marie
28th of March 2003 (Fri), 02:56
how happy is he born or taught,
that serveth not another's will;
whose armour is his honest thought,
and silly truth his highest skill !
whose passions not his masters are,
whose soul is still prepared for death ;
untied unto the world with care
of princely love or vulgar breath;
who hath his life from rumours freed,
whose conscience is his strong retreat,
whose state can neither flatterers feed,
nor ruin make accusers great ;
who envieth none whom chance doth raise
or vice; who never understood
how deepest wounds are given with praise;
nor rules of state, but rules of good;
who God doth late and early pray
more of his grace than gifts to lend ;
who entertains the harmless day
with a well-chosen book or friend;
- this man is free from servile bands
of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
lord of himself, though not of lands ;
and having nothing, he hath all
sir.h.wotten
that serveth not another's will;
whose armour is his honest thought,
and silly truth his highest skill !
whose passions not his masters are,
whose soul is still prepared for death ;
untied unto the world with care
of princely love or vulgar breath;
who hath his life from rumours freed,
whose conscience is his strong retreat,
whose state can neither flatterers feed,
nor ruin make accusers great ;
who envieth none whom chance doth raise
or vice; who never understood
how deepest wounds are given with praise;
nor rules of state, but rules of good;
who God doth late and early pray
more of his grace than gifts to lend ;
who entertains the harmless day
with a well-chosen book or friend;
- this man is free from servile bands
of hope to rise, or fear to fall;
lord of himself, though not of lands ;
and having nothing, he hath all
sir.h.wotten