The Country Innocence:
OR THE
Shepherds Enjoyment.
A New Pastoral at the Theatre.
To a Pleasant New Tune.
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HAppy is the Country Life;
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blest with Content, and Health & Ease,
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Free from Faction, Noise, and strife,
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we only Plot our selves to please:
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Peace in mind, the days Delight,
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And Loves our welcome Dream at night.
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Hail green Fields and shady Woods,
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hail Springs & Streams that still run pure,
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Natures uncorrupted Goods,
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where Vertue only is secure:
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Free from Vice, and free from Care,
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No age nor pain, nor Youth nor snare.
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Hail to the peaceful Shepherds life,
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hail to each happy Rural Swain,
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That lives secure with his old Wife,
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below Contempt, above Disdain:
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No storms of Fortune ere can break
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Those Marriage Vows their Loves did make.
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In Cooler Shades, ith heat oth day,
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we set our harmless Flocks to Rove,
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Beneath we see our Lamkins play,
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and treat our selves with vertuous Love,
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I Pipe, she Sings, our Flocks they Bleat,
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Whilst grateful Ecchoes all Repeat.
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When ore the flowery Meades we walk,
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to some refreshing purling Spring,
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So innocent is all our talk,
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the Birds who admire us leave to sing:
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From Bush to Bush, and Bough to Bough,
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They follow us where ere we go.
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Sometimes within the Silver Brook,
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we play the subtile Anglers there,
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And with a season-baited Hook,
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the Water Citizens insnare:
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Sometimes our Dogs in wanton play,
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Makes little Laverits their prey.
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At night we fold our Milky Herd,
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and ere the Sun has left the Sphear,
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A wholsome Supper is prepard,
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of cleanly honest Country fare:
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And then to Bed, and Arm in Arm,
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We sleep secure from envies harm.
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