Classic Poem

To M. Henry Cobham

of the most blessed state of Life

The happiest life that here we have,
My Cobham, if I shall define,
The goodliest state twixt birth and grave,
Most gracious days and sweetest time,
The fairest face of fading life,
Race rightliest run in ruthful ways,
The safest means to shun all strife,
The surest staff in fickle days,
I take not, I, as some do take,
To gape and gawn for honours high,
But Court and Caiser to forsake,
And live at home full quietly.
I well do mind what he once said,
Who bade, Court not in any case,
For virtue is in Courts decayed,
And vice with states hath chiefest place.
Not Court but Country, I do judge,
Is it where lies the happiest life;
In Country grows no grating grudge,
In Country stands not sturdy strife,
In Country Bacchus hath no place,
In Country Venus hath defect,
In Country Thraso hath no grace,
In Country few of Gnatho's sect,
But these same four and many moe
In Court thou shalt be sure to find.
For they have vowed not thence to go,
Because in Court dwells idle mind.
In Country maist thou safely rest
And fly all these, if that thou list.
The Country, therefore, judge I best,
Where godly life doth vice resist,
Where virtuous exercise with joy
Doth spend the years that are to run,
Where vices few may thee annoy:
This life is best when all is done.