The Mind

On Happienesse

by Thomas Chatterton 1752–1770

From The Rowley Poems (ed. Tyrwhitt, 1778)

The MindReligion

Maie Selynesse on erthes boundes bee hadde?
Maie yt adyghte yn human shape bee founde?
Wote yee, ytt was wyth Edin's bower bestadde,
Or quite eraced from the scaunce-layd grounde,
Whan from the secret fontes the waterres dyd abounde?
Does yt agrosed shun the bodyed waulke,
Lyve to ytself and to yttes ecchoe taulke?

All hayle, Contente, thou mayde of turtle-eyne,
As thie behoulders thynke thou arte iwreene,
To ope the dore to Selynesse ys thyne,
And Chrystis glorie doth upponne thee sheene.
Doer of the foule thynge ne hath thee seene;
In caves, ynn wodes, ynn woe, and dole distresse,
Whoere hath thee hath gotten Selynesse.

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A short meditation asking whether happiness can be found on earth, and answering that contentment opens the door to it. The Rowley fiction attributes it to William Canynge.

MLA

Chatterton, Thomas. “On Happienesse.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/17/.

Chicago

Chatterton, Thomas. “On Happienesse.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/chatterton/17/.

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