A relation of ten years in Europe, Asia, Affrique, and America all by way of letters occasionally written to divers noble personages, from place to place, and continued to this present year / by Richard Fleckno.

ODE In praise of the Country life.

O Happinesse of Country life, Which ••own nor Palace ne'r could boast, Where men are even with Gods at strife Whose happinesse should be the most.

Whilst innocently all live there, Lords of themselves, as well as Land, Out of the Road of Hopes and Fear, And out of Fortunes proud command.

Where to deprive men of their own, Is crime which yet they never saw, Nor more injustice e'r was known Than not to give Beasts hunted, Law.

Where but for fish ther's none lays baits, Nor traps, but for some ravenous Beast, And but for Foul there's no deceipts, So harmlesse th'are in all the rest.

Where of false dealings none's afraid, And soothing flattery none allowes, But only in the Dairy Maid, Who whilst she milks them, stroaks her Cows.

Where only in Sheep-sheering Time The Rich the Poor do seem to Fleece, And of oppression all their crime Is only whilst they make their Cheese.

Then for the pleasant, do but think, Th'vast difference there is twixt both, Whilst men in Towns live in a sink, A life, even very beasts would loath.

Where nothing on the Earth does grow, To speak the seasons; but (in Summ,) By Dirt they only Winter know, And only dust shews Summers come.

Then for serenating the mind, Without which no contentment is, Where in lowd Cities shall you find A recollection like to this?

Where on some Object whilst X stay, And hidden cause of it would find, No noice does fright my thoughts away, Nor sudden sight distract my mind.

Or if that any noise there be, 'tis such as makes me not af••ard, Of Waters fall, Birds Melody, O'th' bleating flock, or lowing heard.

Mean time how highly are they blest, Whose conversations all with them, Who only but for th' name of Beast, Are (in effect) lesse beasts than Men.

For no ambition makes them fight, Nor unto mutual slaughter run, Invading one anothers right, Till t'one or both be quite undone.

None others acts calumniate, Nor mis-interpret every word; For others lives none lies in wait, Nor kills with poyson, nor with sword.

Then to conclude the Country life, Has happinesse Towns could never boast, Where men are even with Gods at strife, Whose happinesse should be the most,

And since life somewhere must be spent, Give me but Amorets Company, Without which life has no content, And here I could both live and die.