Song. If I E'er Become Parson

If I e'er become Parson, for so I'm inclin'd May I have a snug benefice pat to my mind, Large enough to admit of a wife at my table, A cow in my yard, and a nag, in my stable; May my flock ne'er embroil me in quarrel or strife, In good humour may I live all the days of my life, In good humour may I live all the days of my life, And die before tir'd of myself or my wife.

May my first fruits, and tythes, make me always appear With a clear, tho' coarse, shirt all the days of the year; For of all living things not excepting a swine, The beastliest of beasts is a beastly Divine. May I live &c.

With a friend or too near me, of equal degree, As like me in all things, as pea is like pea, Who, on pudding, or joint, contented could dine. With a glass of old port, or October divine. May &c.

With a quarto or two of prime choice on my shelf, To retire to whenever I'm tir'd with myself, With a good natur'd muse to converse with at pleasure, To wrap me in rhyme, or inspire me with measure. May &c.

To enjoy what I have without wishing for more, Since contentment with little, is doubling one's store, And when I'm no more, may my successor say, He's gone, and I wish I could live the same way. For his flock ne'er embroil'd him in quarrel or strife, In good humour he liv'd all the days of his life, In good humour he liv'd all the days of his life, And died before tir'd of himself or his wife.