William Shenstone

Here you will find the Poem Written at an Inn at Henley of poet William Shenstone

Written at an Inn at Henley

To thee, fair Freedom! I retire, 
From flattery, cards, and dice, and din; 
Nor art thou found in mansions higher 
Than the low cot, or humble inn. 

'Tis here with boundless power I reign, 
And every health which I begin, 
Converts dull port to bright champagne; 
Such Freedom crowns it, at an inn. 

I fly from pomp, I fly from plate, 
I fly from Falsehood's specious grin; 
Freedom I love, and form I hate, 
And choose my lodgings, at an inn. 

Here, waiter! take my sordid ore, 
Which lackeys else might hope to win; 
It buys what courts have not in store, 
It buys me Freedom, at an inn. 

Whoe'er has travell'd life's dull round, 
Where'er his stages may have been, 
May sigh to think he still has found 
The warmest welcome -- at an inn.