Sweet Content
ART thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers?O sweet content!Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexed?O punishment!Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexedTo 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 crisped spring?O sweet content!Swimm’st thou in wealth, yet sink’st in thine own tears?O punishment!Then he that patiently want’s burden bearsNo 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!
THOMAS HEYWOOD —1649?