My conscience is my crown,
Contented thoughts my rest;
My heart is happy in itself,
My bliss is in my breast.
Enough I reckon wealth;
A mean, the surest lot;
That lies too high for base contempt,
Too low for envy's shot.
My wishes are but few,
All easy to fulfill;
I make the limits of my power
The bounds unto my will.
I feel no care of coin;
Well doing is my wealth;
My mind to me an empire is,
While grace affordeth health.
I clip high-climbing thoughts,
The wings of swelling pride;
Their fall is worst that from the height
Of greatest honor slide.
Since sails of largest size
The storm doth soonest tear,
I bear so low and small a sail
As freeth me from fear.
I wrestle not with rage
While fury's flame doth burn;
It is in vain to stop the stream
Until the tide doth turn.
But when the flame is out,
And ebbing wrath doth end,
I turn a late enraged foe
Into a quiet friend.
And, taught with often proof,
A tempered calm I find
To be most solace to itself,
Best cure for angry mind.
No change of fortune's calms
Can cast my comforts down;
When Fortune smiles I smile to think
How quickly she will frown.
And when in froward mood
She proves an angry foe,
Small gain I found to let her come,
Less loss to let her go.
--Robert Southwell, 1561-95. (One of the Jesuit Fathers who were
cruelly executed by Queen Elizabeth.)
Don't lose Courage! Spirit brave
Carry with you to the grave.
Don't lose Time in vain distress!
Work, not worry, brings success.
Don't lose Hope! who lets her stray
Goes forlornly all the way.
Don't lose Patience, come what will!
Patience ofttimes outruns skill.
Don't lose Gladness! every hour
Blooms for you some happy flower.
Though be foiled your dearest plan,
Don't lose Faith in God and man!