When swallows lay their eggs in snow,
 And geese in wheat-ears build their nests;
When roasted crabs a-hunting go,
 And cats can laugh at gossips' jests;
When law and conscience are akin,
 And pigs are learnt by note to squeak;
Your worship then shall stroke your chin,
 And teach an owl to whistle Greek.

Till when let your wisdom be dumb;
 For say, man of Gotham,
  What is this world?
  A tetotum,
 By the finger of Folly twirled;
With a hey-go-up, and about we come;
While the sun a good post-horse is found,
So merrily we'll run round.

When frost, and snow, and hail, and rain,
 Are guided by the Almanack;
When Lapland wizards can explain
 How many stars will fill a sack;
When courtiers hate to be preferred,
 And pearls are made of whitings' eyes;
Instructed by your worship's beard,
 The world shall merry be and wise.

Till when let your wisdom be dumb, etc.