Poems and Songs by Thomas Flatman. The Fourth Edition with many Additions and Amendments |
 |
 |
|
Book III. ODE XXI.
|
 | Poems and Songs |  |
261
Book III. ODE XXI.
To his Wine-Vessels.
Kind Brother Butt! as old, and brisk, as I,(For we had both the same Nativity,)
Whether to mirth, to brawls, or desperate Love,
Or sleep, thy gentle power do's move;
By what, or name, or title dignifi'd;
Thou need'st not fear the nicest test to 'bide:
Corvinus, health since we may not refuse,
Give down amain thy generous juice.
Corvinus tho' a Stoick, will not balk
Thy charms, for he can drink, as well as talk.
Old Cato, tho he often were morose,
Yet he would sometimes take a Dose.
O Wine! thou mak'st the thick-skull'd fellow soft;
Easest the Statesman, vext with cares full oft;
Unriddlest all intrigues with a free Bowl,
Thou arrant pick-lock of the Soul!
262
To Pesants, souls as big as Princes, give;
Inspired by thee they scorn their slavish fears,
And bid their Rulers shake their ears.
All this, and more (great Bacchus) thou canst do,
But if kind Venus be assistant too,
Then bring more Candles to expel the night;
Till Phœbus puts the Stars to flight.
| Poems and Songs | |