Classic Poem

1

Come leave thy care and love thy friend,
Live freely, don't dispair,
Of getting money there's no end,
And keeping it breeds care
If thou hast money at thy need
Good Company and good wine,
His life, whose joyes on wealth do feed,
's not half so sweet as thine.

2

I can enjoy my self and friends,
W'thout design or fear,
Below their envy or base ends,
That Polititians are.
I neither toyle nor care nor grieve
To gather keep or loose;
With freedom and content I live,
And what's my own I use.

3

While men blown on with strong desires
Of riches or renown,
Though ne're so high, would still be higher,
So tumble headlong down
For Princes smiles turne oft to frowns,
And favours fade each hower,
He that to day heaps Townes on Townes,
To morrow's clap't i'th' Tower.

4

All that we get by all our store,
's but honour or dominion,
The one's but trouble varnishd o're
And t'others but opinion
Fate rules the roast, Times alwayes change,
'Tis fancy builds all things,
How madly then our minds do range,
Since all we grasp hath wings.

5

Those empty terms of rich and poor,
Comparison hath fram'd,
He hath not much that covets more,
Want is but will nicknam'd
If I can safely think and live,
And freely laugh or sing,
My wealth I'll not for Craesus's give,
Nor change lives with a King.