Classic Poem

The Author's reply being a Welsh-man.

I F freeze and sheese were wanting, wanting were
The grounds that gleekes (not leekes) for Wales do beare;
The deuill detesteth God for this alone
That God hath happinesse, and he hath none.
And so (it's like) he scornes Wales' sheese and freeze,
Whose backe and belly wants Welsh freeze and cheese.
It must be so; for 'tis a consequent
Where wealth is halting, wit is impotent
Heere-hence it is, his wit his wants bewrnyes,
That through wits want on freeze and cheese thus plaies.
Alas (poore snake!) thou wouldst if thou hadst wit
Not play on that that is for play vnfit
They are no instruments for scoffe and sport,
Sith life in life, they seriously support,
And freeze of wooll is made; which yeelds no sounds
But such as plaiers on't, with shame confounds
And cheese is made of milke: what if it bee?
The better t'will with babes and boyes agree;
And who to make men laugh play on it shall
Hee's babe, or boy, or foole, or knaue, or all;
Who making milke the meane of merriment,
Makes that that marres his mirth. Mirths instrument:
 For all the voyce that comes from milke is this:
 When it doth play, it seethes, and then doth hisse.