
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they shall have my applause,
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May I govern my passion, etc.
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With a Country Scribe
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for to write my last will,
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But not of the tribe,
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that in chousing have skill,
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For my Easie pad Nagg,
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i'le bequeath to Don John,
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For he is an Arch-wag,
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and a jolly old man,
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May I govern my passion, etc.
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With courage undaunted
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may I face my last day;
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And when I am dead,
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may the better sort say,
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In the morning when sober,
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in th' evening when mellow
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He's gone, and has left
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not behind him his fellow.
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For he govern'd his passion,
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with an absolute sway,
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And grew wiser and better
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as his strength wore away;
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Without Gout or Stone,
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by a gentle decay, etc.
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FINIS.
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