The Virginia Gazette

Of all the Subjects of modern Poetry, none has been

more frequently wrote upon than the Wish; for on

this Theme, every one has the Liberty of indulging

himself to the Height of Happiness, and lose himself

for some Time in the Extacies of imaginary Bliss: It is

amusing to see, tho' the Topic is the same, with what

Variety it is treated; and, according to the different

Humour of the Writers, what a different Notion of

Pleasure they entertain. The general Turn of Mind

through all, I observe, is rural, yet there seems to be too

much Solitude and too much Reserve in some to be natural;

and too many social Cups and balmy Kisses in others to constitute the real Happiness of a wise Man:

But the Author of the following Poem has laid down a

Scheme of Life with so elegant a Taste and refin'd a

Judgment, that there is in it all the Happiness the Man

of Pleasure could wish, and nothing more than what

the most rigid Philosopher might enjoy: his Religion

and Humanity are affecting, and in his Choice of Books

he gives a just Character of some favourite Authors: His

Evening Bowl and Soothing Song shows the open Heart,

and nothing can excel his little Family Picture, unless

his last Wish of giving up his last Breath.

The WISH!

WOULD Heaven propitious with my Wish comply,
Thus wou'd I chuse to live, and thus to die;
Freed from Dependence, and the Toils of Trade,
My Seat I'd rise amid the rural Shade;
Where aged Oaks at equal Distance rise,
Lift high their waving Heads, and fan the Skies;
Or rustling solemn with the Evening Breeze,
With sacred Sound and awful Horror please:
Through these green Walks, rich in the cooling Gale,
And vernal Show'r, shou'd ope the far stretch'd Vale,
Whilst the kind Naiad from the neighb'ring Hill,
Pours from her copious Urn the limpid Rill:
Edg'd by a Grove, I'd roll the gentle Flood,
And its clear Bosom wave th'inverted Wood;
Gay through the Streams the Flow'rs reflected spread,
In milder Glory, and in softer Shade:
Thence through my Walks, in vary'd Forms shou'd stray,
Glide a Canal, or in a Fountain play;
Descend the glassy Slope with silent Fall,
And glitter to the Sight a Crystal Wall;
Or o'er the Rock, by Nature's Chisel made,
Bound, foam, and thunder in a loud Cascade:
A deep vast Concave drinks the roaring Flood,
And streams it gently to the thirsty Wood:
There, where the Trees form high th'embow'ring Shade,
For serious Thought and Contemplation made,
My favourite Dame wou'd raise its tow'ring Head,
Grac'd with the Labours of the famous Dead:
Here from the World, and all its Cares retir'd,
By Wisdom, and the Love of Truth inspir'd,
I'd oft retreat: Here Pope, in tuneful Lay
Shou'd sacred Truths in softest Sounds convey:
Here Thomson's Page, to all the Muses dear,
With just Description charm the ravish'd Ear;
With him I'd Nature's very Shape admire,
Glow at her Charms, and at her Beauty fire.
Nature, still easy to be understood!
Supremely fair! and sovereignly good!
Still smiles the God upon thy lovely Face,
With brightest Beauty and through endless Space;
On Newton's Wing I'd dare sublimer Flight,
From Star to Star direct my trembling Sight;
View Worlds round Worlds, Systems round Systems turn,
Orbs that now freeze, and now intensely burn.
Harmonick all! nor shall my wond'ring Soul
Forget t'adore the Genius of the Whole,
Who can with equal Ease these Worlds compose,
As dye the Violet, or as blush the Rose.
Now moral Truth in artless Splendor bright
And all enliv'ning Odes to my Sight;
In Woolaston's Medals resistless Rays,
In social Balguy every Charm displays;
By piercing Clarke unveil'd, her lovely Face,
Courts with a Smile, and wears a winning Grace,
Shews us the Road to Happiness and Rest,
And but commands us to be truly blest;
Taught by his Page, we pitying view the Fool,
To please his God, who scorns his darling Rule:
Reason thy Light divine, and God belov'd!
His every Action by thy Law approv'd:
These shou'd instruct me, and my Soul improve,
And lift me nearer to the God I love;
Thou sole Supreme! alike by whose Controul
The Riv'let murmurs, and the Thunders roll:
Teach me thyself! deign to direct my Choice,
Teach me to know thy never silent Voice;
Safe by thy Light to steer thro' giddy Youth,
To Life's last Verge along the Stream of Truth:
From Reason's Rules, O! never let me stray,
Nor for blind Fancy leave her rightful Sway;
By her approv'd, Peace fills the human Breast,
Amidst the Storms of Life securely blest;
No furious Zeal her social Sons inspire,
She burns a steady, bright, and lasting Fire.
Yet not by Books, or Thoughts severe engross'd,
Wou'd I to every other Joy be lost;
The Morn Shou'd see me at her earliest Dawn,
Cheer the gay Dogs along the Dew-spread Lawn;
Impell the Chace, pursue the flying Hare.
And drink deep cooling Draughts of life-ful Air:
This Life redoubles, hence the Studious find
Strength to the Nerves and Vigour to the Mind,
Return with keener Taste the Joys to prove
Of calm Philosophy and blissful Love;
This bids the Blood in brisker Currents flow
Beat strong the Heart and every Fibre glow.
But far remov'd be those who count for Joys,
The midnight Revel and the brutal Noise;
The impious Jest, pain to the virtuous Ear,
Nor Tale obscene, nor senseless Pun be here;
My House Shou'd worthier Entertainment know,
Approv'd by Virtue every Thought shou'd flow;
Not Virtue drest to fright you from her Arms;
But all inviting, in gay Pleasure's Charms,
That not forbids, unbending to the Soul,
The Glass to sparkle, or to swell the Bowl;
The temperate Jest with social Freedom crown'd.
The soothing Song, or Musick's charming Sound,
With just Restraint to please each Sense allows,
And only bids us what is Pain refuse.
To fill my Joys and crown the Sweets of Life,
Grant me, kind Heaven, a fair and virtuous Wife;
Like dear Amanda, who to blooming Youth,
And brightest Beauty, adds engaging Truth,
Witty, good-natur'd, ever prompt to please,
To think with Judgment, and converse with Ease;
Me she shou'd love, with as sincere Desire
As Angels feel, and heavenly Forms inspire;
So pleas'd to please, and to dissent so loth,
One Soul shou'd seem to animate us both;
With her conversing every Care wou'd fly,
And Life be more than Life when she was by.
If Heav'n so deign'd, to crown the Nuptial Joys,
A Brace of beauteous Girls and lovely Boys
Shou'd smile around, and in each infant Face,
More soft, more bright, bloom the Parental Grace;
Nor than their Faces, be their Minds less fair,
These to adorn how pleasing is the Care;
To teach how dear, delighting is the Task,
When Infant Innocence and Nature ask;
To see the grateful Soil not vain imprest,
And Virtue ripen in the youthful Breast;
What Joy to view it, open all humane
Delight to bless and melt at others Pain,
Benevolent and kind; thus let me live,
And ever grateful thus thy Gifts receive;
All bounteous God! nor for my self alone
Let me thus live: but to the Poor well known
Be my large Stores; for them shou'd freely bleed
The fatted Ox, and spring the bearded Seed;
Their Loins shou'd bless me for the warming Fleece,
Their pleaded Cause, their Property and Peace:
Thus blest, unenvy'd, and to Courts unknown,
The Vale of Life I'd glide serenely down,
With grateful Thanks resign my latest Breath,
Nor slow, nor painful, pass the Gates of Death.