Inscription
near
a
Sheep-cote
.
1745.
By
the
Same
.
SHepherd
,
would'st
thou
here
obtain
Pleasure
unalloy'd
with
pain
?
Joy
that
suits
the
rural
sphere
?
Gentle
shepherd
!
lend
an
ear
.
Learn
to
relish
calm
delight
,
Verdant
vales
,
and
fountains
bright
;
Trees
that
nod
on
sloping
hills
,
Caves
that
echo
tinkling
rills
.
If
thou
can'st
no
charm
disclose
In
the
simplest
bud
that
blows
;
Go
,
forsake
thy
plain
and
fold
,
Join
the
crowd
,
and
toil
for
gold
.
Tranquil
pleasures
never
cloy
;
Banish
each
tumultuous
joy
:
All
but
love
—
for
love
inspires
Fonder
wishes
,
fiercer
fires
.
Love
and
all
its
joys
be
thine
—
Yet
,
ere
thou
the
reins
resign
,
Hear
what
reason
seems
to
say
,
Hear
attentive
,
and
obey
.
"
Crimson
leaves
the
rose
adorn
,
"
But
beneath
'em
lurks
a
thorn
:
"
Fair
and
flowery
is
the
brake
,
"
Yet
it
hides
the
vengeful
snake
.
"
Think
not
she
,
whose
empty
pride
"
Dares
the
fleecy
garb
deride
;
"
Think
not
she
who
,
light
and
vain
,
"
Scorns
the
sheep
,
can
love
the
swain
.
"
Artless
deed
and
simple
dress
,
"
Mark
the
chosen
shepherdess
;
"
Thoughts
by
decency
controul'd
,
"
Well
conceiv'd
,
and
freely
told
.
"
Sense
that
shuns
each
conscious
air
,
"
Wit
that
falls
ere
well
aware
;
"
Generous
pity
,
prone
to
sigh
"
If
her
kid
or
lambkin
die
.
"
Let
not
lucre
,
let
not
pride
"
Draw
thee
from
such
charms
aside
;
"
Have
not
those
their
proper
sphere
?
"
Gentler
passions
triumph
here
.
"
See
,
to
sweeten
thy
repose
,
"
The
blossom
buds
,
the
fountain
flows
;
"
Lo
!
to
crown
thy
healthful
board
,
"
All
that
milk
and
fruits
afford
.
"
Seek
no
more
—
the
rest
is
vain
:
"
Pleasure
ending
soon
in
pain
:
"
Anguish
lightly
gilded
o'er
:
"
Close
thy
wish
,
and
seek
no
more
.
"