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Sir Edward Dyer. (1543?–1607)

213

        My mind to me a kingdom is;
      Such present joys therein I find,
    That it excels all other bliss
      That earth affords or grows by kind:
Though much I want which most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

MS. Rawl. 85, p. 17. 1

214

    Some have too much, yet still do crave;
  I little have, and seek no more:
They are but poor, though much they have,
  And I am rich with little store:
They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;
They lack, I have; they pine, I live.

MS. Rawl. 85, p. 17.

Bishop (John) Still. (1543–1607)

215

    I cannot eat but little meat,
  My stomach is not good;
But sure I think that I can drink
  With him that wears a hood.

Gammer Gurton’s Needle. Act ii. 2

Note 1.
There is a very similar but anonymous copy in the British Museum. Additional MS. 15225, p. 85. And there is an imitation in J. Sylvester’s Works, p. 651.—Hannah: Courtly Poets.

My mind to me a kingdom is;
Such perfect joy therein I find,
As far exceeds all earthly bliss
That God and Nature hath assigned.
Though much I want that most would have,
Yet still my mind forbids to crave.
Byrd: Psalmes, Sonnets, etc. 1588.

My mind to me an empire is,
While grace affordeth health.
Robert Southwell (1560–1595): Loo Home.

Mens regnum bona possidet (A good mind possesses a kingdom).—Seneca: Thyestes, ii. 380. [back]

Note 2.
Stated by Dyce to be from a MS. of older date than Gammer Gurton’s Needle. See Skelton’s Works (Dyce’s ed.), vol. i. pp. vii–x, note. [back]

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