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"My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is"
by
Sir Edward Dyer
1543-1607
My mind to me a kingdom is
Such perfect joy therein I find,
That it excels all other bliss
That world affords or grows by kind.
Though much I want which most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.
No princely pomp, no wealthy store
No force to win the victory,
No wily wit to salve 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.
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.
Content I 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.
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.
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 cloth still remain.
I fear no foe, I fawn no friend, I loathe not life, nor dread no end.
But all the pleasure that I find
Is to maintain a quiet mind.