GREENE'S FAREWELL TO FOLLY 1 Modern spelling tran

GREENE’S FAREWELL TO FOLLY 22
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ploughman hath more ease than a king, for the one troubles but his body with exercise;
the other disquiets his mind with weighty affairs. I warrant, thee, wife, we have as much
health with feeding on the brown loaf as a prince hath with all his delicates, and I steal
more sweet naps in the chimney-corner in a week than (God save his Majesty) the king
doth quiet sleeps in his beds of down in a whole month. Oft have I heard my father say
(and I tell thee, our predecessors were no fools) that a husbandman plowed out of the
ground three things: wealth, health and quiet, which, quoth he, is more worth than a
king’s ransom. But ‘tis no matter; let not us meddle with kings’ affairs. But if the council
have thought it good to put down Vadislaus, he may thank his own pride, which, son,
learn of me is the root of all mischiefs, and if they have crowned Selides, we see a goodly
example, he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. But I would I could tell where the
king’s daughter were, for he that reaps favour and wealth gets a double benefit.
Maesia, who heard these news of her father’s preferment, smiled in her own conceit that
fortune had made so sharp and short a revenge, and that now after many miseries passed
over with patience, she might not only say: Dabit Deus his quoque finem [=God will
bring also these to an end], but Haec olim moeminisse iuuabit [=One day even these
things will be pleasant to recall]. The remembrance of honour tainted her cheeks with a
purple dye at the sight of her present drudgery; the hope of dignity tickled her mind with
a sudden joy to think what a metamorphosis should happen at her pleasure, but when she
called to mind the country sayings of her old master, and saw by proof how fickle fortune
was in her favours, and had considered what mishap lay in majesty, and what a secure life
it was to live poor, she found dignity overshadowed with danger, whereas poverty slept
quietly at his plough-beam. Honour willed her to bewray what she was; quiet persuaded
her that content was a kingdom. Perplexed thus with sundry thoughts, after her house
was handsomely and housewifely dressed up, she took her spinning-wheel to the door,
and there setting herself solitarily in the shade, she had not drawn forth three or four
threads but Vadislaus in his beggar’s robes came to the door, and seeing so neat a country
wench at her wheel, without any salutations after his cynical manner began to gaze on her
beauty. The maid, taking him for no other but some stout beggar, as country maids use to
solace themselves, began to carol out a song to this effect:
Sweet are the thoughts that savour of content,
The quiet mind is richer than a crown;
Sweet are the nights in careless slumber spent,
The poor estate scorns fortune’s angry frown;
Such sweet content, such minds, such sleep, such bliss
Beggars enjoy when princes oft do miss.
The homely house that harbours quiet rest,
The cottage that affords no pride nor care,
The mean that grees with country music best,
The sweet consort of mirth and music’s fare,
Obscured life sets down a type of bliss,
A mind content both crown and kingdom is.
Modern spelling transcript copyright 2007 Nina Green All Rights Reserved