Classic Poem

(Ballade de bonne doctrine)

Be ye carriers of bulls,
Cheats at dice — whate'er ye be,
Coiners — they who risk like fools,
Boiling for their felony.
Traitors perverse — so be ye —
Thieves of gold, or virgin's pearls,
Where goes what ye get in fee?
All on taverns and on girls.

Song, jest, cymbals, lutes —
Don these signs of minstrelsy.
Farce, imbroglio, play of flutes,
Make in hamlet or city.
Act in play or mystery,
Gain at cards, or ninepin hurls.
All your profits, where go they?
All on taverns and on girls.

Turn, before your spirit cools,
To more honest husbandry;
Grooms of horses be, or mules,
Plough the fields and plant the tree.
If you've no Latinity,
No more learning than the churls,
Work — nor cast your money free
All on taverns and on girls.

ENVOI

Stockings, pourpoint, drapery,
Every rag that round you furls,
Ere you've done, will go, you'll see,
All on taverns and on girls.