Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Ralph Waldo Emerson, comp. (1803–1882). Parnassus: An Anthology of Poetry. 1880.

My Mind to me a Kingdom is

William Byrd (1540?–1623)

MY mind to me a kingdom is;

Such perfect joy therein I find

As far exceeds all earthly blisse

That God or Nature hath assigned;

Though much I want that most would have,

Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

Content I live; this is my stay—

I seek no more than may suffice.

I press to bear no haughty sway;

Look, what I lack my mind supplies.

Lo! thus I triumph like a king,

Content with that my mind doth bring.

I see how plentie surfeits oft,

And hasty climbers soonest fall;

I see that such as sit aloft

Mishap doth threaten most of all.

These get with toil, and keep with fear;

Such cares my mind could never bear.

No princely pomp nor wealthy store,

No force to win the victory,

No wily wit to salve a sore,

No shape to win a lover’s eye—

To none of these I yield as thrall;

For why, my mind despiseth all.

Some have too much, yet still they crave;

I little have, yet seek no more.

They are but poor, though much they have;

And I am rich with little store.

They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;

They lack, I lend; they pine, I live.

I laugh not at another’s loss,

I grudge not at another’s gaine;

No worldly wave my mind can toss;

I brook that is another’s bane.

I feare no foe, nor fawn on friend;

I loathe not life, nor dread mine end.

I joy not in no earthly blisse;

I weigh not Crœsus’ wealth a straw;

For care, I care not what it is;

I fear not fortune’s fatal law;

My mind is such as may not move

For beauty bright, or 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 kisse 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, I fear no rich;

I feel no want, nor have too much.

The court nor cart I like nor loathe;

Extremes are counted worst of all;

The golden mean betwixt them both

Doth surest sit, and fears no fall;

This is my choyce; for why, I find

No wealth is like a quiet mind.

My wealth is health and perfect ease;

My conscience clear my chief defence;

I never seek by bribes to please,

Nor by desert to give offence.

Thus do I live, thus will I die;

Would all did so as well as I!