Tell arts they have no soundness, But vary by esteeming; Tell schools they want profoundness, And stand too much on seeming: If arts and schools reply, Give arts and schools the lie. Tell faith it’s fled the city; Tell how the country erreth; Tell, manhood shakes off pity; Tell, virtue least preferreth: And if they do reply, Spare not to give the lie. So when thou hast, as I Commanded thee, done blabbing,-- Although to give the lie Deserves no less than stabbing,-- Yet, stab at thee that will, No stab the soul can kill. The following well-known and thoroughly characteristic verses originally appeared in _Gammer Gurton’s Needle_, an old English comedy, which was long supposed to be the earliest written in the language, but which now ranks as the second in point of age. It was written by John Still, afterwards Bishop of Bath and Wells. _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, 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; 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; And little bread shall do me stead; Much bread I nought desire. No frost, no 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. Back and side, etc. 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: Then doth she troul 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, etc. 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 Or have them lustily troul’d, God save the lives of them and their wives, Whether they be young or old. Back and side, etc. Sir John Davies, poet and lawyer, wrote many acrostics to Queen Elizabeth, and other witty verses. _ACROSTICS_