 | Poems (1931) |  |
No. 44. Cleopatra the Gay
1
Cleopatra the Gay as old Storys Declareput Mark Anthony oft to the Rout Sir
that the Lover was fond and the Lady was fair
not a Modern among us dare doubt Sir
but yet I insist our own times are the best
& Musty Antiquity Scorn Sir
pray tell me could Thai's or Golden Lock Lace
compare to our Barbara Byrn Sir
2
Away with Restraint let us wantonly Roveand be what our wishes wou'd make us
we'll freely pour forth a Libation to Love
& Recruit by the Bounty of Bacchus.
Dull cynical fools with their joy cramping rules
poor Logical Lunaticks turn Sir
but they'd wisdom forget were they once Tete a Tete
Over Claret with Barbara Byrn Sir
3
Let Placemen Receive and let Patriots oppose& Raise Unforgiving disentions
a Mistresses Arms is the place I would chuse
& a Bottle and friend be my porsion
let State Tools full of Doubt be put in & pull'd out
as their Masters on either Side turn Sir
be this Maxim my Plan let me stand while I can
to my Bottle my friend & Bab Byrn Sir
4
Pedantick Schoolmen have matters Defin'dand commented on Qure Aristotle
230
is a Beauty well warm'd with a Bottle
Keep Classical Knowledge immur'd in a Collidge
Midst gownsmen & pedagouges Stern Sir
whats Physick or Staticks or Dull Mathematicks
to Claret with Barbara Byrn Sir
5
With her Arms graceful SitHark my aburn begins
Daniel Cooper or Sweet Lango Lee Sir
with Action she gilds what with Spirit She sings
& fills her fond Heroes with glee Sir
yr Italian Cantata's or HumDrum Sonata's
with Disdain for her Ballads I Scorn Sir
what's Sullivans Shake or Miss Old Mixons Squeak
to the Dooreling Notes of Bab Byrn Sir
6
Ye Sensible Socials and Knights of the Vinewho wit wine & women can Taste Sir
wou'd you Know where true Humour
& Harmony join
with joyous Bab Byrn make yr feast Sir
let Poor Lovers Prize lips legs Arms or Eyes
Such piecemeal pretensions I Scorn Sir
not a Limb shall be Lost when I mention my Toast
here's a Health to the—whole of Bab Byrn Sir
[Tickell papers.]
| Poems (1931) | |