My WISH. Mary Chandler 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. T63103 Chandler, Mary, 1687-1745. The Description Of Bath. A Poem. Humbly Inscribed To Her Royal Highness the Princess Amelia. By Mrs. Mary Chandler. The Third Edition. To which are added, Several Poems by the same Author [poems only]. London Printed for James Leake, Bookseller in Bath 1736 pp. 65-67. 77p.

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My WISH . Wou'd Heav'n indulgent grant my Wish For future Life , it shou'd be this ; Health , Peace , and Friendship I wou'd share A Mind from Bus'ness free , and Care ; A Soil that's dry in temp'rate Air ; A Fortune from Incumbrance clear , About a Hundred Pounds a Year ; A House not small , built warm and neat , Above a Hut , below a Seat ; With Groops of Trees beset around , In Prospect of the lower Ground , Beneath the Summit of a Hill , From whence the gushing Waters trill , In various Streams and Windings flow To aid a River just below ; At a small Distance from a Wood , And near some Neighbours wise and good ; There would I spend my remnant Days , Review my Life , and mend my Ways . I'd be some honest Farmer's Guest , That with a cleanly Wife is blest ; A friendly Cleric shou'd be near , Whose Flock and Office were his Care ; My Thoughts my own , my Time I'd spend In writing to some faithful Friend : Or on a Bank , by purling Brook , Delight me with some useful Book ; Some Sage , or Bard , as Fancy led ; Then ruminate on what I'd read . Some moral Thoughts shou'd be my Theme , Or verdant Field , or gliding Stream ; Or Flocks , or Herds , that Shepherds love ; The Shepherds wou'd my Song approve . No Flatt'ry base , nor baser Spite , Nor one loose Thought my Muse shou'd write ; Nor vainly try unequal Flight . Great George's Name let Poets sing , That rise on a sublimer Wing : I'd keep my Passions quite serene ; My Person and Apartment clean ; My Dress not slovenly , but mean . Some Money still I'd keep in Store , That I might have to give the Poor ; To help a Neighbour in Distress , I'd save from Pleasure , Food , and Dress . I'd feed on Herbs , the limpid Spring Shou'd be my Helicon . — I'd sing ; And be much happier than a King . Thus calmly see my Sun decline ; My Life and Manners thus refine . And acting in my narrow Sphere , In chearful Hope , without one Care , I'd quit the World , nor wish a Tear .