A Philosophical
Poem of Four Centuries Ago
Sir Edward Dyer
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An Editorial Note:
Sir
Edward Dyer (1543-1607) was an
English
courtier and poet whose reputation
-
according to the “Encyclopaedia Britannica”
(1967)
- “rests on a small number of certainly
ascribed
lyrics of great dexterity and sweetness”.
It is
said that Sir Edward was an alchemist.
In her book “The Rosicrucian Enlightenment”,
Chapter III, Ms. Frances Yates says he was a
disciple of Jon Dee’s. A well-known occultist, John
In her book “The Rosicrucian Enlightenment”,
Chapter III, Ms. Frances Yates says he was a
disciple of Jon Dee’s. A well-known occultist, John
Dee is
mentioned in “The Mahatma Letters”, Letter 1.
For
four centuries now, “My Mind to Me a Kingdom Is”
has
been the best known of Sir Edward Dyer’s poems.
(CCA)
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My mind to me a
kingdom is;
Such perfect joy
therein I find
That it excels all
other bliss
Which God or nature
hath assign’d.
Though much I want
that most would have,
Yet still my mind
forbids to crave.
No princely port,
nor wealthy store,
No force to win a
victory,
No wily wit to
salve a sore,
No shape to win a
loving eye;
To none of these I
yield as thrall,-
For why? my mind
despise them all.
I see that plenty
surfeit oft,
And hasty climbers
soonest fall;
I see that such as
are aloft
Mishap doth
threaten most of all.
These get with toil
and keep with fear;
Such cares my mind
can never bear.
I press to bear no
haughty sway,
I wish no more than
may suffice,
I do no more than
well I may,
Look, what I want
my mind supplies.
Lo! thus I triumph
like a king,
My mind content
with anything.
I laugh not at
another’s loss,
Nor grudge not at
another’s gain;
No worldly waves my
mind can toss;
I brook that is
another’s bane.
I fear no foe, nor
fawn on friend,
I loathe not life,
nor dread mine end.
My wealth is health
and perfect ease,
And conscience
clear my chief defence;
I never seek by
bribes to please,
Nor by desert to
give offence.
Thus do I live,
thus will I die,-
Would all did so as
well as I!
- Sir Edward Dyer
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The
above poem is reproduced from “A Book of English Poetry”, Collected by G.B.
Harrison, Penguin Books, 1950, 416 pp., see pp. 53-54.
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On the role of the esoteric movement in the
ethical awakening of mankind during the 21st century, see the book “The Fire
and Light of Theosophical Literature”, by Carlos Cardoso Aveline.
Published in 2013 by The Aquarian Theosophist, the volume has 255 pages and can be
obtained through Amazon Books.
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