Of empty success

 

 

 Himself he frees by secret means unseen,

His shackles empty left, himself escaped clean.

 

--  Edmund Spenser

When the Irish fancied themselves Spanish

Of all nations under heaven, the Spaniard is the most mingled, and most uncertain. Wherefore, most foolishly do the Irish think to ennoble themselves, by wresting their ancientry from the Spaniard, who is unable to derive himself from any in certain.

-- Edmund Spenser

Even predators practice the virtue of nothing to excess: You won't find a fat cat in nature

But he was wary wise in all his way,

And well perceived his deceitful sleight;

Ne suffered lust his safety to betray;

So goodly did beguile the guiler of the prey.

-- Edmund Spenser

A million dollars won't make any difference to your $1 Labor Day hamburger, except that it might buy you new teeth with which to eat a $10 steak instead

 

 

 

 

Suffice it then, thou money god, quoth he

That all thine idle offers I refuse;

All that I need I have: what needeth me

To covet more than I have cause to use?

-- Edmund Spenser

Agree with thine adversary quickly, while thou art with him in the way

May be, that better reason will assuage

The rash revenger's heat; words, well dispos'd,

Have secret pow'r t' appease enflamed rage.

-- Edmund Spenser (1552/3-1599)

The fox tells the ape that the life without toil is freest "uncontrolled of any"

For without gold now nothing will be got,

Therefore (if please you) this shall be our plot:

We will not be of any occupation;

Let such vile vassals, born to base vocation,

Drudge in the world, and for their living droil,

Which have no wit to live withouten toil;

But we will walk about the world with pleasure

Like two free men, and make our ease our treasure.

Free men some beggars call, but they be free,

And they which call them so more beggars be;

For they do swink and sweat to feed th' other,

Who live like Lords of that which they do gather,

And yet do never thank them for the same,

But as their due by Nature do it claim.

Such will we fashion both our selves to be,

Lords of the world; and so will wander free

Where so us listeth, uncontroll'd of any:

Hard is our hap, if we (amongst so many)

Light not on some that may our state amend:

Seldom but some good cometh ere the end.

-- Edmund Spenser (1553-1599), Prosopopoia: Or Mother Hubberds Tale