And to feed on hungry fare,
So I might but live to be
Where I might but sit to see
Once a day, or all day long,
The sweet subject of my song:
In Aglaia's only eyes
All my worldly Paradise.

A CONTENTED MIND

J. SYLVESTER
I WEIGH not fortune's frown or smile;
I joy not much in earthly joys;
I seek not state, I seek not style;

I am not fond of fancy's toys;
I rest so pleased with what I have,
I wish no more, no more I crave.
I quake not at the thunder's crack;
I tremble not at noise of war;
I swound not at the news of wrack;
I shrink not at a blazing star;
I fear not loss, I hope not gain,
I envy none, I none disdain.

I see ambition never pleased;

I see some Tantals starved in store;
I see gold's dropsy seldom eased;

I see e'en Midas gape for more:
I neither want, nor yet abound—
Enough's a feast, content is crowned.
I feign not friendship, where I hate;
I fawn not on the great in show;
I prize, I praise a mean estate-
Neither too lofty nor too low :
This, this is all my choice, my cheer-
A mind content, a conscience clear.

THE WISH

WELL then! I now do plainly see
This busy world and I shall ne'er agree.
The very honey of all earthly joy
Does of all meats the soonest cloy;

And they, methinks, deserve my pity
Who for it can endure the stings,
The crowd, and buzz, and murmurings,
Of this great hive, the City.

Ah! yet ere I descend to the grave,

A. COWLEY

May I a small house and large garden have;
And a few friends, and many books, both true,
Both wise, and both delightful too!

And, since Love ne'er will from me flee,

A Mistress moderately fair,

And good as guardian angels are,
Only beloved and loving me.

O fountains! when in you shall I

Myself eased of unpeaceful thoughts espy?
O fields! O woods! when, when shall I be made

The happy tenant of your shade?

Here's the spring-head of pleasure's flood: Here's wealthy Nature's treasury,

Where all the riches lie that she

Has coined and stamped for good!

Pride and ambition here

Only in far-fetched metaphors appear;

Here nought but winds can hurtful murmurs scatter,

And nought but Echo flatter.

The gods, when they descended, hither

From heaven, did always choose their way:

And therefore we may boldly say

That 'tis the way too thither.

How happy here should I

And one dear She live, and embracing die!
She who is all the world, and can exclude
In deserts solitude.

I should have then this only fear:
Lest men, when they my pleasures see,
Should hither throng to live like me;
And so make a City here.

THE QUIET MIND

I JOY not in no earthly bliss;
I force not Croesus' wealth a straw;
For care I know not what it is;
I fear not Fortune's fatal law :
My mind is such as may not move
For beauty bright nor force of love.

I wish but what I have at will,
I wander not to seek for more.
I like the plain, I climb no hill;
In greatest storms, I sit on shore
And laugh at them that toil in vain
To get what must be lost again.

I kiss not where I wish to kill;
I feign not love where most I hate;
I break no sleep to win my will;
I wait not at the mighty's gate;
I scorn no poor, nor fear no rich;
I feel no want, nor have too much.
The court and cart I like nor loath.
Extremes are counted worst of all ;
The golden mean, between them both
Doth surest sit and fears no fall.
This is my choice for why? I find
No wealth is like the quiet mind.

:

ANON.