Thomas Dekker.

1575-1641

213   Sweet Content

ART thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers?
               O sweet content!
Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplex’d?
               O punishment!
Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vex’d
To add to golden numbers golden numbers?
      O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;
Then hey nonny nonny—hey nonny nonny!

Canst drink the waters of the crispàed spring?
               O sweet content!
Swim’st thou in wealth, yet sink’st in thine own tears?
               O punishment!
Then he that patiently want’s burden bears,
No burden bears, but is a king, a king!
      O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;
Then hey nonny nonny—hey nonny nonny!