Inscription near a Sheep-cote. 1745. William Shenstone Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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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. T131163 K104099.005 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. V. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 13-15. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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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 . "