Classic Poem

Our host upon his stirrups stood, anon,
And said: " Good men, now hearken, every one;
This was a useful story, for the nonce!
Sir parish priest, " quoth he, " for God His bones.
Tell us a tale, as you agreed before.
I see well that you learned men of lore
Have learned much good, by God's great dignity! "
The parson answered: " Benedicite!
What ails the man, so sinfully to swear? "
Our host replied: " Ho, Jenkin, are you there?
I smell a Lollard in the wind, " quoth he.
" Ho, good men! " said our host, " now hearken me;
Wait but a bit, for God's high passion do,
For we shall have a sermon ere we're through;
This Lollard here will preach to us somewhat. "
" Nay, by my father's soul, that shall he not! "
Replied the sailor; " Here he shall not preach,
Nor comment on the gospels here, nor teach.
We all believe in the great God, " said he,
" But he would sow among us difficulty,
Or sprinkle cockles in our good clean corn;
And therefore, host, beforehand now, I warn
My jolly body shall a story tell
And I will clink for you so merry a bell
That it shall waken all this company;
But it shall not be of philosophy,
Nor yet of physics, nor quaint terms of law;
There is but little Latin in my maw. "