Solitude: An Ode

Solitude: An Ode

Original Text
Pope's Own Miscellany Being a Reprint of Poems on Several Occasions 1717 containing new poems by Alexander Pope and others, ed. Norman Ault (London: Nonsuch Press, 1935): 82-83. PR 1215 P66 1935 Robarts Library.
I
1How happy he, who free from care
2The rage of courts, and noise of towns;
3Contented breaths his native air,
4            In his own grounds.
II
5Whose herds with milk, whose fields with bread,
6Whose flocks supply him with attire,
7Whose trees in summer yield him shade,
8            In winter fire.
III
9Blest! who can unconcern'dly find
10Hours, days, and years slide swift away,
11In health of body, peace of mind,
12            Quiet by day,
IV
13Sound sleep by night; study and ease
14Together mix'd; sweet recreation,
15And innocence, which most does please,
16            With meditation.
V
17Thus let me live, unheard, unknown;
18Thus unlamented let me dye;
19Steal from the world, and not a stone
20            Tell where I lye.
Publication Start Year
1717
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
RPO 2000.
Rhyme