Anonymous British Poems

What are life's joys and gains?
What pleasures crowd its ways,
That man should take such pains
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If I could but attain my wish,
I'd have each day one wholesome dish,
Of plain meat, or fowl, or fish.
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In prime of years, when I was young,
I took delight in youthful ways,
Not knowing then what did belong
Unto the pleasures of those days.
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Death

Thou wealthy man of large possessions here,
Amounting to some thousand pounds a year,
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Argument
The servingman the plowman would invite
To leave his calling and to take delight;
But he to that by no means will agree,
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Come all you freemasons that dwell around the globe,
That wear the badge of innocence, I mean the royal robe,
Which Noah he did wear when in the ark he stood,
When the world was destroyed by a deluging flood.
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PART I.
This Indian weed, now withered quite,
Though green at noon, cut down at night,
Shows thy decay;
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UP and spoke the bonny mermaid,
Wi the comb and the glass in her hand;
Says, Cheer up your hearts, my mariners all,
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WIGLAF his name was, Weohstan's son,
linden-thane loved, the lord of Scylfings,
Aelfhere's kinsman. His king he now saw
with heat under helmet hard oppressed.
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THE fall of his lord he was fain to requite
in after days; and to Eadgils he proved
friend to the friendless, and forces sent
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