I knew an old man at a Fair 
Who made it his twice-yearly task 
To clamber on a cider cask 
And cry to all the yokels there:-- 


"Lovers to-day and for all time 
Preserve the meaning of my rhyme: 
Love is not kindly nor yet grim 
But does to you as you to him. 


"Whistle, and Love will come to you, 
Hiss, and he fades without a word, 
Do wrong, and he great wrong will do, 
Speak, he retells what he has heard. 


"Then all you lovers have good heed 
Vex not young Love in word or deed: 
Love never leaves an unpaid debt, 
He will not pardon nor forget." 


The old man's voice was sweet yet loud 
And this shows what a man was he, 
He'd scatter apples to the crowd 
And give great draughts of cider, free.