Arthur Quiller-Couch, ed. 1919. The Oxford Book of English Verse: 1250–1900.
Thomas Love Peacock. 17851866595. Three Men of Gotham
SEAMEN three! What men be ye? | |
Gotham’s three wise men we be. | |
Whither in your bowl so free? | |
To rake the moon from out the sea. | |
The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. | 5 |
And our ballast is old wine.— | |
And your ballast is old wine. | |
Who art thou, so fast adrift? | |
I am he they call Old Care. | |
Here on board we will thee lift. | 10 |
No: I may not enter there. | |
Wherefore so? ‘Tis Jove’s decree, | |
In a bowl Care may not be.— | |
In a bowl Care may not be. | |
Fear ye not the waves that roll? | 15 |
No: in charmèd bowl we swim. | |
What the charm that floats the bowl? | |
Water may not pass the brim. | |
The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. | |
And our ballast is old wine.— | 20 |
And your ballast is old wine. |