They are but poor, though much they have; They poor, I rich; they beg, I give; I laugh not at another's loss, I grudge not at another's gain; I fear no foe, nor fawn on friend; I joy not in no earthly bliss; I weigh not Croesus' wealth a straw; For care, I care not what it is; I fear not fortune's fatal law : My mind is such as may not move For beauty bright or force of love. I wish but what I have at will; I wander not to seek for more; I like the plain, I climb no hill; In greatest storms I sit on shore, And laugh at them that toil in vain To get what must be lost again. I kiss not where I wish to kill; I feign not love where most I hate; I scorn no poor, I fear no rich; The court, nor cart, I like nor loathe; Extremes are counted worst of all; The golden mean betwixt them both Doth surest sit, and fears no fall; My wealth is health and perfect ease; Would all did so as well as I ! thrall, bondman; slave. bane, injury; destruction. wily wit to salve a sore, soft speech; Cro'sus, king of the ancient country of flattery. Lydia, and said to have possessed brook, endure. untold wealth. THIS poem first appeared in print in a book published by William Byrd in 1588. As Byrd was a song-writer, the poem has been attributed to him. But the longest and probably earliest version, in manuscript, is signed E. Dier. Edward Dyer was a poet of the age of Queen Elizabeth, and a friend of Sir Walter Raleigh's. THE FRUIT OF THE LOTOS TREE CHARLES LAMB THIS history tells of the wanderings of Ulysses and his followers in their return from Troy, after the destruction of that famous city of Asia by the Grecians. He was inflamed with a desire of seeing again, after a ten years' absence, his wife and native country, Ithaca. He was king of a barren spot, and a poor country in comparison with the fruitful plains of Asia, which he was leaving, or the wealthy kingdoms which he touched upon in his return. Yet, wherever he came, he could never see a soil which appeared in his eyes half so sweet or desirable as his country earth. After the mariners had set sail from Troy, a fearful tempest ensued, which for two nights and two days tossed them about, but the third day the weather cleared, and they had hopes of a favorable gale to carry them to Ithaca. But for the space of nine days contrary winds continued to drive them in an opposite direction to the point to which they were bound. The tenth day they put in at a shore where a race of men dwell that are sustained by the fruit of the lotos tree. Here Ulysses sent some of his men to the land for fresh water, who were met by certain of the inhabitants that gave them some of their country food to eat — not with any ill intention toward them, though in the event it proved pernicious. For, having eaten of this fruit, so pleasant it proved to their appetite that they quite forgot all thoughts of home, or of their countrymen, or of ever returning to the ships to give an account of what sort of inhabitants dwelt there, but they would needs stay and live among them, and eat of that precious food forever. And when Ulysses sent other of his men to look for them, and to bring them back by force, they strove, and wept, and would not leave their food for heaven itself, so much had the pleasure of that enchanting fruit bewitched them. But Ulysses caused them to be bound hand and foot, and cast under the hatches; and set sail with all speed from that baneful coast, lest others after them might taste the lotos, which had such strange qualities to make men forget their native country and the thoughts of home. Ith'a ca, one of the Io'nian Islands, in | lo'tos, a tree found in northern Africa, the Mediterranean Sea, twenty miles west of the mainland of Greece. Portugal, and Spain, the fruit of which is mildly sweet. THE LOTOS-EATERS ALFRED TENNYSON "COURAGE!" he said, and pointed toward the land; "This mounting wave will roll us shoreward soon." In the afternoon they came unto a land In which it seemed always afternoon. All round the coast the languid air did swoon, A land of streams! some, like a downward smoke, They saw the gleaming river seaward flow From the inner land; far off, three mountain tops, Stood sunset-flushed; and, dewed with showery drops, The charmed sunset lingered low adown In the red West; through mountain clefts the dale And meadow, set with slender galingale A land where all things always seemed the same! The mild-eyed melancholy Lotos-eaters came. Branches they bore of that enchanted stem, They sat them down upon the yellow sand, ULYSSES ESCAPES SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS CHARLES LAMB After leaving the land of the lotos-eaters, and enduring sundry adventures, Ulysses and his crew come to the island of Ææ'a. Here the enchantress Cir'ce entertains the wanderers for twelve months. When Ulysses is about to depart, she warns him of dangers in his way. “UNHAPPY man, thee Scylla, thee Charyb'dis, expect. Thee the deathful Sirens lie in wait for, that taint the minds of whosoever listen to them with their sweet singing. Whosoever shall but hear the call of any Siren, he |