On lib’ral terms his Tenants are posses’d; Their contracts made, they feel themselves at rest; Their tenures permanent, at easy rents, None make a bargain which he e’er repents; But once engaged, he finds his contract please; Assured of independence, peace and ease. The honor’d Landlord thus his rights maintains, And like a Father o’er his Children reigns; His reign is arbitrary ’tis confess’d, Because he gains possession of the breast; And wins the affections, of the gen’rous hind, By noble dealings and by actions kind; Who tho’ he spurns the mean desire of pelf, Enriching others meets reward himself. Of him ye Landlords learn the only way, To make your Acres your high hopes repay; And know that only by a lasting lease, Your lands ye can improve, your wealth increase; See this plain truth, clear as the solar ray, In COKE’S large rental, swelling ev’ry day; Turn but your eyes to HOLKHAM’S fertile plain, And see it proved in ev’ry joyous swain; Behold how riches, in a Patriot’s hand, Diffuse abundance thro’ a steril land; And view how wealth, when properly applied, Scatters her golden lustre far and wide. Within the narrow space of fifty years; How Nature’s rugged face improv’d appears; Where scarce a sheep cot rais’d its shelt’ring head, To screen the Shepherd as his flocks he fed; Now graceful mansions glad the Traveller’s eyes, And socialize the hills on which they rise; Where here and there a dome of antique taste, Made solitude appear amid the waste; Now ornamental buildings grace the spot, And population cheers the humble cot: Where not a briar would rise to deck the heath, Nor wild _flower_ bloom to paint a May day wreath; Now cooling groves and flowery sweets are seen, To form a landscape mid’ the varied scene; Within whose sylvan shades we see reside, In ease, content, and independent pride; The NORFOLK YEOMEN rearing Heroes brave, To guard BRITANNIA while she rules the wave; Just such a _Peasantry_ in heart and nerve, As _England’s Genius_ glories to preserve.
Amid the fruitful hills and smiling vales, Each grateful Tenant, his loved Landlord hails; Whose spacious mansion tow’ring to the skies, Central we see majestically rise; Around whose bright demesnes, a happy race Of wealthy Farmers share the fertile space; And while they feel his favours grateful glow, Though from his streams their smaller streamlets flow; In chrystal currents, gliding pure and clear, Through all the country round the swains to cheer. Though his bright beams, just like the orb of day, The lesser stars eclipses with his ray; It warms, illumes, and gladdens as it shines, Each minor Planet which around him twines While as they circle near their central sun, Illumin’d by his light their course they run; Fed from his flame they own his golden rays, And glisten round him in a silver blaze.