The Rich Fool
Go, silly worm, drudge, trudge and travel*,
Despising pain,
So thou may'st gain
Some honour, or some golden gravel;
But death the while, to fill his number,
With sudden call
Takes thee from all,
To prove thy days but dreams and slumber.
Joshua Sylvester 1563-1618
(*travel = travail, work)
I came across this many years ago and as I get older its significance grows day by day.