Here you will find the Poem Oft Have I Read That Innocence Retreats of poet Thomas Parnell
Oft have I read that Innocence retreats Where cooling streams salute ye summer Seats Singing at ease she roves ye field of flowrs Or safe with shepheards lys among the bowrs But late alas I crossd a country fare And found No Strephon nor Dorinda there There Hodge & William Joynd to cully ned While Ned was drinking Hodge & William dead There Cicely Jeard by day the slips of Nell & ere ye night was ended Cicely fell Are these the Virtues which adorn the plain Ye bards forsake your old Arcadian Vein To sheep those tender Innocents resign The place where swains & nymphs are said to shine Swains twice as Wicked Nymphs but half as sage Tis sheep alone retrieve ye golden age.
