| |
| IF all the ioyes that worldly wightes posesse | |
| Were throughly scand, and pondred in their kindes, | |
| No man of wit but iustly must confesse | |
| That they ioy most that haue contented mindes; | |
| And other ioyes, which beare the name of ioyes, | 5 |
| Are not right ioyes, but sunneshines of anoyes. | |
| |
| In outward view we see a number glad, | |
| Which make a shew as if mirth did abound, | |
| When pinching grief within doth make them sad: | |
| And many a one in these dayes may bee found, | 10 |
| Which faintly smile to shroud their sorowes so, | |
| When oftentimes they pine in secreet woe. | |
| |
| But euery man that holdes himselfe content, | |
| And yeeldes God thankes, as dutie doth require, | |
| For all his giftes that hee to vs hath sent, | 15 |
| And is not vext with ouer great desire: | |
| And such, I say, most quietly doe sleepe, | |
| When fretting cares doth others waking keepe. | |
| |
| What doth auaile huge heapes of shining golde, | |
| Or gay attyre, or stately buildinges braue, | 20 |
| If worldly pelfe thy heart in bondage holde? | |
| Not thou thy goodes—thy goodes make thee their slaue. | |
| For greedie men like Tantalus doe fare— | |
| In midst of wealth they needie are and bare. | |
| |
| A warie heede that thinges go not to losse | 25 |
| Doth not amisse, so that it keepe the meane: | |
| But still to toyle and moyle for worldly drosse, | |
| And tast no ioy nor pleasure for our paine; | |
| In carke and care both day and night to dwell, | |
| Is nothing els but euen a very hell. | 30 |
| |
| Wherefore, I say, as erst I did beginne, | |
| Contented men enioy the greatest blisse: | |
| Let vs content ourselues to flye from sinne, | |
| And still abide what God’s good pleasure is. | |
| If ioy or paine, if wealth or want befall, | 35 |
| Let vs bee pleasde, and giue God thankes for all. | |
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