The Character of a Happy Life by Sir Henry Wooton
Wooton read by Classic Poetry Aloud:\nhttp://www.classicpoetryaloud.com/\nGiving voice to the poetry of the past.\n\n---------------------------------------------\n\nThe Character of a Happy Life\nby Sir Henry Wooton (1568 \u2013 1639)\n \nHow happy is he born and taught \nThat serveth not another's will; \nWhose armour is his honest thought, \nAnd simple truth his utmost skill! \n \nWhose passions not his masters are; \nWhose soul is still prepared for death, \nUntied unto the world by care \nOf public fame or private breath; \n \nWho envies none that chance doth raise, \nNor vice; who never understood \nHow deepest wounds are given by praise; \nNor rules of state, but rules of good; \n \nWho hath his life from rumours freed; \nWhose conscience is his strong retreat; \nWhose state can neither flatterers feed, \nNor ruin make oppressors great; \n \nWho God doth late and early pray \nMore of His grace than gifts to lend; \nAnd entertains the harmless day \nWith a religious book or friend; \n \n\u2014This man is free from servile bands \nOf hope to rise or fear to fall: \nLord of himself, though not of lands, \nAnd having nothing, yet hath all.