Мой разум — королевство

Эдвард Дайер

 

 (1543–1607)

 

 

1.                    My mind to me a kingdom is,

2.                           Such present joys therein I find,

3.                    That it excels all other bliss

4.                           That earth affords or grows by kind:

5.                    Though much I want which most would have,

6.                    Yet still my mind forbids to crave.

 

7.                    No princely pomp, no wealthy store,

8.                           Nor force to win the victory;

9.                    No wily wit to salve a sore,

10.                        No shape to feed a loving eye;

11.                 To none of these I yield as thrall,

12.                 For why, my mind doth serve for all.

 

13.                 I see how plenty surfeits oft,

14.                        And hasty climbers soon do fall;

15.                 I see that those which are aloft,

16.                        Mishap doth threaten most of all;

17.                 These get with toil, they keep with fear:

18.                 Such cares my mind could never bear.

 

19.                 Content to live, this is my stay;

20.                        I seek no more than may suffice;

21.                 I press to bear no haughty sway;

22.                        Look, what I lack my mind supplies:

23.                 Lo! Thus I triumph like a king,

24.                 Content with that my mind doth bring.

 

25.                 Some have too much, yet still do crave;

26.                        I little have and seek no more.

27.                 They are but poor, though much they have,

28.                        And I am rich with little store:

29.                 They poor, I rich; they beg, I give;

30.                 They lack, I leave; they pine, I live.

 

31.                 I laugh not at another’s loss;

32.                        I grudge not at another’s gain;

33.                 No worldly waves my mind can toss;

34.                        My state at one doth still remain:

35.                 I fear no foe, I fawn no friend;

36.                 I loathe not life, nor dread my end.

 

37.                 Some weigh their pleasure by their lust,

38.                        Their wisdom by their rage of will;

39.                 Their treasure is their only trust;

40.                        A cloaked craft their store of skill:

41.                 But all the pleasure that I find,

42.                 Is to maintain a quiet mind.

 

43.                 My wealth is health and perfect ease:

44.                        My conscience clear my chief defense;

45.                 I neither seek by bribes to please,

46.                        Nor by deceit to breed offence:

47.                 Thus do I live; thus will I die;

48.                 Would all did so as well as I!

 

Source: Chambers’s Cyclopaedia of English Literature. A History, Critical and Biographical, of British Authors with Specimens of their Writings. Originally edited by Robert Chambers, LL.D. Fourth Edition. Revised by Robert Carruthers, LL.D. In Two Volumes. London ; Edinburgh, 1889. Vol. I. XVI. 824 p. — P. 97.