The Poems of John Byrom :: :: University of Virginia Library

The Poems of John Byrom

Edited by Adolphus William Ward

Byrom, John (1692-1763)

VOL. I.—MISCELLANEOUS POEMS.

II.

VOL. II.—SACRED POEMS.

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111

CONTENTMENT,

OR THE HAPPY WORKMAN'S SONG.

I

I Am a poor Workman as rich as a Jew,—
A strange sort of Tale, but however 'tis true;
Come listen a while, and I'll prove it to you
So as Nobody can deny, &c.

II

I am a poor Workman, you'll easily grant;
And I'm rich as a Jew, for there's nothing I want;

112

I have Meat, Drink, and Cloaths, and am hearty and cant,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

III

I live in a Cottage, and yonder it stands;
And while I can work with these two honest Hands,
I'm as happy as they that have Houses and Lands,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

IV

I keep to my Workmanship all the Day long,
I sing and I whistle, and this is my Song:
“Thank God, That has made me so lusty and strong,”
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

V

I never am greedy of delicate Fare;
If He give me enough, tho' 'tis never so bare,
The more is His Love, and the less is my Care,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

VI

My Clothes on a Working-day looken but lean;
But when I can dress me—on Sundays, I mean,—
Tho' cheap, they are warm, and tho' coarse, they are clean,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

113

VII

Folk cry'n out “hard Times,” but I never regard,
For I ne'er did, nor will set my Heart upo'th' Ward;
So 'tis all one to me, bin they easy or hard,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

VIII

I envy not them that have thousands of Pounds,
That sport o'er the Country with Horses and Hounds;
There's nought but Contentment can keep within bounds,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

IX

I ne'er lose my Time o'er a Pipe, or a Pot,
Nor cower in a Nook like a sluggardly Sot;
But I buy what is wanting with what I have got,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

X

And if I have more than I want for to spend,
I help a poor Neighbour or diligent Friend;
He that gives to the Poor, to the Lord he doth lend,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

XI

I grudge not that Gentlefolk dressen so fine;
At their Gold and their Silver I never repine,

114

But I wish all their Guts were as hearty as mine,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

XII

With Quarrels o'th' Country, and Matters of State,
With Tories and Whigs, I ne'er puzzle my Pate;
There's some that I love, and there's none that I hate,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

XIII

What tho' my Condition be ever so coarse,
I strive to embrace it for better and worse;
And my Heart, I thank God, is as light as my Purse,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.

XIV

In short, my Condition, whatever it be,
'Tis God that appoints it, as far as I see;
And I'm sure I can never do better than He,
Which Nobody can deny, &c.