Classic Poem

Of Iesting and Iibing

A Iest or Iibe, at first sight, haue their proofe
Whether the same he strong, or meane, or weake;
Then let the speaker marke (for his behoofe),
The motions of their lookes that heare him speake:
For if the Iest haue Sap, or Iibe haue pith,
The hearers laughing, will bewray their liking:
Applauding Wits facete conciet conceit forthwith:
For Spleene is tickled by Wits subtill striking
But if their lookes be setled, cease to iest;
Thy fault it is (not theirs) that they are sad;
For if the iest be good and well exprest,
They'l ( nolens volens ) laugh as they were mad.
From whome (as from our lawfull Iudges) wee
May not vnto our partiall selues appeale;
Or if they laugh as t'were of curtesy,
Which each quicke Wit (obseruing them) may feele,
Then think the Iest is gracelesse, or if good
Their Wits are weake, or cls in froward moode.