so i must toil, and sweat, and moil, and labour to sustain me, o;

to plough and sow, to reap and mow, my father bred me early, o;

for one, he said, to labour bred, was a match for fortune fairly, o.

thus all obscure, unknown, and poor, thro' life i'm doom'd to wander, o,

till down my weary bones i lay in everlasting slumber, o:

no view nor care, but shun whate'er might breed me pain or sorrow, o;

i live to-day as well's i may, regardless of to-morrow, o.

but cheerful still, i am as well as a monarch in his palace, o,

tho' fortune's frown still hunts me down, with all her wonted malice, o:

i make indeed my daily bread, but ne'er can make it farther, o:

but as daily bread is all i need, i do not much regard her, o.

when sometimes by my labour, i earn a little money, o,

some unforeseen misfortunees gen'rally upon me, o;

mischance, mistake, or by neglect, or my goodnatur'd folly, o:

bute what will, i've sworn it still, i'll ne'er be melancholy, o.

all you who follow wealth and power with unremitting ardour, o,

the more in this you look for bliss, you leave your view the farther, o:

had you the wealth potosi boasts, or nations to adore you, o,

a cheerful honest-hearted clown i will prefer before you, o.