English poem
O Sweet Content
by Thomas Dekker (1572–1632)
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!