"He is the happy Man that can calmly wish and want, and so can I: I can sing, My mind to me a Kingdom is!"
— Dunton, John (1659-1732)
Author
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
Printed for Richard Newcome
Date
1691
Metaphor
"He is the happy Man that can calmly wish and want, and so can I: I can sing, My mind to me a Kingdom is!"
Metaphor in Context
Alas Sir, said he, as Fortune is not my Landlady, so I fear not her displeasure; and having Contentment (that Heaven of the other World and this) tho' I have nothing but a Crust to live on, I can feast upon it. He is the happy Man that can calmly wish and want, and so can I: I can sing, My mind to me a Kingdom is! I was never yet dejected under the most biting frowns of Poverty, except it was in my sleep, which has been often broke with laughing! The Plow and Dairy are the very mound of my Meditation; I expostulate with my Oxen very Understandingly, and speak Gee and Whoe better than English: my Mind is not much distracted with Objects, but if a good Cow come in my way, I stand dumb and astonisht, and though my haste be never so great, will fix here half an hour's contemplation: my Habitation is a poor thatch't Roof, distinguish't from my Barn by the loop-holes that let out the Smoak, which the Rain had long since wash't thorough but for the double Cieling of Bacon on the inside, which has hung there from my Grandsire's time, and is yet to make Rashers for Posterity: My Religion is part of my Copy-hold which I take from my Landlord, and refer it wholly to his Discretion: My Compliment with my Neighbour is usually a good thump on the Back, and my Salutation commonly some blunt Curse. As to my Feet, they never stink so unbecommingly as when I trot after a Lawyer in Westminster-hall, and even cleave the ground with hard scraping, in beseeching of his Worship to take his Money.
(III, pp. 41-2)
(III, pp. 41-2)
Categories
Provenance
C-H Lion
Citation
John Dunton, A Voyage Round the World: or, a Pocket-Library, Divided into several Volumes. The First of which contains the Rare Adventures of Don Kainophilus, From his Cradle to his 15th. Year. The like Discoveries in such a Method never made by any Rambler before. The whole Work intermixt with Essays, Historical, Moral and Divine; and all other kinds of Learning. Done into English by a Lover of Travels. Recommended by the Wits of both Universities. 3 vols. (London: Printed for Richard Newcome, 1691). <Link to EEBO-TCP>
Date of Entry
06/19/2013
