The Means to Attain a Happy Life, Advise to Youth #3 --Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Martial, the things that do attain
The happy life, be these I find,
The richesse left, not got with pain;
The fruitfull grounde, the quiet minde,

The egall frend, no grudge no srtife,
No charge of rule, nor gouernance;
Without disease the helthfull life;
The houshold of continuance;

The meane diet, no delicate fare;
True wisdome ioynde with simpleness;
The night discharged of all care,
Where wine the wit may not oppresse,

The faithfull wife, without debate;
Such slepes as may begile the night:
Contented wyth thine owne estate
Ne wish for death, ne fear his might
--Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey

Ode on the Death of a Favourite Cat--Not all That Tempts Your Wandering Eyes And Heedless Hearts is Lawful Prize, nor all That Glistens Gold

Drowned in a Tub of Goldfishes

"Twas on a lofty vase's side,

Where China's gayest art had dyed

The azure flowers that blow;

Demurest of the tabby kind,

The pensive Selima reclined,

Gazed on the lake below.

Her conscious tail her joy declared;

The fair round face, the snowy beard,

The velvet of her paws,

Her coat, that with the tortoise vies,

Her ears of jet, and emerald eyes,

She saw: and purred applause.

Still had she gazed, but 'midst the tide

Two angel forms were seen to glide,

The Genii of the stream;

Their scaly armour's Tyrian hue

 Tho' richest purple to the view

Betrayed a golden gleam.

The hapless Nymph with wonder saw;

A whisker first and then a claw,

With many an ardent wish'

She stretched in vain to reach the prize.

What female heart can gold despise?

What Cat's averse to fish?

Presumptuous Maid! with looks intent

Again she stretched, again she bent,

Nor knew the gulf between,

(Malignant Fate sat by and smiled),

The slippery verge her feet beguiled,

She tumbled headlong in.

Eight times emerging from the flood

She mewed to every watery god,

Some speedy aid to send.

No Dolphins came, no Nereid stirred;

No cruel Tom, nor Susan heard,

A Favourite has no friend!

From hence, ye Beauties, undeceived,

Know, one false step is ne'er retrieved;,

And be with caution bold.

Not all that tempts your wandering eyes

And heedless hearts is lawful prize,

Nor all that glistens, gold.

Advice to Youth #1 (Every Man in his Humour)

He that is so respectless on his courses,
Oft sells his reputation at cheap market.
Nor would I, you should melt away yourself
In flashing bravery, lest, while you affect
To make a blaze of gentry to the world,
A little puff of scorn extinguish it;
And you be left like unsavoury snuff,
Whose property is only to offend.
I'd have you sober, and contain yourself,
Not that your sail be bigger than your boat;
But moderate your expenses now, at first,
As you may keep the same proportion still;
Nor stand so much on your gentility,
Which is an airy and mere borrow'd thing,
From dead men's dust and bones; and none of yours,
Except you make, or hold it.

Advice to Youth #2

Learn to be wise, and practise how to thrive;

That would I have you do: and not to spend

Your coin on every bauble that you fancy,

Or every foolish brain that humours you.

I would not have you to invade each place,

Nor thrust yourself on all societies,

Till men's affections, or your own desert,

Should worthily invite you to your rank.

He that is so respectless on his courses,

Oft sells his reputation at  cheap market.

Nor would I, you should melt away yourself

In flashing bravery, lest, while you affect

To make a blaze of gentry to the world,

A little puff of scorn extinguish it;

And you be left like unsavoury snuff,

Whose property is only to offend.

I'd have you sober, and contain yourself,

Not that your sail be bigger than your boat;

But moderate your expenses now, at first,

As you may keep the same proportion still;

Nor stand so much on your gentility,

Which is an airy and mere borrow'd thing,

From dead men's dust and bones;
and none of yours,

Except you make, or hold it.