My Mind to Me a Kingdom is

My minde to me a kingdome is; Such perfect joy therein I finde As farre exceeds all earthly blisse, That God or Nature hath assignde: Though much I want, that most would have, Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

Content I live, this is my stay; I seek no more than may suffice: I presse to beare no haughtie sway; Look what I lack my mind supplies. Loe! thus I triumph like a king, Content with that my mind doth bring.

I see how plentie surfets oft, And hastie clymbers soonest fall: I see that such as sit aloft Mishap doth threaten most of all: These get with toile, and keep with feare: Such cares my mind could never beare.

No princely pompe, nor welthie store, No force to winne a victorie, No wylie wit to salve a sore, No shape to winne a lovers eye; To none of these I yeeld as thrall, For why my mind dispiseth all.

Some have too much, yet still they crave, I little have, yet seek no more: They are but poore, tho' much they have; And I am rich with litle store: They poor, I rich; they beg, I give; They lacke, I lend; they pine, I give.

I laugh not at anothers losse, I grudge not at anothers gaine; No worldly wave my mind can tosse, I brooke that is another's bane: I feare no foe, nor fawne on friend; I loth not life, nor dread mine end.

My welth is health, and perfect ease; My conscience clere my chiefe defence: I never seeke by brybes to please, Nor by desert to give offence: Thus do I live, thus will I die; Would all did so as well as I!