They are not _Houses_ builded large and high, Seel’d all with _Gold_, and pav’d with _Porphyrie_, Hung round with _Arras_, glaz’d with _Christall-glasse_, And cover’d o’re with plates of shining _Brasse_, Which are the best; but, rather, those where wee In _safetie_, _health_, and best _content_, may bee; And, where wee finde, though in a meane Estate, That portion, which maintaines a quiet _Fate_. Here, in a homely _Cottage_, thatcht with reed, The _Peasant_ seemes as pleasedly to feed, As hee, that in his _Hall_ or _Parlour_ dines, Which Fret-worke Roofes, or costly Cedar Lines: And, with the very same affections too, Both to, and from it, hee doth come and goe. The _Tortois_, doubtlesse, doth no house-roome lack, Although his _House_ will cover but his back; And, of his _Tub_, the _Cynicke_ seem’d as glad, As _Alexander_ was of all hee had. When I am setled in a place I love, A shrubby _hedge-row_, seemes a goodly _Grove_. My liking maketh _Palaces_ of _Sheds_, And, of plaine _Couches_, carved Ivory _Beds_: Yea, ev’ry _path_, and pathlesse _walke_, which lies Contemn’d, as rude, or wilde, in others eyes, To mee is pleasant; not alone in show, But, truly such: For, liking makes them so. As pleas’d in theirs, the _Snailes_, and _Cocles_ dwell, As doth a _Scallop_ in his pearly shell: For, that commends the _House_, which makes it fit, To serve their turnes, who should have use of it. _The =King=, his pow’r from God receives: For, hee alone the =Scepter= gives._ [Illustration: DEUS DAT CUI VULT. ILLVSTR. XV. _Book. 4_]