Page:An English Garner Ingatherings from Our History and Literature (Volume 1 1877).pdf/165

Indeed it is a life of lesser pain
To sit at play from noon till it be night;
And then from night till it be noon again;
With damnèd oaths, pronouncèd in despite,
For little cause and every trifling vein:
To curse, to brawl, to quarrel and to fight;
  To pack the cards, and with some coz'ning trick,
  His fellow's purse of all his coin to pick.

A: NERO.
Or to beguile another of his wife,
As did ÆGISTUS, AGAMEMNON serve;
Or as that Roman [A] monarch led a life;
To spoil and spend while others pine and starve;
And to compel their friends with foolish strife,
To take more drink than will their health preserve;
  And to conclude, for debt or just desert
  In baser tune to sing the "Counter" part.

O let me rather on the pleasant brink
Of Tyne and Trent possess some dwelling-place;
Where I may see my quill and cork down sink
With eager bite of barbel, bleek or dace:
And on the world and his Creator think,
While they, proud THAIS' paintèd sheet embrace;
  And with the fume of strong tobacco's smoke,
  All quaffing round, are ready for to choke.

Let them that list these pastimes then pursue
And on their pleasing fancies feed their fill;
So I the fields and meadows green may view,
And by the rivers fresh may walk at will
Among the daisies and the violets blue,
Red hyacinth and yellow daffodil,
  Purple narcissus like the morning rays,
  Pale ganderglass and azure culverkeys.