MY MIND TO ME A KINGDOM IS:

Y minde to me a kingdome is,

M Such perfect joye therein I find,

As farre exceeds all earthly bliffe

That world affords, or growes by kind: Though much I want that mofl men have, Yet doth my mind forbid me crave.

Content I live, this is my stay,

I feek no more than may fuffice,
I prefs to bear no haughty fway,
Looke what I lacke my mind fupplies:
Loe, thus I triumph like a king,
Content with that my mind doth bring.

I fee how plenty furfeits oft,
And hafty climbers oft do fall;
I fee how thofe that fir aloft,

Mishap doth threaten most of all;

They get, they toyle, they spend with care,

Such cares my mind could never beare.

I laugh not at anothers loffe,

I grudge not at anothers gaine;
No worldly wave my mind can toffe,
I brooke that is anothers paine:
I feare no foe, I fcorne no friend,
I dread no death, I feare no end.

Some have too much, yet ftill they crave,
I little have, yet seek no more;
They are but poor, though much they have,
And I am rich with little ftore:

They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lacke, I lend; they pine, I live.

My wealth is health and perfect eafe,
My confcience clear my chiefe defence,
I never seek by bribes to please,.

Nor by defert to give offence:
Loe thus I live, thus will I die,
Would all did fo as well as I.

No princely pompe, no wealthy flore,

No force to get the victory,

No wily wit to falve a fore,

No fhape to win a lovers eye: To none of thefe I yeeld as thrall, For why my mind defpifeth all.

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I joy not at an earthy blisse,

I weigh not Crefus' wealth a straw; For care, I care not what it is,

I fear not fortunes fatall law; My mind is fuch as may not move For beauty bright or force of love.

I wish not what I have at will,
I wander not to feck for more,
I like the plaine, I clime no hill,
In greatest ftorme I fit on fhore,
And laugh at those that toile in vaine
To get that must be loft again.

I kifs not where I wish to kill,
I faine no love whe:e most I hate,
I breake no fleep to winne my will,
I waite not at the mighties gate,
I fcorne no poor, I fear no rich,
I feele no want, nor have too much.

The court, ne cart, I like, ne loath; Extreames are counted worst of all, The golden meane betwixt them both, Doth fureft fit, and fears no fall: This is my choyce, for why I finde, No wealth is like a quiet minde.

THE WITCH OF WOKEY.

I'

N aunciente day's tradition fhowes

A bafe and wicked elfe arofe, The Witch of Wokey hight: Oft have I heard the fearfull tale From Sue, and Roger of the vale, On fome long winter's night.

Deep in the dreary difmall cell,
Which feem'd and was yeleved hell,
This blear-eyed hag did hide:
Nine wicked elves, as legends fayne,
She chofe to form her guardian trayne,
And kenpel near her fide.

Here fcreeching owls oft made their neft,
While wolves its craggy fides possest,
Night-howling thro' the rock:

No wholefome herb could here be found;
She blafted every plant around,

And blifler'd every flock.

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Her haggard face was foull to fee;
Her mouth unmeet a mouth to bee;
Her eyne of deadly leer,

She nought devis'd, but neighbour's ill
She wreak'd on all her wayward will,
And marr'd all goodly chear.

All in her prime, have poets fung,
No gaudy youth, gallant and young,
E'er bleft her longing armes:
And hence arose her spight to vex,
And blaft the youth of either fex,
By dint of hellish charms.

From Glafton came a lerned wight,
Full bent to marr her fell despight,
And will he did, I ween:

Sich mifchief never had been known,
And, fince his mickle lerninge shown,
Sich mischief ne'er has been.

He chauntede out his godlie booke, He croft the water, bleft the brooke, Then-pater nofter done;

The ghaftly hag he sprinkled o'er; When lo! where flood a hag before, Now flood a ghaftly stone.