Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry. 1904.

Poems of Home: V. The Home

The Means to attain Happy Life

Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey (1517–1547)

MARTIAL, the things that do attain

The happy life be these, I find,—

The riches left, not got with pain;

The fruitful ground, the quiet mind,

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;

No charge of rule, nor governance;

Without disease, the healthful life;

The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no delicate fare;

True wisdom joined with simpleness;

The night dischargèd of all care,

Where wine the wit may not oppress;

The faithful wife, without debate;

Such sleeps as may beguile the night;

Contented with thine own estate,

Ne wish for death, ne fear his might.