Chapter 3

Blest in my Wish thus far, my next should be, (For I _Melissa_, wou'd live far and free From the vile Tumults of this viler Town) To have some little Cottage of my own; No _Spacious_, but a _Pleasant_ Country Seat, Where the Gay Spring shou'd smile on our Retreat; Delightful Gardens shou'd the Structure Bound, All _Love_ within, and _Innocence_ around; Adorn'd with Fruit-Trees curious to the Eye, With streaming Fountains, and a River nigh; Where, low-grown Willows do recline their head, And o'er its fall their Meeting Branches spread, As tho' they were by careful Nature hung, } To listen and regard its Murm'ring Song, } Whose Silver current as it glides along; } Does wash the Bank of some Delightful Grove, Fragrant beneath, and shaded all above; Where the fresh Seasons breathe their vital Air, And pretty Birds with untaught Songs repair; Where spreading Pines, and taller Poplars grow, Young Elms that do a pleasing Prospect show. Where Bow'rs of Yew, and twisted Hazles stand, With cluster'd Filberts to invite the hand; A Place by Nature fram'd to feast the Mind, By Art for Solitude and Love design'd; Where we wou'd walk, and waste our idler hours, Gather the luscious Fruits and various Flowers, Crop from their stalks the Columbine and Rose, } And from its Branch, the juicy Peach unlose, } And ev'ry Sweet of Nature should it self disclose. }

So the first Pair, of Innocence possest, Were in their Native _EDEN_ truly Blest; At large they rang'd o'er all the flow'ry Land, And pluck'd their Food from Nature's lib'ral Hand: Tripp'd o'er the Soil, and to the Fountains ran. The Happy Woman _She_, and _He_ the Happy Man.

Next in my Family I'd employ my Care, My Attendance few, but honest and sincere; I wou'd not have our happier Delights, Destroy'd by Gaming Days, or Drinking Nights. Nor yet look shye upon those Friends he brought, I wou'd seem Pleasant, tho' I lik'd them not: Courteous to all, and Lib'ral to the Poor, They still shou'd chant their Blessings at my Door; From whence dissatisfy'd they shou'd not go, Lest Heaven shou'd retrench its Bounty too; No Jars among my Servants shou'd be found, But Chains of lasting Peace shou'd still run round.

Thus we'd the Innocence of Life enjoy, For Love's a Beauty which does seldom cloy. As Peaceful Monarchs do their Kingdoms Sway, He shou'd my Heart, and I'd in Love obey, No change of Fortune shou'd pervert our flame, But with the good or bad, be still the same.