THE Country Gentleman; Or, the happy Life.  
To an excellent Tune, Or, hay boys up go we.  
With Allowance.  
 
 

I Am a man of Wealth and Land,  
and Gold I have good store,  
A good Estate I now command,  
what can one wish for more?  
I value not an hundred pound,  
to Tenants i'll be kind,  
I'll have my Hawk, and have my Hound  
and such delights will mind.   

To London I will not repair,  
here sweeter pleasures be,  
I live in a more healthy air,  
and fairer Beauties see:  
I love the noise of Hey-ge-ho,  
the whistling at the Plough,  
The Baaing of the tender Yoe,  
and Lowing of the Cow.   

The morning Lark which shepherds love  
here sings by break of day;  
And Nightingale in yonder Grove  
where Flowers perfume our way:  
Fair sycamores to please the eye,  
and hinder too much heat,  
And Strawberries and Violets lie  
all round about our feet.   
 
 

BEtimes we hear the huntsman's horn  
which loudly echoes round,  
And in a lovely rosy morn  
how sweetly does it sound!  
The drowsy sluggard straight gives ear,  
his golden Dreams are fled;  
(Except the Sick) who e'er did hear  
the Horn and lie a bed?   

Intrigues of State here are not known,  
nor Beauties nice and coy,  
Each man well pleased with what's his own  
his pleasures does enjoy:  
At night within his wife's soft Arms  
the happy Swain does rest,  
And thus secure, and void of harms  
with Peace is always blessed.   

I hate the many Cheats and Knaves  
that lurk in London Town,  
whose restless heads like tumbling waves  
are rolling up and down:  
Ambitious Fops find little ease,  
let us Ambition shun,  
And mark how all our Flowers and trees  
are guilded by the Sun.   

The meanest Shepherd does enjoy  
some milkmaid brisk and fair,  
And gets first night a thumping Boy,  
a lusty jolly Heir.  
Let painted jilts avoid this place,  
for all our Nymphs so gay  
With only Dews do wash their face,  
and look divine as day.   
FINIS.   

LONDON, Printed for J. Clark, W. Thackeray, and T. passenger.