One finds "true Content in any Lot; / Since in the Closet of his Mind / Dwells Solace not to be defin'd"
— Mollineux [née Southworth], Mary (1651-1695)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed and Sold by T. Sowle
Date
w. 1682, 1702
Metaphor
One finds "true Content in any Lot; / Since in the Closet of his Mind / Dwells Solace not to be defin'd"
Metaphor in Context
Shall we exclude from a Sedate,
Sweet, Happy, and Contented State?
The honest Man, that lives in Health,
Enjoying still sufficient Wealth,
Though not from an Inheritance,
But sure supply from Providence,
Estate by Industry can find,
But treasures Goodness in his Mind;
Though boasting no Nobility,
Nor Honours, from a Pedigree;
But rather can, with Tully,[1]tell,
He doth his Ancestors excel;
Yet is not over-clogg'd with Care;
Can Time for Mind and Body spare;
Can Feed and Sleep in Season, free
From Superfluous Luxury;
That hath an equal Loyal Spouse,
An handsome Habitable House;
Inherited, or Purchas'd, that
He need not fear the sullen Threat
Of griping Landlord; but if not,
Finds true Content in any Lot;
Since in the Closet of his Mind
Dwells Solace not to be defin'd,
Hath a just Friend, that canot be
Transformed in Adversity;
And what's more Happy, yet more Strange!
He's always ready for a Change.
Sweet, Happy, and Contented State?
The honest Man, that lives in Health,
Enjoying still sufficient Wealth,
Though not from an Inheritance,
But sure supply from Providence,
Estate by Industry can find,
But treasures Goodness in his Mind;
Though boasting no Nobility,
Nor Honours, from a Pedigree;
But rather can, with Tully,[1]tell,
He doth his Ancestors excel;
Yet is not over-clogg'd with Care;
Can Time for Mind and Body spare;
Can Feed and Sleep in Season, free
From Superfluous Luxury;
That hath an equal Loyal Spouse,
An handsome Habitable House;
Inherited, or Purchas'd, that
He need not fear the sullen Threat
Of griping Landlord; but if not,
Finds true Content in any Lot;
Since in the Closet of his Mind
Dwells Solace not to be defin'd,
Hath a just Friend, that canot be
Transformed in Adversity;
And what's more Happy, yet more Strange!
He's always ready for a Change.
Categories
Provenance
Searching "mind" and "closet" in HDIS (Poetry)
Citation
At least 7 entries in ESTC (1702, 1720, 1729, 1739, 1761, 1772, 1776).
See Fruits of Retirement: or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &C. Written on Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux, Late of Leverpool, Deceased. To Which Is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author. (London: printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1702). <Link to ESTC>
See Fruits of Retirement: or, Miscellaneous Poems, Moral and Divine. Being Some Contemplations, Letters, &C. Written on Variety of Subjects and Occasions. By Mary Mollineux, Late of Leverpool, Deceased. To Which Is Prefixed, Some Account of the Author. (London: printed and sold by T. Sowle, in White-Hart-Court in Gracious-Street, 1702). <Link to ESTC>
Theme
Inwardness
Date of Entry
09/06/2005
