| SEAMEN three! What men be ye? | |
| Gotham's three wise men we be. | |
| Whither in your bowl so free? | |
| To rake the moon from out the sea. | |
| The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. | 5 |
| And our ballast is old wine.— | |
| And your ballast is old wine. | |
| |
| Who art thou, so fast adrift? | |
| I am he they call Old Care. | |
| Here on board we will thee lift. | 10 |
| No: I may not enter there. | |
| Wherefore so? 'Tis Jove's decree, | |
| In a bowl Care may not be.— | |
| In a bowl Care may not be. | |
| |
| Fear ye not the waves that roll? | 15 |
| No: in charmèd bowl we swim. | |
| What the charm that floats the bowl? | |
| Water may not pass the brim. | |
| The bowl goes trim. The moon doth shine. | |
| And our ballast is old wine.— | 20 |
| And your ballast is old wine. | |
