re-vitiate the text, and defend a corruption which outrages
language, taste, and common sense."

Although at an earlier period of life I too adopted Theobald's supposed
emendation, it never satisfied me. I have my doubts whether the word
_busyless_ existed in the poet's time; and if it did, whether he could
possibly have used it here. Now it is clear that _labours_ is a misprint
for _labour_; else, to what does "when I do _it_" refer? _Busy lest_ is
only a typographical error for _busyest_: the double superlative was
commonly used, being considered as more emphatic, by the poet and his
contemporaries.

Thus in Hamlet's letter, Act ii. Sc. 2.:

"I love thee best, O _most best_."

and in _King Lear_, Act ii. Sc. 3.:

"To take the basest and _most poorest_ shape."

The passage will then stand thus:--

"But these sweet thoughts, do even refresh my labour,
Most busiest when I do it."

The sense will be perhaps more evident by a mere transposition,
preserving every word:

"But these sweet thoughts, most busiest when I do
My labour, do even refresh it."