Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VI. Fancy. 1904. | | | | Poems of Sentiment: IV. Thought: Poetry: Books | | Of a Contented Spirit | | Thomas, Lord Vaux (1509–1556) |
| | | WHEN all is done and said, in the end this shall you find: | |
| He most of all doth bathe in bliss that hath a quiet mind; | |
| And, clear from worldly cares, to dream can be content | |
| The sweetest time in all this life in thinking to be spent. | |
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| The body subject is to fickle Fortune’s power, | 5 |
| And to a million of mishaps is casual every hour; | |
| And death in time doth change it to a clod of clay; | |
| Whenas the mind, which is divine, runs never to decay. | |
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| Companion none is like unto the mind alone, | |
| For many have been harmed by speech,—through thinking, few or none; | 10 |
| Fear oftentimes restraineth words, but makes not thought to cease; | |
| And he speaks best that hath the skill when for to hold his peace. | |
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| Our wealth leaves us at death, our kinsmen at the grave; | |
| But virtues of the mind unto the heavens with us we have: | |
| Wherefor, for Virtue’s sake, I can be well content | 15 |
| The sweetest time of all my life to deem in thinking spent. | | | | |
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