The Old Mans Wish:
This Old Man he doth wish for Wealth in vain,
But he 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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by a murmuring 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-nagg
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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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To 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 Burgundy 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 Slone,
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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 livd
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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 coarse) 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 Guest,
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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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than 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 Hogs-head of Sherry,
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for to drink when I please,
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With Friends 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 Molestation
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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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Ill bequeath to Don John,
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For hes 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 the Evening when mellow,
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Hes gone, and has left
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not behind him his Fellow:
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For he governd 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.
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