Henry Howard, Earl of Sussex

Henry Howard, Earl of Sussex (1517-1547)

The Things That Cause a Quiet Life
(Written by Martial)

My friend, the things that do attain
The happy life be these, I find:
The riches left, not got with pain,
The fruitful ground; the quiet mind;

The equal friend; no grudge, no strife;
No charge of rule nor governance;
Without disease the healthy life;
The household of continuance;

The mean diet, no dainty fare;
True wisdom joined with simpleness;
The night discharged of all care,
Where wine the wit may not oppress;

The faithful wife, without debate;
Such sleeps as may beguile the night:
Content thyself with thine estate,
Neither wish death, nor fear his might.
The Frailty and Hurtfulness of Beauty

Brittle beauty, that nature made so frail,
Whereof the gift is small, and short the season;
Flow'ring today, tomorrow apt to fail,
Tickle treasure, abhorrèd of reason; (tickle,delicate)
Dangerous to deal with, vain, of none avail,
Costly in keeping, past not worth two peason; (pesen,peas)
Slipper in sliding, as is an eelës tail,
Hard to obtain, once gotten, not geason; (geason,rare)
Jewel of jeopardy that peril doth assail,
False and untrue, enticèd oft to treason,
Enemy to youth; that most may I bewail.
Ah, bitter sweet, infecting as the poison,
Thou farest as fruit that with the frost is taken,
Today ready ripe, tomorrow all to-shaken.

(Also taken as Lord Vaux's)

A translation of Martial, Epigrams, X, 47

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The Things That Cause a Quiet Life (Written by Martial) My friend, the things that do attain The happy life be these, I find: The riches left, not got with pain, The fruitful ground; the quiet mind; The equal friend; no grudge, no strife; No charge of rule nor governance; Without disease the healthy life; The household of continuance; The mean diet, no dainty fare; True wisdom joined with simpleness; The night discharged of all care, Where wine the wit may not oppress; The faithful wife, without debate; Such sleeps as may beguile the night: Content thyself with thine estate, Neither wish death, nor fear his might.	The Frailty and Hurtfulness of Beauty Brittle beauty, that nature made so frail, Whereof the gift is small, and short the season; Flow'ring today, tomorrow apt to fail, Tickle treasure, abhorrèd of reason; (tickle,delicate) Dangerous to deal with, vain, of none avail, Costly in keeping, past not worth two peason; (pesen,peas) Slipper in sliding, as is an eelës tail, Hard to obtain, once gotten, not geason; (geason,rare) Jewel of jeopardy that peril doth assail, False and untrue, enticèd oft to treason, Enemy to youth; that most may I bewail. Ah, bitter sweet, infecting as the poison, Thou farest as fruit that with the frost is taken, Today ready ripe, tomorrow all to-shaken. (Also taken as Lord Vaux's)

A translation of Martial, Epigrams, X, 47
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