Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Thomas Dekker. 15751641204. 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 | 5 |
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! | 10 |
Canst drink the waters of the crispèd 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, | 15 |
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! | 20 |