INTEGER VITAE
by: Thomas Campion (1567?-1619)
- HE man of
life upright,
- Whose guiltless heart is free
- From all dishonest deeds,
- Or thought of vanity;
-
- The man whose silent days
- In harmless joys are spent,
- Whom hopes cannot delude,
- Nor sorrow discontent;
-
- That man needs neither towers
- Nor armour for defence,
- Nor secret vaults to fly
- From thunder's violence:
-
- He only can behold
- With unaffrighted eyes
- The horrors of the deep
- And terrors of the skies.
-
- Thus, scorning all the cares
- That fate or fortune brings,
- He makes the heaven his book,
- His wisdom heavenly things;
-
- Good thoughts his only friends,
- His wealth a well-spent age,
- The earth his sober inn
- And quiet pilgrimage.
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