My Father was a Farmer: A Ballad

5Then out into the world my course I did determine, O;

6Tho’ to be rich was not my wish, yet to be great was charming, O;

7My talents they were not the worst, nor yet my education, O:

8Resolv’d was I at least to try to mend my situation, O.

9In many a way, and vain essay, I courted Fortune’s favour, O;

10Some cause unseen still stept between, to frustrate each endeavour, O;

11Sometimes by foes I was o’erpower’d, sometimes by friends forsaken, O;

12And when my hope was at the top, I still was worst mistaken, O.

13Then sore harass’d and tir’d at last, with Fortune’s vain delusion, O,

14I dropt my schemes, like idle dreams, and came to this conclusion, O;

15The past was bad, and the future hid, its good or ill untried, O;

16But the present hour was in my pow’r, and so I would enjoy it, O.

17No help, nor hope, nor view had I, nor person to befriend me, O;

18So I must toil, and sweat, and moil, and labour to sustain me, O;

19To plough and sow, to reap and mow, my father bred me early, O;

20For one, he said, to labour bred, was a match for Fortune fairly, O.

21Thus all obscure, unknown, and poor, thro’ life I’m doom’d to wander, O,

22Till down my weary bones I lay in everlasting slumber, O:

23No view nor care, but shun whate’er might breed me pain or sorrow, O;

24I live to-day as well’s I may, regardless of to-morrow, O.

25But cheerful still, I am as well as a monarch in his palace, O,

26Tho’ Fortune’s frown still hunts me down, with all her wonted malice, O:

27I make indeed my daily bread, but ne’er can make it farther, O:

28But as daily bread is all I need, I do not much regard her, O.

29When sometimes by my labour, I earn a little money, O,

30Some unforeseen misfortune comes gen’rally upon me, O;

31Mischance, mistake, or by neglect, or my goodnatur’d folly, O:

32But come what will, I’ve sworn it still, I’ll ne’er be melancholy, O.

33All you who follow wealth and power with unremitting ardour, O,

34The more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther, O:

35Had you the wealth Potosi boasts, or nations to adore you, O,

36A cheerful honest-hearted clown I will prefer before you, O.