The Monks of old.Many have told of the monks of old,What a saintly race they were,But ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould scarce be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,And lived on the daintiest cheer!For they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!And lived on the daintiest cheer!And then they would jest at the love confess’dBy many an artless Maid,And what hopes and fears they had breath’d in the ears,Of those who had sought their aid!And they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,As they told of each love-sick jade!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!As they told of each love-sick jade!And the Abbot meek, with his form so sleek,Was the heartiest of them all;And would take his place with a smiling face,When refection bell would call!When they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,Till they shook the olden wall!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!Till they shook the olden wall!Then say what they will, we’ll drink to them still,For a jovial band they were!And ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould not be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, &c.
Many have told of the monks of old,What a saintly race they were,But ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould scarce be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,And lived on the daintiest cheer!For they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!And lived on the daintiest cheer!And then they would jest at the love confess’dBy many an artless Maid,And what hopes and fears they had breath’d in the ears,Of those who had sought their aid!And they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,As they told of each love-sick jade!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!As they told of each love-sick jade!And the Abbot meek, with his form so sleek,Was the heartiest of them all;And would take his place with a smiling face,When refection bell would call!When they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,Till they shook the olden wall!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!Till they shook the olden wall!Then say what they will, we’ll drink to them still,For a jovial band they were!And ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould not be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, &c.
Many have told of the monks of old,What a saintly race they were,But ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould scarce be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,And lived on the daintiest cheer!For they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!And lived on the daintiest cheer!And then they would jest at the love confess’dBy many an artless Maid,And what hopes and fears they had breath’d in the ears,Of those who had sought their aid!And they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,As they told of each love-sick jade!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!As they told of each love-sick jade!And the Abbot meek, with his form so sleek,Was the heartiest of them all;And would take his place with a smiling face,When refection bell would call!When they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,Till they shook the olden wall!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!Till they shook the olden wall!Then say what they will, we’ll drink to them still,For a jovial band they were!And ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould not be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, &c.
Many have told of the monks of old,What a saintly race they were,But ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould scarce be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,And lived on the daintiest cheer!For they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!And lived on the daintiest cheer!
Many have told of the monks of old,
What a saintly race they were,
But ’tis most true, that a merrier crew
Could scarce be found elswhere!
For they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,
And lived on the daintiest cheer!
For they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!
And lived on the daintiest cheer!
And then they would jest at the love confess’dBy many an artless Maid,And what hopes and fears they had breath’d in the ears,Of those who had sought their aid!And they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,As they told of each love-sick jade!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!As they told of each love-sick jade!
And then they would jest at the love confess’d
By many an artless Maid,
And what hopes and fears they had breath’d in the ears,
Of those who had sought their aid!
And they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,
As they told of each love-sick jade!
And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!
As they told of each love-sick jade!
And the Abbot meek, with his form so sleek,Was the heartiest of them all;And would take his place with a smiling face,When refection bell would call!When they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,Till they shook the olden wall!And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!Till they shook the olden wall!
And the Abbot meek, with his form so sleek,
Was the heartiest of them all;
And would take his place with a smiling face,
When refection bell would call!
When they sung and laugh’d, and the rich wine quaff’d,
Till they shook the olden wall!
And they laugh’d ha! ha! and they quaff’d ha! ha!
Till they shook the olden wall!
Then say what they will, we’ll drink to them still,For a jovial band they were!And ’tis most true, that a merrier crewCould not be found elswhere!For they sung and laugh’d, &c.
Then say what they will, we’ll drink to them still,
For a jovial band they were!
And ’tis most true, that a merrier crew
Could not be found elswhere!
For they sung and laugh’d, &c.