Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900/Sweet Content

by Thomas Dekker

Art thou poor, yet has thou golden slumbers?
            O sweet content!
Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexéd?
            O punishment!
Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexéd
To add to golden numbers golden numbers?
            O sweet content!

Canst thou drink the water of the crispéd 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!

Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
Honest labour bears a lovely face;
Then hey noney, noney, hey noney, noney!