18 నవంబర్, 2009

CONTENTMENT

1. My mind to me a kingdom is,
    Such pleasant joys therein I find,
    That it excels all other bliss
    That earth affords or grows by kind
    Though much I want, which most would have,
    Yet my mind forbids to crave.

2. No princely pomp, no wealthy store,
    No force to win the victory,
    No wily wit to solve a sore,
    No shape to feed a loving eye,
    To none of these I yield as thrall,
    For why? My mind doth serve for all.

3. I see how plenty suffers oft
   And hasty climbers soon do fall;
    I see that those which are aloft
   Mishap doth threaten most of all;
   They get with toil, they keep with fear,
   Such cares my mind could never bear.

4. Content to live , this is my stay;
    I seek no more than may suffice;
   I press to bear no haughty sway,
   Look, what I lack, my mind supplies.
   Lo, thus I triumph like a king
   Content with that my mind doth bring.

5. Some have too much, yet still do crave;
    I little have, and seek no more.
   They are but poor, though much they have,
   And I am rich with little store;
   They poor, I rich, they beg, I give.
   They lack, I leave, they pine, I live.

6. I laugh not at another's loss,
   I grudge not at another's gain,
   No worldly waves, my mind can toss
   My state at one doth still remain
   I fear no foe, I fawn no friend
   I loath not life, nor dread my end.

7. Some weigh their pleasure by their lust
    Their wisdom by their rage of will;
    Their treasure is their only trust,
    A cloaked craft their store of skill;
    But all the pleasure that I find
    Is to maintain a quiet mind.

8. My wealth is health and perfect ease'
    My conscience clear, my chief defence
    I neither seek by bribes to please
   Nor by deceit to breed offence;
   Thus do I live; thus will I die;
   If all do so, the earth is heaven.

                   ---- Sir Edward Dyer

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