Those who flourish in their pride,
Those whom age makes stupid;
Frigid folk and hot folk fried
In the fires of Cupid.

Tranquil souls and bellicose,
Peacemaker and foeman;
Czech and Hun, and mixed with those
German, Slav, and Roman;
Men of middling size and weight,
Dwarfs and giants mighty;
Men of modest heart and state,
Vain men, proud and flighty.

Of the Wanderers' order I
Tell the Legislature--
They whose life is free and high,
Gentle too their nature--
They who'd rather scrape a fat
Dish in gravy swimming,
Than in sooth to marvel at
Barns with barley brimming.

Now this order, as I ken,
Is called sect or section,
Since its sectaries are men
Divers in complexion;
Therefore _hic_ and _haec_ and _hoc_
Suit it in declension,
Since so multiform a flock
Here finds comprehension.

This our order hath decried
Matins with a warning;
For that certain phantoms glide
In the early morning,
Whereby pass into man's brain
Visions of vain folly;
Early risers are insane,
Racked by melancholy.

This our order doth proscribe
All the year round matins;
When they've left their beds, our tribe
In the tap sing latins;
There they call for wine for all,
Roasted fowl and chicken;
Hazard's threats no hearts appal,
Though his strokes still thicken.

This our order doth forbid
Double clothes with loathing:
He whose nakedness is hid
With one vest hath clothing:
Soon one throws his cloak aside
At the dice-box calling;
Next his girdle is untied,
While the cards are falling.

What I've said of upper clothes
To the nether reaches;
They who own a shirt, let those
Think no more of breeches;
If one boasts big boots to use,
Let him leave his gaiters;
They who this firm law refuse
Shall be counted traitors.

No one, none shall wander forth
Fasting from the table;
If thou'rt poor, from south and north
Beg as thou art able!
Hath it not been often seen
That one coin brings many,
When a gamester on the green
Stakes his lucky penny?

No one on the road should walk
'Gainst the wind--'tis madness;
Nor in poverty shall stalk
With a face of sadness;
Let him bear