possibly by Christopher Hatton, Sir (1581 - 1619)

I weigh not Fortune's frown nor smile
Language: English 
I weigh not Fortune's frown nor smile,
I joy not much in earthly joys,
I seek not state, I reak [sic] not style,
I am not fond of Fancy’s toys.
I rest so pleased with what I have
I wish no more, no more I crave.

I tremble not at noise of war,
I quake not at the thunder’s crack,
I shrink not at a blazing star,
I sound not at the news of wreck,
I fear no loss, I hope no gain,
I envy none, I none disdain.

I see Ambition never pleased,
I see some Tantals starve in store,
I see gold’s dropsy seldom eased,
I see each Midas gape for more:
I neither want nor yet abound,
Enough’s a feast, content is crowned.

I feign not friendship where I hate,
I fawn not on the great for grace,
I prize, I praise a mean estate
Ne yet too lofty, nor too base,
This is all my choice, my cheer —
A mind content and conscience clear.

Available sung texts:   ← What is this?

•   O. Gibbons •   O. Gibbons •   O. Gibbons •   O. Gibbons 

O. Gibbons sets stanza 1 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
O. Gibbons sets stanza 2 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
O. Gibbons sets stanza 3 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
O. Gibbons sets stanza 4 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information

About the headline (FAQ)

Confirmed with Lyrics from the Song-Books of the Elizabethan Age, ed. by A. H. Bullen, London, John C. Nimmo, 1887, pages 47-48.


Text Authorship:

Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):

  • by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "I weigh not Fortune's frown nor smile", published 1612, stanza 1 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 3, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]  [sung text checked 2 times]
  • by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "I tremble not at noise of war", published 1612, stanza 2 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 4, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]  [sung text checked 2 times]
  • by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "I see Ambition never pleased", published 1612, stanza 3 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 5, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]  [sung text checked 2 times]
  • by Orlando Gibbons (1583 - 1625), "I feign not friendship where I hate", published 1612, stanza 4 [ sattb chorus ], from First Set of Madrigals, no. 6, Verified with The First Sett of Madrigals and Mottets of 5. parts: apt for Viols and Voyces by Orlando Gibbons, Thomas Snodham, London 1612.
        Score: IMSLP [external link]  [sung text checked 2 times]

Research team for this page: Emily Ezust [Administrator] , Iain Sneddon [Guest Editor]

This text was added to the website: 2014-02-25
Line count: 24
Word count: 169