University of Virginia Library



[An idle fellow that would take no paine]

An idle fellow that would take no paine,
Looking that others should his state maintaine,
Was sharp reproou'd by an honest friend,
Who told him man was made to other end,
Then onely eate, and drinke, and sleepe, and play;
To whom the lazy creature thus did say,
(Sir) I do nere intend to labour much,
Because I see the bad reward of such
As take most paines, Horses that labour great
Are cast in ditches for the dogges to eate.