Verses, written upon several occasions by Abraham Cowley.

Claudian's Old Man of Verona.

HAppy the Man, who his whole time doth bound VVithin th' enclosure of his little ground. Happy the Man, whom the same humble place, (Th' hereditary Cottage of his Race) From his first rising infancy has known, And by degrees sees gently bending down, VVith natural propension to that Earth VVhich both preserv'd his Life, and gave him birth. Him no false distant lights by fortune set, Could ever into foolish wandrings get. He never dangers either saw, or fear'd: The dreadful storms at Sea he never heard. He never heard the shrill allarms of war, Or the worse noyses of the Lawyers bar. No change of Consuls marks to him the year, The change of seasons is his Calendar. The cold and heat, VVinter and Summer showes, Autumn by fruits, and Spring by flow'rs he knows. He measures time by Land-marks, and has found, For the whole day the Dial of his ground. A neighbouring wood born with himself he sees, And loves his old contemporary trees. H'as only heard of near Verona's Name, And knows it like the Indies, but by fame. Does with a like concernment notice take Of the Red-Sea, and of Benacus lake. Thus Health and Strength he to' a third age enjoyes, And sees a long Posterity of Boyes. About the spacious VVorld let others roam, The Voyage Life is longest made at home.