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 cloaked 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 defense;
I neither seek by bribes to please,
Nor by deceit to breed offense:
Thus do I live; thus will I die;
Would all did so as well as I!

Edward Dyer [1550?-1607]

WRITTEN AT AN INN AT HENLEY

To thee, fair freedom! I retire

From flattery, cards, and dice, and din; Nor art thou found in mansions higher Than the low cot, or humble inn.

"Tis here with boundless power I reign;
And every health which I begin,
Converts dull port to bright champagne;
Such freedom crowns it, at an inn.

I fly from pomp, I fly from plate!
I fly from falsehood's specious grin!
Freedom I love, and form I hate,

And choose my lodgings at an inn.

Here, waiter! take my sordid ore,

Which lackeys else might hope to win; It buys, what courts have not in store; It buys me freedom at an inn.

Careless Content

hoe er has traveled life's dull round, Where'er his stages may have been, ay sigh to think he still has found The warmest welcome, at an inn.

2847

William Shenstone [1714-1763]

CARELESS CONTENT

M content, I do not care, Wag as it will the world for me! hen fuss and fret was all my fare It got no ground that I could see; when away my caring went Counted cost and was content.

ith more of thanks and less of thought
I strive to make my matters meet;
o seek what ancient sages sought,
Physic and food in sour and sweet;
o take what passes in good part
nd keep the hiccups from the heart.

With good and gently-humored hearts
I choose to chat where'er I come,
Whate'er the subject be that starts;
But if I get among the glum
hold my tongue to tell the troth,
And keep my breath to cool my broth.

For chance or change of peace or pain,
For Fortune's favor or her frown,
For lack or glut, for loss or gain,

I never dodge nor up nor down,
But swing what way the ship shall swim,
Or tack about with equal trim.

I suit not where I shall not speed,
Nor trace the turn of every tide.
If simple sense will not succeed
I made no bustling, but abide.

For shining wealth or scaring woe
I force no friend, I fear no foe.

Of ups and downs, of ins and outs,

Of they're-i’-th'-wrong and we're-i'-th'-right,
I shun the rancors and the routs;

And, wishing well to every wight,
Whatever turn the matter takes,
I deem it all but ducks and drakes.

With whom I feast I do not fawn,
Nor if the folks should flout me, faint.

If wonted welcome be withdrawn

I cook no kind of a complaint.
With none disposed to disagree,
I like them best who best like me.

Not that I rate myself the rule

How all my betters should behave;
But fame shall find me no man's fool,
Nor to a set of men a slave;
I love a friendship free and frank,
But hate to hang upon a hank.

Fond of a true and trusty tie,
I never loose where'er I link,
Though if a business budges by

I talk thercon just as I think;
My word, my work, my heart, my hand,
Still on a side together stand.

If names or notions make a noise,

Whatever hap the question hath

The point impartially I poise,

And read and write, but without wrath;
For, should I burn or break my brains,
Pray, who will pay me for my pains?

I love my neighbor as myself-
Myself like him too, by his leave!
Nor to his pleasure, power or pelf
Came I to crouch, as I conceive!

IVE, dear friend, the truths I teach,
alt thou live beyond the reach
adverse Fortune's power;
always tempt the distant deep,
always timorously creep

ong the treacherous shore.

hat holds fast the golden mean, lives contentedly between

he little and the great,

s not the wants that pinch the poor, plagues that haunt the rich man's door,

mbittering all his state.

tallest pines feel most the power wintry blasts; the loftiest tower Comes heaviest to the ground;

e bolts, that spare the mountain's side, cloud-capped eminence divide,

and spread the ruin round.

e well-informed philosopher joices with a wholesome fear,

r the original of this poem see page 3579.

And hopes, in spite of pain;

If Winter bellow from the north,

Soon the sweet Spring comes dancing forth,
And Nature laughs again.

What if thine heaven be overcast?

The dark appearance will not last;
Expect a brighter sky.

The God, that strings the silver bow,
Awakes sometimes the Muses too,
And lays his arrows by.

If hindrances obstruct thy way,
Thy magnanimity display,

And let thy strength be seen;
But O! if Fortune fill thy sail

With more than a propitious gale,

Take half thy canvas in.

After Horace, by William Cowper (1731-1800]

"ITS AIN DRAP O' DEW”

CONFIDE ye aye in Providence,

For Providence is kind:

An' bear ye a' life's changes

Wi' a calm an' tranquil mind.

Though pressed and hemmed on every side,

Ha'e faith, an' ye'll win through;

For ilka blade o' grass

Keeps its ain drap o' dew.

Gin reft frac friends, or crossed in love,
As whiles nae doubt ye've been,
Grief lies deep-hidden in your heart,

Or tears flow frae your e'en,
Believe it for the best, and trow

There's good in store for you;

For ilka blade o' grass

Keeps its ain drap o' dew.