Samuel Daniel Quote

He that of such a height hath built his mind,
And rear'd the dwelling of his thoughts so strong,
As neither fear nor hope can shake the frame
Of his resolved powers ; nor all the wind
Of vanity or malice pierce to wrong
His settled peace, or to disturb the same ;
What a fair seat hath he, from whence he may
The boundless wastes and wilds of man survey?

And with how free an eye doth he look down
Upon these lower regions of turmoil?
Where all the storms of passions mainly beat
On flesh and blood : where honour, power, renown,
Are only gay afflictions, golden toil ;
Where greatness stands upon as feeble feet,
As frailty doth ; and only great doth seem
To little minds, who do it so esteem.


To the Countess of Cumberland. Stanza 1