Let This Man Smile, and That Man Sigh

Let this man smile, and that man sigh
To see the wheels of Fashion whirl;
Place me in some cool arbour nigh
My mild and modest country girl;
Or under whitening poplars, high
O'er flirting brooks, that glance and purl
To attract such flowers as peer and pry,
My mild and modest country girl!
"Would you not tire there? " . . no, not I.
Acids that melt the ri hest pearl
Are envy, pride, satiety,
My mild and modest country girl!
Power, office, title . . up they fly
Against one light and sunny curl,
That plays above thine azure eye,
My mild and modest country girl.
Knighthood's new spur the squire would try,
And viscount be emblazon'd earl:
Content is only seated by
My mild and modest country girl.
Possession kings must fortify
With moat and barbican and merl:
Thine dwells in free security,
My mild and modest country girl!
Great riches, great authority
Turn the best-tempered to a churl;
With health and thee no crosses lie,
My mild and modest country girl!
Tho' Fame and Glory to the sky
Ambition's wind-worn flag unfurl,
With thee I'd live, for thee I'd die,
My mild and modest country girl;
Thus round and round thee busily
Teaching my tinkling rhymes to twirl,
I did not well hear thy reply,
My mild and modest country girl 1