| |
| THOU 1 that by ruin dost repair | |
| And by destruction art a founder, | |
| Whose art doth tell us what men are, | |
| Who by corruption shall rise sounder, | |
| In this fierce fire’s intensive heat | 5 |
| Remember this is Tom the Great. | |
| |
| And Cyclops think at every stroke, | |
| Which with thy sledge his side shall wound, | |
| That then some statute thou hast broke | |
| Which long depended on his sound, | 10 |
| And that our college gates did cry | |
| They were not shut since Tom did die. | |
| |
| Think what a scourge ’tis to the city | |
| To drink and swear by Carfax bell | |
| Which, bellowing without tune or pity, | 15 |
| The days and nights divides not well. | |
| But the poor tradesman must give o’er | |
| His ale at eight or sit till four. | |
| |
| We all in haste drink off our wine | |
| As if we never should drink more, | 20 |
| So that the reckoning after nine | |
| Is larger now than that before. | |
| Release this tongue which erst could say | |
| ‘Home, scholars; Drawer, what’s to pay?’ | |
| |
| So thou of order shall be founder, | 25 |
| Making a ruler for the people, | |
| One that shall ring thy praises wonder | |
| Than the other six bells in the steeple. | |
| Wherefore think, when Tom is running | |
| Our manners wait upon thy cunning. | 30 |
| |
| Then let him raisèd be from ground, | |
| The same in number, weight, and sound. | |
| So may thy conscience rule thy gain, | |
| Or, would thy theft might be thy bane! | |
