Imitated from CLAUDIAN. Stephen Duck Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
Broad Street Oxford OX1 3BG UK
Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
Taylor Institution Library St Giles' Oxford OX1 3NA UK info@eighteenthcenturypoetry.org https://www.eighteenthcenturypoetry.org/
Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T90234 K073280.000 Duck, Stephen, 1705-1756. Poems on several occasions: By Stephen Duck. London printed for the author 1736 pp. 311-315. xl,334,[2]p. ; 4⁰.

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Felix , qui patriis aevum transegit in agris , Ipsa domus puerum quem videt , ipsa senem , &c. Imitated from CLAUDIAN . I. HOW bless'd the Swain of Bethnal-green , Who ne'er a Court beheld , Nor ever rov'd beyond the Scene Of his paternal Field ! II . BUT , where he prov'd the Go-cart's Aid , He prov'd the Crutch's too ; One only House his Mansion made , Till Life ( tho' late ) withdrew . III . FALSE Fortune ne'er , with Smile or Frown , Or rais'd him , or deprest ; Her Frowns and Smiles were both unknown To his contented Breast . IV . THE Chance of Stocks he never try'd , Nor knew to buy or sell ; So scap'd the dreadful golden Tide , Where South-sea Merchants fell . V. SKILL'D in no Bus'ness but his own , He shunn'd the noisy Bar ; Nor ever prov'd the smoky Town , But breath'd a purer Air . VI . NOR by Lord Mayor's Day he knew The rolling Year to bound ; Nor kept an Almanack , to shew How Seasons vary'd round . VII . HE Summer knew by Heat extreme , The Winter by its Cold ; POMONA shew'd when Autumn came , When Spring , gay FLORA told . VIII . HE planted once an Acorn small , And liv'd to see it rise A mighty Oak , so wond'rous tall , It seem'd to prop the Skies . IX . AND , by the Shade its Branches cast , Could he much truer know , What Hour , and how his Moments past , Than by the Clock of Bow . X. THO' London stood so near his Cot , He never mark'd the Dome ; But thought St. Paul's as far remote , As Peter's Church at Rome . XI . OF Isis he was only told , But ne'er beheld her Streams ; Nor knew , but that the Ganges roll'd Near as the neighb'ring Thames . XII . OF Jellies , Creams , Ragoûs , and Tarts , His Stomach never thought ; A perfect Stranger to the Arts , Luxurious Cooks have taught ! XIII . YET , with a simple Food supply'd , His Health was so intire , That when his ancient Children dy'd , They left a youthful Sire . XIV . LET others search for golden Bliss On India's wealthy Shore ; Their Joys of Life are less than his , Their Labours ten times more .