Lordly gallants! tell me this
(Though my safe content you weigh not),
In your greatness, what one bliss
Have you gained, that I enjoy not?
You have honours, you have wealth;
I have peace, and I have health:
All the day I merry make,
And at night no care I take.
Bound to none my fortunes be,
This or that man’s fall I fear not;
Him I love that loveth me,
For the rest a pin I care not.
You are sad when others chaff,
And grow merry as they laugh;
I that hate it, and am free,
Laugh and weep as pleaseth me.
You may boast of favours shown,
Where your service is applied:
But my pleasures are mine own,
And to no man’s humour tied.
You oft flatter, sooth, and feign;
I such baseness do disdain;
And to none be slave I would,
Though my fetters might be gold.
By great titles, some believe,
Highest honours are attained;
And yet kings have power to give
To their fools, what these have gained.
Where they favour there they may
All their names of honour lay;
But I look not raised to be,
‘Till mine own wing carry me.
Seek to raise your titles higher;
They are toys not worth my sorrow;
Those that we to-day admire,
Prove the age’s scorn to-morrow.
Take your honours; let me find
Virtue in a free born mind–
This, the greatest kings that be
Cannot give, nor take from me.
Though I vainly do not vaunt
Large demesnes, to feed my pleasure;
I have favours where you want,
That would buy respect with treasure.
You have lands lie here and there,
But my wealth is everywhere;
And this addeth to my store–
Fortune cannot make me poor.
Say you purchase with your pelf
Some respect, where you importune;
Those may love me for myself,
That regard you for your fortune.
Rich or born of high degree,
Fools as well as you may be;
But that peace in which I live
No descent nor wealth can give.
If you boast that you may gain
The respect of high-born beauties;
Know I never wooed in vain,
Nor preferr
(George Wither)
More Poetry from George Wither:
George Wither Poems based on Topics: Sadness, Money & Wealth, Night, Fool, Fate & Destiny, Age, Belief & Faith, Health, Gold, Vice & Virtue, Service- Rhomboidal Dirge (George Wither Poems)
- The Contented Man's Morice (George Wither Poems)
- A Christmas Carol (George Wither Poems)
- Prelude (George Wither Poems)
- A Rocking Hymn (George Wither Poems)
- A Poet's Home (George Wither Poems)
Readers Who Like This Poem Also Like:
Based on Topics: Night Poems, Sadness Poems, War & Peace Poems, Gold Poems, Money & Wealth Poems, Fate & Destiny Poems, Belief & Faith Poems, Age Poems, Pleasure Poems, Laughter Poems, Fool PoemsBased on Keywords: demesnes, addeth
- Alma; or, The Progress of the Mind. In Three Cantos. - Canto I. (Matthew Prior Poems)
- The Merchant of Venice,: A Legend of Italy (Richard Harris Barham Poems)
- Convict Once - Part Second. (James Brunton Stephens Poems)
- Christ's Triumph after Death : Canto IV. Christ's Victory and Triumph (Giles Fletcher Jr Poems)
- Astraea: The Balance Of Illusions (Oliver Wendell Holmes Poems)