Flovvers of Epigrammes Ovt of sundrie the moste singular authours selected, as well auncient as late writers. Pleasant and profitable to the expert readers of quicke capacitie: By Timothe Kendall |
To hymself.
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Flovvers of Epigrammes | ||
To hymself.
What likes thy mynde or fansie beste?what doest thou moste desire?
Doest couet costly buildyngs braue?
[8]
I force not these: what then wilt haue?
greate store of lande to eare?
Kyngs pleasures? or delightst thou in
fine princely daintie cheare?
If these should like me, I should like,
with toyle and care to be:
For rest and riches make no matche,
thei hardly doe agree.
As Irus I should liue, though I
whole kyngdomes had in holde:
And Cresus though I did enioye,
thy heapes of hourded golde.
Bare, naked, came I hether, and
nakt shall I hence againe:
Why therefore should I care for aught,
or put my self to paine?
In ioye and mirthe Ile spende my tyme,
and naught shall me anoye:
Ile laugh to scorne, the mucke, the moulde,
whiche worldlyngs riche enioye.
What? carest thou for nothyng then?
yes, this of God I craue:
That still I maie a quiet mynde,
and healthfull bodie haue.
Flovvers of Epigrammes | ||