TESTO DEL LIED

"Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers"
di Thomas Dekker (1570-1641)

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 vexed,
To add to golden numbers,
O sweet content!
Then work apace, apace, apace;
Honest labor bears a lovely face;
Then hey nonny, hey nonny,
Hey nonny, nonny.
Canst drink the waters of the crisped spring,
O sweet content!
Swim'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears,
O punishment!
Then he who patiently
Want's burden bears,
No burden bears, but is a King,
O sweet content.
Then work apace...