The Pleasures of a Single Life | Page 2

by Providential Care,?For what design'd, and what their Virtues are.?Thus to my Mind by dint of Reason prove,?That all below is ow'd to Heaven above,?And that no Earthly Temporals can be,?But what must Center in Eternity.?Then gaze aloft, whence all things had their Birth,?And mount my prying Soul 'twixt Heaven and Earth,?Thus the sweet Harmonv o' th' whole admire, }?And by due Search new Learning still aquire, }?So nearer ev'ry day to Truths Divine aspire. }
When tir'd with thought, then from my Pocket pluck?Some friendly dear Companion of a Book,?Whose homely Calves-skin fences did contain?The Verbal Treasure of some Old good Man:?Made by long study and experience wise,?Whose piercing thoughts to Heavenly knowledge rise,?Amongst whose Pious Reliques I would find,?Rules for my Life, Rich Banquets for my mind,?Such pleasing Nectar, such Eternal Food,?That well digested, makes a Man a God;?And for his use at the same time prepares?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. }
But the Curs'd Fiend from Hell's dire Regions sent,?Ranging the World to Man's Destruction bent,?Who with an Envious Pride beholding me,?Advanc'd by Virtue to Felicity,?Resolv'd his own Eternal wretched state,?Should be in part reveng'd by my sad Fate;?And to at once my happy Life betray?Flung Woman, Fathless Woman in my way:?Beauty she had, a seeming Modest Mein, }?All Charms without, but Devil all within, }?Which did not yet appear, but lurk'd, alas unseen. }?A fair Complexion far exceeding Paint,?Black sleepy Eyes that would have Charm'd a Saint;?Her Lips so soft and sweet, that ev'ry Kiss,?Seem'd a short Tast of the Eternal Bliss;?Her set of Teeth so Regular and White,?They'd show their Lustre in the darkest Night;?Round her Seraphick Face so fair and young,?Her Sable Hair in careless Dresses hung,?Which added to her beauteous Features, show'd?Like some fair Angel peeping through a Cloud??Her Breasts, her Hands, and every Charm so bright,?She seem'd a Sun by Day, a Moon by Night;?Her shape so ravishing, that every Part,?Proportion'd was to the nicest Rules of Art:?So awful was her Carriage when she mov'd,?None could behold her, but he fear'd and lov'd,?She danc'd well, sung well, finely plaid the Lute,?Was always witty in her Words, or Mute;?Obliging, not reserv'd, nor yet too free,?But as a Maid divinely bless'd should be;?Not vainly gay, but decent in Attire, }?She seem'd so good, she could no more acquire }?Of Heaven, than what she had, & Man