Epodes 2 (Creech): Beatus Ille

HAppy the Man beyond pretence,
(Such was the State of innocence)
That loose from Care, from business free,
From griping Debts and Usury,
Contented in an humble Fate
With his own Oxen Ploughs his own Estate:
No early Trumpet breaks his ease,
He doth not dread the angry Seas:
He flies the Bar, from noise retreats,
And shuns the Nobles haughty Seats.
But Marrigeable Vines he leads
To lusty Oaks, and kindly Weds:
Or carelessly in Vallies strays
And smiles to see his Oxen graze:
He prunes his Vines, or grafts his Trees;
Or sheers his Sheep or takes his Bees;
From Combs well prest his Honey flows
Almost as sweet as his repose:
Or when the mellow Autumn rears
His Fruitful Head he gathers Pears,
Or Purple Grapes, and these reward
With pleasing gifts his Holy Guard;
Thee, Sylvian, and, Priapus Thee
A Tribute fills from every Tree:
Now smiles beneath a Myrtle shade
On flowry Banks supinely laid,
Whilst neer his Head there creeps a Spring,
And the free Birds around him sing:
Or Fountains with their murmuring Streams
Invite to short, and easy Dreams:
Or when cold Jove hath turn'd the Year,
And Rain and Snow and Frost appear,
He takes his Hounds, strong toyls he setts,
And drives fierce Bores to secret Netts.
Or springs Tiles in every Bush,
To take the Black-bird and the Thrush:
Or Fearful Hare, or stranger Crane
All sweet rewards do cheer his pain.
Who midst these pleasing joys does bear,
The numerous ills of Love and Fear?
In Towns the Tyrant passions Reign,
And spread their Cares, but fly the Plain,
But if a Wife more chast than Fair,
(Such as the ancient Sabines were,
Such as the Brown Apulian Dame,
Of moderate Face, and honest Fame)
With equal Care, his Care shall meet,
And keep the House and Children sweet;
Against He comes provide a Fire;
As pure and warm as her desire:
And with an Honest chearful smile
Receive him weary from his toyl:
Pen up her self, and Milk the Kine,
Then draw a Pot of Country Wine,
And streight with what her Fields afford
Doth furnish out an easy board:
I would not change for all the State
And costly trouble of the Great;
Their Oysters, Trouts, and all the store
Of Luxury would take no more;
Their Fish that catering Storms, to please
Their Palate, toss from Eastern Seas,
The Pheasant, Patridge, Quail and Teal
Would not go down, nor tast as well
As Olives pluckt from laden Boughs,
Or Sorrel that in Pasture grows;
Or Mallows sweet extreamly good
For Bodies bound poor wholsom Food,
Or Lambkins kil'd a sheering Beast:
Or rescu'd from a greedy Beast:
Amidst these dainties, Oh the vast delight
To see fed Sheep come home at Night!
To hear the weary Oxen low
And almost tir'd trail back the Plow!
To see my merry Clowns carouse,
And swarm about my cleanly House!
This Alpius said, the fam'd, and known,
The griping Userer of the Town,
Resolv'd to leave his Cares and Strife
And quickly lead a Country Life,
One week He call'd his Money in,
The next He lent it out agen: