Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
William Stevenson. 1530?157549. Jolly Good Ale and Old
I CANNOT eat but little meat, | |
My stomach is not good; | |
But sure I think that I can drink | |
With him that wears a hood. | |
Though I go bare, take ye no care, | 5 |
I nothing am a-cold; | |
I stuff my skin so full within | |
Of jolly good ale and old. | |
Back and side go bare, go bare; | |
Both foot and hand go cold; | 10 |
But, belly, God send thee good ale enough, | |
Whether it be new or old. | |
I love no roast but a nut-brown toast, | |
And a crab laid in the fire; | |
A little bread shall do me stead; | 15 |
Much bread I not desire. | |
No frost nor snow, no wind, I trow, | |
Can hurt me if I wold; | |
I am so wrapp’d and thoroughly lapp’d | |
Of jolly good ale and old. | 20 |
Back and side go bare, go bare, &c. | |
And Tib, my wife, that as her life | |
Loveth well good ale to seek, | |
Full oft drinks she till ye may see | |
The tears run down her cheek: | 25 |
Then doth she trowl to me the bowl | |
Even as a maltworm should, | |
And saith, ‘Sweetheart, I took my part | |
Of this jolly good ale and old.’ | |
Back and side go bare, go bare, &c. | 30 |
Now let them drink till they nod and wink, | |
Even as good fellows should do; | |
They shall not miss to have the bliss | |
Good ale doth bring men to; | |
And all poor souls that have scour’d bowls | 35 |
Or have them lustily troll’d, | |
God save the lives of them and their wives, | |
Whether they be young or old. | |
Back and side go bare, go bare; | |
Both foot and hand go cold; | 40 |
But, belly, God send thee good ale enough, | |
Whether it be new or old. |