Art Thou Poor
Art Thou Poor
Original Text
Henry Chettle, Thomas Dekker, and William Haughton, Patient Grissill, facs. edn. (Tudor Facs. Texts, 1911). PR 2411 P2 1603A Robarts Library
1 Art thou poor, yet hast thou golden slumbers?
2 O sweet content!
3Art thou rich, yet is thy mind perplexed?
4 O punishment!
5Dost thou laugh to see how fools are vexed
6To add to golden numbers, golden numbers?
7O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
8 Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
9 Honest labour bears a lovely face;
10 Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny!
11 Canst drink the waters of the crisped spring?
12 O sweet content!
13Swimm'st thou in wealth, yet sink'st in thine own tears?
14 O punishment!
15Then he that patiently want's burden bears
16No burden bears, but is a king, a king:
17O sweet content! O sweet, O sweet content!
18 Work apace, apace, apace, apace;
19 Honest labour bears a lovely face;
20 Then hey nonny nonny, hey nonny nonny!
21 Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
22Smiles awake you when you rise.
23Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
24And I will sing a lullaby:
25Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
26Care is heavy, therefore sleep you;
27You are care, and care must keep you.
28Sleep, pretty wantons, do not cry,
29And I will sing a lullaby:
30Rock them, rock them, lullaby.
Publication Start Year
1603
RPO poem Editors
N. J. Endicott
RPO Edition
2RP.1.246; RPO 1996-2000.
Rhyme