Thomas Campion
A
Booke
of Ayres.
XVIII.
The
Man of Life Upright
Note: A Booke of Ayres (1601)
version.
The man of life vpright,
Whose guiltlesse hart is free
From all dishonest deedes,
Or thought of vanitie,
The man whose silent dayes,
In harmeles ioys are spent,
Whom hopes cannot delude,
Nor sorrow discontent ;
That man needs neither towers
Nor armour for defence,
Nor secret vautes to flie
From thunders violence.
Hee onely can behold
With vnafrighted eyes
The horrours of the deepe
And terrours of the Skies.
Thus, scorning all the cares
That fate, or fortune brings,
He makes the heau'n his booke,
His wisedome heeu'nly things,
Good thoughts his onely friendes,
His wealth a well-spent age,
The earth his sober Inne
And quiet Pilgrimage.
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Caravaggio. The Inspiration of St.
Matthew. 1602.
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