"Oft let remembrance sooth his mind / With dreams of former days, / When in the lap of Peace reclined / He framed his infant lays; / When Fancy roved at large, nor Care / Nor cold Distrust alarm'd, / Nor Envy with malignant glare / His simple youth had harm'd."
Retirement [from Poems on Several Occasions]
At least 13 entries in ECCO and ESTC (1776, 1779, 1782, 1791, 1795, 1797, 1799). Collected in <u>A Collection of Poems</u>, <u>The Muse's Pocket Companion</u>, <u>Bell's Classical Arrangment of Fugitive Poetry</u>, and <u>Preceptive, Moral, and Sentimental Pieces</u>.<br>
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Text from <u>Poems on Several Occasions, by James Beattie, LL. D. Professor of Moral Philosophy in the University of Aberdeen.</u> (Edinburgh: Printed for W. Creech, 1776). &lt;<a href="http://estc.bl.uk/T138978">Link to ESTC</a>&gt;<br>
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Variant line in 1760, 1761, <em>et alia</em>: "Blest days! when Fancy smil'd at Care."