O may I with myself agree,
  And never covet what I see: 
  Content me with an humble shade,
  My passions tamed, my wishes laid;
  For while our wishes wildly roll,
  We banish quiet from the soul: 
  ’Tis thus the busy beat the air;
  And misers gather wealth and care.

  Now, even now, my joys run high,
  As on the mountain-turf I lie;
  While the wanton Zephyr sings,
  And in the vale perfumes his wings;
  While the waters murmur deep;
  While the shepherd charms his sheep;
  While the birds unbounded fly,
  And with music fill the sky,
  Now, even now, my joys, run high.

  Be full, ye courts, be great who will;
  Search for Peace with all your skill: 
  Open wide the lofty door,
  Seek her on the marble floor,
  In vain ye search, she is not there;
  In vain ye search the domes of Care!

  Grass and flowers Quiet treads,
  On the meads, and mountain-heads,
  Along with Pleasure, close allied,
  Ever by each other’s side: 
  And often, by the murmuring rill,
  Hears the thrush, while all is still,
  Within the groves of Grongar Hill.

GEORGE BERKELEY

  VERSES ON THE PROSPECT OF PLANTING
  ARTS AND LEARNING IN AMERICA

  The Muse, disgusted at an age and clime
  Barren of every glorious theme,
  In distant lands now waits a better time,
  Producing subjects worthy fame: 

  In happy climes where from the genial sun
  And virgin earth such scenes ensue,
  The force of art in nature seems outdone,
  And fancied beauties by the true: 

  In happy climes, the seat of innocence,
  Where nature guides and virtue rules,
  Where men shall not impose for truth and sense
  The pedantry of courts and schools.

  There shall be sung another golden age,
  The rise of empire and of arts,
  The good and great inspiring epic rage,
  The wisest heads and noblest hearts.

  Not such as Europe breeds in her decay;
  Such as she bred when fresh and young,
  When heavenly flame did animate her clay,
  By future poets shall be sung.

  Westward the course of empire takes its way;
  The four first acts already past,
  A fifth shall close the drama with the day;
  Time’s noblest offspring is the last.

JAMES THOMSON

  THE SEASONS

  FROM WINTER

  [HARDSHIPS AND BENEVOLENCE]

  The keener tempests come; and, fuming dun
  From all the livid east or piercing north,
  Thick clouds ascend, in whose capacious womb
  A vapoury deluge lies, to snow congealed. 
  Heavy they roll their fleecy world along,
  And the sky saddens with the gathered storm. 
  Through the hushed air the whitening shower descends,
  At first thin wavering, till at last the