On Earth a Heav’n in spight of worldly Cares,
The day in these Enjoyments would I spend,
But chuse at Night my Bottle and my Friend,
Took prudent care that neither were abus’d,
But with due Moderation both I us’d. 
And in one sober Pint found more delight,
Then the insatiate Sot that swills all Night;
Ne’er drown my Senses, or my Soul debase. 
Or drink beyond the relish of my blass
For in Excess good Heav’ns design is Crost,
In all Extreams the true Enjoyments lost,
Wine chears the Heart, and elevates the Soul,
But if we surfeit with too large a Bowl,
Wanting true Aim we th’ happy Mark o’er Shoot,
And change the Heavenly Image to a Brute. 
So the great Grecian who the World subdu’d,
And drown’d whole Nations in a Sea of Blood;
At last was Conquer’d by the Power of Wine,
And dy’d a Drunken Victime to the Vine. 
My Friend, and I, when o’er our Bottle sat,
Mix’d with each Glass some inoffensive Chat,
Talk’d of the World’s Affairs, but still kept free
From Passion, Zeal, or Partiality;
With honest freedom did our thoughts dispense,
And judg’d of all things with indifference;
Till time at last did our Delights invade,
And in due season separation made,
Then without Envy, Discord or Deceit,
Part like true Friends as loving as we meet. 
The Tavern change to a domestick scene,
That sweet Retirement, tho it’s ne’er so mean. 
Thus leave each other in a Cheerful Plight,
T’ enjoy the silent Pleasures of the Night,
When home return’d, my Thanks to Heaven pay,
For all the past kind Blessing of the Day;
No haughty Help-mate to my Peace molest,
No treacherous Snake to harbour in my Breast: 
No fawning Mistress of the Female Art,
With Judas Kisses to betray my Heart;
No light-tail’d Hypocrite to raise my Fears,
No vile Impert’nence to torment my Ears;
No molted Off spring to disturb my Thought,
In Wedlock born but G——­d knows where begot;
No lustful Massalina to require
Whole Troops of Men to feed her Brutal Fire? 
No Family Cares my quiet to disturb;
No Head-strong Humours to asswage or Curb
No Jaring Servants, no Domestick strife, }
No Jilt, no Termagent, no Faithless Wife, }
With Vinegar or Gall, to sowre or bitter Life. }

Thus freed from all that could my Mind annoy,
Alone my self, I did my self enjoy: 
When Nature call’d, I laid me down to rest,
With a sound Body, and a peaceful Breast;
Hours of Repose with Constancy I kept,
And Guardian Angels watch’d me as I slept,
In lively Dreams reviving as I lay,
The Pleasures of the last precedent day,
Thus whilst I singly liv’d, did I possess }
By Day and Night incessant Happiness, }
Content enjoy’d awak’d, and sleeping found no less. }