In Praise of Seafaring Men, in Hopes of Good Fortune by Sir Richard Grenville

In Praise of Seafaring Men, in Hopes of Good Fortune
by Sir Richard Grenville (1541-1591)

Who seeks the way to win renown,
Or flies with wings of his desire;
Who seeks to wear the laureate crown,
Or hath the mind that would aspire:
Let him his native soil eschew,
Let him go range and seek anew.

Each haughty heart is well content
With every chance that shall betide;
No hap can hinder his intent:
He steadfast stands, though fortune slide.
The sun, quoth he, doth shine as well
Abroad as erst where I did dwell.

In change of streams each fish can live,
Each fowl content with every air;
Each haughty heart remaineth still,
And not be drowned in deep despair:
Wherefore I judge all lands alike
To haughty hearts who fortune seek.

To pass the seas some think a toil,
Some think it strange abroad to roam;
Some think it a grief to leave their soil,
Their parents, kinfolks, and their home.
Think so who list, I like it not:
I must abroad to try my lot.

Who lists at home at cart to drudge,
And cark and care for worldly trash,
With buckled shoes let him go trudge,
Instead of lance or whip to slash:
A mind that base his kind will show
Of carrion sweet to feed a crow.

If Jason of that mind had been,
The Grecians when they came to Troy
Had never so the Trojans foiled,
Nor never put them to such annoy:
Wherefore who lust may live at home.
To purchase fame I will go roam.

Sir Richard Grenville is honored in The Revenge - A Ballad Of The Fleet by Alfred Lord Tennyson. One of my favorite poems.