September 25, 2003

•               My Mind To Me A Kingdom Is

  
  

  
  

  
  

  
  

  MY mind to me a kingdom is;
  

  Such perfect joy therein I find
  

  That it excels all other bliss
  

  Which God or nature hath assigned.
  

  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 doth serve for all.
  

   
  

  
  

  I see that plenty suffers oft,
  

  And hasty climbers soonest fall;
  

  I see that such as are aloft
  

  Mishap doth threaten most of all.
  

  They get with toil and keep with fear;
  

  Such cares my mind can never bear.
  

   
  

  
  

  I press to bear no haughty sway,
  

  I seek 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 anything.
  

   
  

  
  

  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 loathe not life, nor dread mine end.
  

   
  

  
  

  My wealth is health and perfect ease,
  

  A 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!
  

   
  

  Sir Edward Dyer

  • 2:28 pm
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