How Happy Are They

Verse 1

How happy are they, born or taught, who do not serve another’s will; whose armor is their honest thought, and simple truth their highest skill;

Verse 2

Whose passions not their rulers are; whose souls are still, and free from fear, not tied unto the world with care of public fame of private ear;

Verse 3

Who have their lives from rumors freed, whose conscience is their strong retreat, whose state no flattery can feed, nor ruin make oppressors great.

Verse 4

All such are freed from servile bands of hope to rise, or fear to fall; they rule themselves, but rule not lands, and, having nothing, yet have all.