THE LEATHER BOTTEL by ANONYMOUS

WHEN I survey the world around,
The heavens, the earth, and all therein,
The ships that on the sea do swim,
To guard from foes that none come in;
And let them all do what they can,
'Twas for one end the good of man,

So I wish in heaven his soul may dwell,
That first found out the leather bottèl.

Now, what do you say to these cans of wood?
O no, in faith, they cannot be good;
For if the bearer fall by the way,
Why, on the ground your liquor doth lay:
But had it been in a leather bottèl,
Although he had fallen, all had been well.

So I wish in heaven ...

Then what do you say to these black pots three?
If a man and his wife should not agree,
Why they'll tug and pull till their liquor doth spill:
In a leather bottèl they may tug their fill,
And pull away till their hearts do ake,
And yet their liquor no harm can take.

So I wish ...

Then what do you say to these flagons fine?
O they shall have no praise of mine,
For when a Lord is about to dine,
And sends them to be filled with wine,
The man with the flagon doth run away,
Because it is silver most gallant and gay.

So I wish ...

A leather bottèl we know is good,
Far better than glasses or cans of wood,
For when a man's at work in the field,
Your glasses and pots no comfort will yield
But a good leather bottle standing by,
Will raise his spirits, whenever he's dry.

So I wish ...

Then what do you say to these glasses fine?
O they shall have no praise of mine,
For if you chance to touch the brim,
Down falls the liquor and all therein;
But had it been in a leather bottèl,
And the stopple in, all had been well.

So I wish ...

At noon, the haymakers sit them down,
To drink from their bottles of ale nut-brown;
In summer too, when the weather is warm,
A good bottle full will do them no harm.
Then the lads and the lasses begin to tattle,
But what would they do without this bottle?

So I wish ...

There's never a Lord, an Earl, or Knight,
But in this bottle doth take delight;
For when's he's hunting of the deer,
He oft doth wish for a bottle of beer.
Likewise the man that works in the wood,
A bottle of beer will oft do him good.

So I wish ...

And when the bottle at last grows old,
And will good liquor no longer hold,
Out of the side you may make a clout,
To mend your shoes when they're worn out;
Or take and hang it up on a pin,
'Twill serve to put hinges and odd things in.

So I wish ...

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