Robert Southwell Quotes

Gift better than Himself God doth not know, Gift better than God no man can see; This gift doth here the giver given bestowGift to this gift let each receiver be; God is my gift, Himself He freely gave me, God's gift am I, and none but God shall have me.

gift catholic priest god

No joy so great but runneth to an end, No hap so hard but may in fine amend.

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Shun delays, they breed remorse; Take thy time while time is lent thee; Creeping snails have weakest force, Fly their fault lest thou repent thee. Good is best when soonest wrought, Linger'd labours come to nought.

force faults thetimes time

Not Solomon, for all his wit, Nor Samson, though he were so strong, No king nor person ever yet Could 'scape, but Death laid him along.

death

Plough not the seas, sow not the sands, Leave off your idle pain; Seek other mistress for your minds, Love's service is in vain.

pain mind

My conscience is my crown, Contented thoughts my rest; My heart is happy in itself, My bliss is in my breast. Enough I reckon wealth; A mean the surest lot, That lies too high for base contempt, Too low for envy's shot.

conscience wealth rest

I feel no care of coin, Well-doing is my wealth; My mind to me an empire is, While grace affordeth health.

health grace wealth mind

In Aman's pomp poor Mardocheus wept, Yet God did turn his fate upon his foe; The Lazar pined while Dives' feast was kept, Yet he to heaven, to hell did Dives go. We trample grass and prize the flowers of May, Yet grass is green when flowers do fade away.

fate