What pleasure have great princes
More dainty to their choice
Than herdmen wild, who careless
In quiet life rejoice,
And fortune's fate not fearing
Sing sweet in Summer morning

Their dealings plain and rightful
Are void of all deceit
They never know how spiteful
It is to kneel and wait
On favourite presumptuous
Whose pride is vain and sumptuous

All day their flocks each tendeth
At night they take their rest
More quiet than who sendeth
His ship into the East
Where gold and pearl are plenty
But getting very dainty

For lawyers and their pleading
They esteem it not a straw
They think that honest meaning
Is of itself a law
Where conscience judgeth plainly
They spend no money vainly

O happy who thus liveth
Not caring much for gold
With clothing which sufficeth
To keep him from the cold
Though poor and plain his diet
Yet merry it is and quiet