THE WISH. Anonymous Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T124631 1073 K099398.000 Mendez, Moses. A collection of the most esteemed pieces of poetry: that have appeared for several years. With variety of originals, by the late Moses Mendez, Esq; and other contributors to Dodsley's collection. To which this is intended as a supplement. London printed for Richardson and Urquhart 1767 pp. 217-218. [8],320p. ; 8⁰.

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THE WISH . I. SHOULD I e'er become parson ( for so I'm inclin'd ) May I get a snug benefice pat to my mind , Large enough to allow of a wife at my table , A cow in my yard , and a nag in my stable . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . II . With a friend or two near me of equal degree , As like me in all things as pea is to pea ; On a pudding and joint who contented can dine , With a glass of old Port , and October divine . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . III . May my offerings and tythes make me always appear With a clean tho' coarse shirt ev'ry day in the year ; For of all living things , not excepting a swine , The beastliest of beasts , is a beastly divine . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . IV . May I ne'er grow too grave , not to join in the fun , When my lord cracks a joke , or the squire cuts a pun , For if life is a jest , as the wisest have spoke , He lives the best life then who cuts the best joke . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . V. With no mystical learning I'd trouble my head , Relying on faith , which will do in its stead ; With knowledge enough heaven's gates to unlock , And to take the strait road there along with my flock . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . VI . With a bottle or two of prime wine on my shelf , To recur to whene'er I am tir'd of myself ; And a good natur'd muse to retire to at leisure , Who will wrap me in rhimes , and inspire me with measure . May my flock n'er embroil me in quarrels and strife , In good humour I'd live all the days of my life , And die before tir'd of myself or my wife . VII . To enjoy what I have , without wishing for more , For contentment with little is doubling one's store ; And when I am gone , may my successor say , He's gone , and I wish I could live the same way : For his flock ne'er embroil'd him in quarrels or strife , In good humour he liv'd all the days of his life , And died before tir'd of himself or his wife .