SLEEP

by

Thomas Dekker (1570?-1637?)

Do but consider what an excellent thing sleep is; it is so in estimable a jewel that if a tyrant would give his crown for an hour's slumber, it cannot be bought; yea, so greatly are we indebted to this kinsman of death, that we owe the better tributary half of our life to him; and there is good cause why we should do so; for sleep is that golden chain that ties health and our bodies together.
Who complains of want, of wounds, of cares, of great men's oppressions, of captivity, whilst he sleepeth?
Beggars in their beds take as much pleasure kings.
Can we therefore surfeit on this delicate ambrosia?
Can we drink too much of that, whereof to taste too little tumbles us into a churchyard; and to use it but indifferently throws us into Bedlam?
No, no.
Look upon Endymion, the moon's minion, who slept threescore and fifteen years, and was not a hair the worse for it.
Can lying abed till noon then, being not the threescore and fifteenth thousand part of his nap, be hurtful?