It was a lovely and a rich domain, Vex’d by no Debt, no Mortgage, no Decrease; No Tenant came with unredress’d Complaint 30 Of Churlish Steward or of rigorous Lease; In the fair Village dwelt perpetual Peace, Far as a Patron could his power extend, Hail’d at his birth and mourn’d at his discease; Where all, where each, was pleas’d his help to lend To each, where all might seeking find a friend. Two furlongs distant from that seat, its Pride, Was the fair Village plac’d upon a Green, By wood surrounded save the Eastern Side, Where the broad, silent, silvery flood was seen. 40 There stood the peasants’ cots, a view serene On either side a small and central Lake, That long the scene of rustic Sports had been. Unenvied People! may ye still partake Life’s honest Joys and pure, and late may ye forsake! The whiten’d Church and Vicar’s low Abode Are near each other and these Dwellings near; But, far from Town and from the public Road, Few Travellers stray, few Strangers travel here; Where yet an Inn, “The Tracy’s Arms,” appear, 50 The Mill, the Shop, and Trades that Peasants need, But Farmers all; the Soil to all so dear Gives to the Peasant’s Cow a space to feed; Such was the Tracys’ will, and Heav’n approves the Deed. A numerous Race were these, and Sons were lent To England’s Honour and were great in Arms; But now the generous Blood seems nearly spent. One Son one only Son had raised Alarms For Generations three! nor female Charms As heretofore had done their Parents Grace; 60 These Lords had dwelt amid their flocks and farms, A mild benevolent and virtuous Race, Whose Lives accorded well with this their favourite Place.