The old Man's 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 my 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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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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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 easy 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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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 Latin
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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 King's 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' 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 Fridays 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 Hogshead 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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O all those that are true
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to the King and his Laws,
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Since if 't 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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thae in choosing have Skill;
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For my easie Pag-nag,
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i'll bequeath to Don John,
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For he's 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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He's gone, and has left
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not behind him his Fellow;
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For he govern'd hii Passion
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with an absolute sway,
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And grew wiser and better
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as his Stregth wore away,
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Without Gout or Stone,
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by a gentle Decay.
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