"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 who toil in vain,
To get what must be lost again.
"I kiss 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 miser's gate.
I scorn no poor, I fear no rich,
I feel no want, nor have too much.
"The court nor camp I like, nor loathe,
Extremes are counted worst of all,
The golden mean between them both,
Doth surest sit, and fears no fall.
This is my choice; for why? I find,
No wealth is like a quiet mind."
MOONLIGHT AND CALM AT SEA.
When every breeze is hush'd to rest,
And the soft zephyr of the dappled west
Its voice does lose;
When Dian's silver light does sleep,
O'er the smooth bosom of the deep,
How sweet to muse!
When ocean's swelling bosom bright,
Seems studded o'er with golden light,
Of many a star;
And the wild sea fowls' harsh shrill strain
Echoing along th' unruffled main
Is heard afar;
'Tis then each rising care does sleep
With the soft stillness of the deep,
In sympathetic power.
'Tis then each swelling pulse does thrill,
And sweetest bliss the heart does fill,
In such an hour.
The soul too fond is soothed to rest;
By mild serenity possess'd,
Nor thinks the storm is nigh;
But soon the placid scene is o'er,
And swelling ocean round does roar,
Contesting with the sky.
'Tis thus on life's deceitful tide,
With placid course we seem to glide,
All free from care;
But soon the too delusive charm,
Flies fast away with every calm,
And prospect fair!