Robert Herrick: His Grange, Or Private Wealth.

HIS GRANGE, OR PRIVATE WEALTH.
by Robert Herrick

                          THOUGH clock,
To tell how night draws hence, I've none,
                          A cock
I have to sing how day draws on.
                          I have
A maid, my Prew, by good luck sent
                          To save
That little Fates me gave or lent.
                          A hen
I keep, which creeking day by day,
                          Tells when
She goes her long white egg to lay.
                          A goose
I have, which, with a jealous ear
                          Lets loose
Her tongue, to tell that danger's near.
                          A lamb
I keep (tame) with my morsels fed,
                          Whose dam
An orphan left him (lately dead).
                          A cat
I keep that plays about my house,
                          Grown fat
With eating many a miching mouse.
                          To these
A Tracy* I do keep whereby
                          I please
The more my rural privacy ;
                          Which are
But toys to give my heart some ease ;
                          Where care
None is, slight things do lightly please.

My Prew, Prudence Baldwin.
Creeking, clucking.
Miching, skulking.
* His spaniel. (Note in the original edition.)

Source:
Herrick, Robert. Works of Robert Herrick. vol II.
Alfred Pollard, ed.
London, Lawrence & Bullen, 1891. 55-56.

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