"HAPPY THE MAN, WHOSE WISH AND CARE A FEW PATERNAL ACRES BOUND."-ALEXANDER POPE. 42 "HAPPY THE MAN, WHOM BOUNTEOUS GODS ALLOW HERE AND THERE. A THE HAPPY HEART. RT thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers? Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexèd ? Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexèd Work apace, apace, apace, apace; Canst drink the waters of the crispèd spring? Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears? Then he that patiently want's burden bears Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny! [T. DEKKER, a dramatist of high merit born 1570, died about 1638–39.] HERE AND THERE. JOR who did ever yet in honour, wealth, Or pleasure of the sense, contentment find? WITH HIS OWN HANDS PATERNAL GROUNDS TO PLOUGH."-COWLEY. "IF SOLID HAPPINESS WE PRIZE, WITHIN OUR BREAST THE JEWEL LIES."-CHARLES COTTON. "CONTENT'S A KINGDOM, AND I WEAR THE CROWN."-HEYWOOD. Then, as a bee which among weeds doth fall, But, pleased with none, doth rise and soar away. So, when the soul finds here no true content, And flies to him that first her wings did make. [Sir JOHN DAVIES, author of a philosophical poem, "On the Soul of Man," wrote in numbers (says Southey) which, for precision and clearness, and felicity and strength, have never been surpassed. Born 1570, died 1626.] "HAPPY THE MAN WHO SEES A GOD IN ALL THE GOOD AND ILL THAT CHEQUER LIFE."-WILLIAM COWPER. "LEARN, WHERE'ER THY LOT DOTH FALL, SHORT LOT, OR NOT, TO BE CONTENT WITH ALL."-HERRICK. S THE DAWN. EE, the day begins to break, And the light shoots like a streak While the morning doth unfold. [JOHN FLETCHER, dramatist, born at Rye, 1579, died 1625. I think his finest work is "The Faithful Shepherdess," whence these lines are taken.] 41 66 SELF-REVERENCE, SELF-KNOWLEdge, self-CONTROL."-TENNYSON. A HAPPY LIFE. IN SELF-RELIANCE. AN is his own star, and the soul that can [JOHN FLETCHER.] "DO THOU LIVE CONTENT; AND THEN CONSIDER WHY THY LIFE WAS LENT."-SIR JOHN DENHAM. "THE WORLD HAS NOTHING TO BESTOW; FROM OUR OWN SELVES OUR JOYS MUST FLOW."-CHARLES COTTON. A HAPPY LIFE. OW happy is he born and taught Whose passions not his masters are, Who envies none that chance doth raise Who hath his life from rumours freed, "THE MAN OF WISDOM IS THE MAN OF YEARS."-YOUNG. "I MADE A POSY WHILE THE DAY RAN BY."-HERBERT. STARS AND FLOWERS. 45 Who God doth late and early pray With a well-chosen book or friend; -This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise, or fear to fall; And having nothing, yet hath all. [Sir H. WOTTON, poet, statesman, and diplomatist, born 1568, died 1639.] "RAMBLE A-FIELD TO BROOKS AND BOWERS, TO PICK UP SENTIMENTS AND FLOWERS."-CHURCHILL. "SHINING FROM YOUR GLOSSY STEMS, LIKE MANY A GOLDEN STAR."-THOMAS CAMPBELL, "" WITH HOW SAD STEPS, O MOON, THOU CLIMB'ST THE SKIES."-SIDNEY. [BEN JONSON, second only to Shakspeare among English dramatists, was born in 1574, died in 1637. Besides his eighteen plays, he wrote several masques-from one of which, "Chloridia," the above extract is taken-and miscellaneous poems, collected under the titles of "The Forest," and "Underwoods."] "WHAT IS THERE IN THEE, MOON, THAT THOU SHOULDST MOVE MY HEART SO POTENTLY?"-KEATS. "HOW LIKE A QUEEN COMES FORTH THE LOVELY MOON!"-CROLY. "THE MOON, THE SACRED QUEEN OF NIGHT, WHO POURS A LOVELY, GENTLE LIGHT."-THOMSON. |