My mind to me a kingdom is;
Such present joys therein I find,
That it excels all other bliss
That earth affords or grows by kind:
Though much I want that 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 surfeits 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 doth still remain:
I fear no foe, I fawn no friend;
I loathe not life, nor dread my end.
Some weigh their pleasure by their lust,
Their wisdom by their rage of will;
Their treasure is their only trust,
A cloakèd craft their store of skill;
But all the pleasure that I find
Is to maintain a quiet mind.
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;
Would all did so as well as I!
Published 1588, the author not really known! It’s either Edward de Vere, Seventeenth Earl of Oxford (1550-1604) or Edward Dyer (1543-1607)
Then and now, the message is
We will perhaps never know for sure which of the two men wrote the poem, but we have the poem, which is the most important thing. Its message may have enjoyed its zenith of popularity during the Elizabethan era, but the poem’s emphasis on maintaining a level-headed attitude to things, where one is happy with one’s lot, still speaks to us over four centuries later.
What a treasure of a poem, Bridget. Centuries later and never more important! Think about the times when the poet was living. They didn’t have Facebook, Instagram and other platforms stirring up envy and commercialism yet the poem was a part of the heart’s opening to peace. Something must have stirred! I guess we humans have just always suffered a bit with contentedness. Thank you for this!
The importance of a message written so long ago, but fitting into our lives today, is fascinating. Perhaps we humans aren’t as bad today as we think we are. Maybe we just can’t help it!
Can you believe that I’m still not always happy with my lot? The human condition? Beggars belief!
You and me both. At least we recognize it, that’s a start.
This is new to me Bridget. Thank you for sharing it. I love it!
You and me both. I dind’t know it either.