(defun align (lines &key
              (stream t) (fs " |") (rs #\Newline)
              (underline #\-) (before #\Newline) (after ""))
 (let* ((header (first lines))
	(data   (rest  lines))
	(cols   (transpose lines))
	(widths (mapcar #'longest-string cols))
        (sep "")
        (fmt   (with-output-to-string (s)
                 (dolist (width widths)
                    (format s "~a~~~a<~a~~>" sep (1+ width) "~a")
                    (setf sep fs))
                 (format s "~a" rs))))
    (format stream "~a" before)
    (apply #'format `(,stream  ,fmt ,@header))
    (setf sep "")
    (dolist (w widths)
      (format stream "~a ~a" sep (nchars w underline))
      (setf sep fs))
    (format stream "~a" rs)
    (dolist (line data)
      (apply #'format `(,stream  ,fmt ,@line)))
    (format stream "~a" after)))

(deftest test-align ()
  (let ((tmp (with-output-to-string (s)
               (align '((peace love understanding)
                        (34.1 33.4 324.2)
                        (334 222222 33)) :stream s))))
    (samep tmp "
        PEACE |   LOVE | UNDERSTANDING
        ----- | ------ | -------------
         34.1 |   33.4 |         324.2
          334 | 222222 |            33
")))