MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS. [From Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.]

New Zealander, Volume 7, Issue 563, 6 September 1851, Page 4

MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS. [From Percy's Reliques of Ancient English Poetry.]

This excellent philosophical song appears to have been famous in the sixteenth century: It is quoted by Ben Jonson in his play of "Every Man out of his Humour," first acted in 1599, A. i. Sc. i. where an impatient person says, " I am no such pil'd cynique to believe. That beggery is the onely happinesse, Or, with a number of these patient fooles, To sing, ' My minde to me a kindome is,' When the lanke hungrie belly barkes for foode." It is here chiefly printed from a thin quarto Music book, intitled, " Psalmes, Sonets, «nd Songs of sadness and pietie, made into Musicke of five parts : &c. By William Byrd, one the Gent of the Queenes Majesties honorable Cbappell.— Printed by Thomas East," &c, 4t0.n0 date: but Ames in his Typog. has mentioned another edit, of the same book, dated 1588, which I take to have been later than this. Some improvements, and on additional stanza (sc the sth), were had from two other ancient copies ; one of them in black letter in the Pepys Collection, thus inscribed,''A sweet and pleasant sonet, intitled, 'My Minde to me a Kingdom is.' To the tune of In Crete," &c. Some of the stanzas in this poem were printed by Byrtl spparate from the rest : they are here given in what seemed the moat natural order.

My minde to me a kingdome is ; Such perfect joy therein I finde As ftrre exceeds all earthly blisse, That God or Nature bath assignde : Though much I want, that most would have. Yet still my mind forbids to crave. Content I live, this ia my stay ; I seek no more than may suffice : I press© to beare no haugbtie sway : Look what I lack my minde supplies. Loe ! thus I triumph like a king, Content with that my mind doth bring. I see bow plentie surfets eft, And hastie clymbers soonest fall : I see that suoh as sit aloft Mishap doth threaten most of all : These get with toile, and keep with feare : Such cares my mind could never beare. No princely pompe, nor welthie store, No force to winne the victorie, No wylie wit to salve a sore, No shape to winne a lovers eye ; To none of these I yeeld as thrall j For why ? my mind despisetb all. Some have too much yet still they crave, I little have, yet seek no more : They are but poore, tho' much they have j And I am rich with little store : They poor, I rich ; they beg, I give; They lacke, I lend ; they pine, I live. I laugh not at anotberg losse, I grudge not at anothers gain ; No worldly wave my mind can tosse, I brooke that is anothers bane : I feare no foe, nor fawne no friend ; I lothe not life, nor dread mine end. I joy not in no earthly blisse ; I weigh not Creius* welth a straw ; For care, I care not what it is ; I feare not fortunes fatall law : My mind is such as may not move For beautie bright or fore« of love. I wish but what I have at will ; I wander not to seeke for more ; I like the plaine, I clime no hill ; In greatest stormes I sitte on shore, And laugh at them that toile in vaine To get what must be loste againe. I Irisie not where I wish to kill ; I feigne not love where most I hate ; I breake no sleep to winne my will ; I wayte not at the mighties gate ; I scorne no poore, I feare no rich j I feele no want, nor have too much. The court, ne cart, I like, ne loath ; Extreames are counted worst of all : The golden means betwixt them both, Doth surest sit, and feara no fall : This is my choyce ; for why ? I finde. No wealth is lite a quie tminde. My welth is health, and perfect ease ; My conscience clere my chiefe defence : I never seeke by brybea to please, Nor by desert to give offence : Thus do I live, thus will I die j Would all did so as well ai I !