Life's a jest, says the poet, arrah sure 'tis a pun

Life's a jest, says the poet, arrah sure 'tis a pun—
Men call black for white through some quibbling pretence,
And expressions still use where the sound is all one,
Though as distant as London from Dublin the sense.
Then let 'em now just go their gig and their fun,
This life by my soul's nothing more than a pun,
Where men play on our passions to turn us all fools,
And make puns and quibbles, that we may make bulls.

That he's o'er head and ears the fond lover declares,
And must marry or hang—the dear creature beset,
Consents, little dreaming he puns while he swears,
For the taef does not mean he's in love, but in debt.
Then let them now just go their gig and their fun,
This life by my soul's nothing more than a pun,
Where fine dashing lovers fond widows turn fools,
And make puns and quibbles, that they may make bulls.

That sweet babe, says old Bolus, I'll quickly restore
To that mother from whom the dear creature had birth;
Punning rogue, by and by sir the child is no more,
So he lies and speaks truth, for he meant mother earth!
Then let them now just go their gig and their fun,
This life by my soul's nothing more than a pun,
And thus learned physicians their patients turn fools,
And make puns and quibbles, that they may make bulls.

Says the courtier, my friend you shall have a snug place,
A douceur or two more and your suit cannot fail?
The dear punning courtier gets into disgrace,
And you get sure enough a snug place in a jail!
Then let 'em now just go their gig and their fun,
This life, by my soul's nothing more than a pun,
And thus courtiers turn their dependants all fools,
And make puns and quibbles that they may make bulls.

Thus one thing they say, and another express,
Thus feathers cut throats, thus are sycophants civil,
Don't bishops and ladies say no, and mean yes?
Don't we call women angels for playing the devil?
Then let them now just go their gig and their fun,
This life by my soul's nothing more than a pun,
Thus men laugh in their sleeves, while they turn their friends fools,
And make puns and quibbles, that they may make bulls.