File:Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library (1886) (14596192609).jpg

Identifier: greenfieldswhisp00burt (find matches)
Title: Green fields and whispering woods; or, The recreations of an American "country gentleman"; embracing journeys over his farm and excursions into his library
Year: 1886 (1880s)
Authors: Burton, Frank S
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Publisher: Detroit, M. W. Ellsworth & Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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corruption can bestow. * Sir George McKenzie speaks thus: * Oh, happy country life! pure like its air:Free from the rage of pride, the pangs of care;Here happy souls lie bathed in soft content,And are at once secure and innocent. The great Virgil has the following exquisite lines: Happy the man, who, studying natures laws,Through known effects can trace the secret cause,—His mind possessing in a quiet state.Fearless of fortune, and resigned to fate IAnd happy, too, is he who decks the bowersOf sylvan, and adores the rural powers —Whose mind, unmoved, the bribes of Courts can see,Their glittering baits and purple slavery —Nor hopes the peoples praise, nor fears their frown.Nor, when contending kindreds tear the crown.Will set up one, or pull another down.Without concern he hears, but hears from fax,Of tumults, and descents, and distant war.Nor with a superstitious fear is awedFor what befalls at home or what abroad. f *T?i6 Seasons. f II. Oeorgic, Drydens Trans. A LANDSCAPE, 269
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^70 OTHER POETS. That fascinating writer of pastorals, Eobert Herrick, lias 1iiis: Sweet country life! to such unknownWhose lives are others not their own.But serving courts and cities, beLess happy, less enjoying thee. The Divine Dn Bartas adds Ms testimony: ** Oh, thrice, thrice happy he who shuns the caresOf city troubles and of state affairs;And, serving Ceres, tills with his own teamHis own free land! * I haye always admired for its enthusiastic effusiveness andthe evident sincerity of its sentiment, the poetical epistle ofCharles Cotton, in retirement^ to his friend, Izaak Walton: Farewell, thou busy world! and mayWe never meet again:Here I can eat, and sleep, and pray.And do more good in one short dayThan he who his whole age outwearsUpon the most conspicuous theaters.Where naught but vanity and vice do reign. Great God! how sweet are all things here!How beautiful the fields appear! How cleanly do we feed and lie!Lord! what good hours do we keep!How quietly do we sleep! What pe

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