I scorn no poor, nor fear no rich;
I feel no want, nor have too much.

The court and cart I like, nor loath;
Extremes are counted worst of all:
The golden mean between them both
Doth surest sit, and fear no fall.
This is my choice; for why, I find
No wealth is like the quiet mind.

SONG, 1588.

From the same.

My mind to me a kingdom is;

Such perfect joy therein I find,

That it excels all other bliss,

Which God or Nature hath assign'd: Though much I want, that most would have,

Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

No princely port, nor wealthy store;

No force to win a victory:

No wily wit to salve a sore;

No shape to win a loving eye.

To none of these I yield as thrall;
For why, my mind despise them all!

I see that plenty surfeits oft,

And hasty climbers soonest fall:

I see that such as are aloft,

Mishap doth threaten most of all.

These get with toil, and keep with fear; Such cares my mind can never bear.

I wish no more than may suffice:

I do no more than well I may;

Look, what I want my mind supplies.

Lo, thus I triumph like a king,

My mind content with any thing.

I laugh not at another's loss;

Nor grudge not at another's gain:
No worldly waves my mind can toss;
I brook that is another's bane:
I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend;
I loath not life, nor dread my end.

My wealth is health, and perfect ease; And conscience clear my chief defence:

I never seek by bribes to please;
Nor by desert to give offence:

Thus do I live; thus will I die;
Would all did so as well as I!

SONG, 1588.

From the same.

WHAT pleasure have great princes More dainty to their choice, Than herdmen wild, who careless In quiet life rejoice:

And Fortune's fate not fearing,

Sing sweet in summer morning.

Their dealings plain and rightful

Are void of all deceit;

They never know how spiteful

It is to feel and wait

On favourite presumptuous,

Whose pride is vain and sumptuous.

All day their flocks each tendeth;

All night they take their rest,

More quiet than who sendeth

His ship into the East,

Where gold and pearl are plenty,

But getting very dainty.

For lawyers and their pleading

They' esteem it not a straw;
They think that honest meaning
Is of itself a law,

Where Conscience judgeth plainly,

They spend no money vainly.

O happy who thus liveth,

Not caring much for gold,
With clothing which sufficeth
To keep him from the cold:
Though poor and plain his diet,
Yet merry it is and quiet.

SONNET, 1595.

By George Chapman, the Translator of Homer.

MUSES, that sing Love's sensual emperie,
And lovers kindling your enraged fires
At Cupid's bonfires burning in the eye,
Blown with the empty breath of vain desires;

You, that prefer the painted cabinet
Before the wealthy jewels it doth store ye,
That all your joys in dying figures set,
And stain the living substance of your glory;
Abjure those joys, abhor their memory;

And let my love the honour'd subject be
Of Love, and Honour's complete history!

Your eyes were never yet let in to see

The majesty and riches of the mind,

That dwell in darkness; for your God is blind.

MEDITATION WHEN WE GO TO BED.

By William Hunnis.

From his "Handful of Honisuckles," 1585.

O LORD my God, I wandered have

As one that runs astray,

And have in thought, in word, and deed,
In idleness and play,

Offended sore thy Majesty,

In heaping sin to sin,

And yet thy mercy hath me spar'd;

So gracious hast thou been!