Classic Poem

Though frost, and snow, lock'd from mine eyes
That beauty which without door lyes,
Thy gardens, orchards, walks, that so
I might not all thy pleasures know;
Yet (Saxham) thou within thy gate,
Art of thy selfe so delicate,
So full of native sweets, that bless
Thy roof with inward happiness;
As neither from, nor to thy store,
Winter takes ought, or Spring adds more.
The cold and frozen ayr had sterv'd
Much poore, if not by thee preserv'd;
Whose prayers have made thy Table blest
With plenty, far above the rest.
The season hardly did afford
Coarse cates unto thy neighbours board,
Yet thou hadst dainties, as the sky
Had only been thy Volarie;
Or else the birds, fearing the snow
Might to another deluge grow,
The Pheasant, Partridge, and the Lark,
Flew to thy house, as to the Ark.
The willing Oxe, of himselfe came
Home to the slaughter, with the Lamb,
And every beast did thither bring
Himselfe, to be an offering.
The scalie herd, more pleasure took
Bath'd in the dish, than in the brook.
Water, Earth, Ayre, did all conspire,
To pay their tributes to thy fire,
Whose cherishing flames themselves divide
Through every room, where they deride
The night, and cold abroad; whilst they
Like Suns within, keep endlesse day.
Those chearfull beams send forth their light,
To all that wander in the night,
And seem to beckon from aloof,
The weary Pilgrim to thy roof;
Where, if refresh't he will away,
He's fairly welcome, or if stay
Far more, which he shall hearty find,
Both from the master, and the Hind.
The stranger's welcome, each man there
Stamp'd on his chearfull brow doth wear;
Nor doth this welcome, or his cheer
Grow lesse, cause he stayes longer here.
There's none observes (much less repines)
How often this man sups or dines.
Thou hast no Porter at the door
T' examin, or keep back the poor;
Nor locks, nor bolts; thy gates have been
Made only to let strangers in;
Untaught to shut, they doe not fear
To stand wide open all the year;
Careless who enters, for they know,
Thou never didst deserve a foe;
And as for theeves, thy bounty's such,
They cannot steal, thou giv'st so much.