 | The Poetical Works of Eliza Cook |  |
A TEMPERANCE SONG.
“Be ye sober.”—St. Peter.
Who shall talk of strength and freedom,
With a loud and fevered breath,
While they let a full cup lead 'em
To the slavery of death?
With a loud and fevered breath,
While they let a full cup lead 'em
To the slavery of death?
Men of labour, wake to thinking,
Shout not with a reeling brain!
Lips that argue o'er deep drinking
Ever yield more chaff than grain.
Shout not with a reeling brain!
Lips that argue o'er deep drinking
Ever yield more chaff than grain.
458
Bravery that needs inspiring
By the grape and barley-corn,
Only gives the random firing
Cunning folks may laugh to scorn.
By the grape and barley-corn,
Only gives the random firing
Cunning folks may laugh to scorn.
Do ye hope to march the faster
To the summit of your claim,
While ye let such tyrant master
Strike your limbs in staggering shame?
To the summit of your claim,
While ye let such tyrant master
Strike your limbs in staggering shame?
Do ye find the hot libation,
Poured so wildly on the heart,
Make it fitter for its station,
Whatsoe'er may be its part?
Poured so wildly on the heart,
Make it fitter for its station,
Whatsoe'er may be its part?
Father, husband, wife, or mother!
Can ye do the work ye should,
While the fumes of madness smother
Human love, and human good?
Can ye do the work ye should,
While the fumes of madness smother
Human love, and human good?
Wonder not that children trample
All fair precept in the dust,
When a parent's foul example
Robs a home of peace and trust?
All fair precept in the dust,
When a parent's foul example
Robs a home of peace and trust?
Who shall reckon all the anguish,
Who shall dream of all the sin,
Who shall tell the souls that languish
At the spectral-shrine of Gin?
Who shall dream of all the sin,
Who shall tell the souls that languish
At the spectral-shrine of Gin?
Never shall we find a surer
Portal to the beam and cell,
Where the poor becometh poorer,
Where earth seems akin to hell.
Portal to the beam and cell,
Where the poor becometh poorer,
Where earth seems akin to hell.
God sent all things for our pleasure,
Food for man, and food for beast:
Say, which takes the surfeit measure,
At the board of Nature's feast?
Food for man, and food for beast:
Say, which takes the surfeit measure,
At the board of Nature's feast?
God sent all things for our using,—
Meat, and malt, and oil, and wine.
Woe attends our rash abusing
Heaven's merciful design.
Meat, and malt, and oil, and wine.
Woe attends our rash abusing
Heaven's merciful design.
Prize the boon we are possessing,
But mark well the holy verse:
Take enough, it is a blessing;—
Take too much, it proves a curse.
But mark well the holy verse:
Take enough, it is a blessing;—
Take too much, it proves a curse.
459
“Be ye sober!”—they who struggle
For the better lot below,
Must not let the full cup juggle
Soul and body into woe.
For the better lot below,
Must not let the full cup juggle
Soul and body into woe.
“Be ye sober!”—if ye covet
Healthy days and peaceful nights:
Strong drink warpeth those who love it
Into sad and fearful sights.
Healthy days and peaceful nights:
Strong drink warpeth those who love it
Into sad and fearful sights.
“Be ye sober!”—cheeks grow haggard,
Eyes turn dim, and pulse-tide blood
Runs too fast, or crawleth laggard
When there's poison in the flood.
Eyes turn dim, and pulse-tide blood
Runs too fast, or crawleth laggard
When there's poison in the flood.
Will ye let a demon bind ye
In the chain of Helot thrall?
Will ye let the last hour find ye
In the lowest pit of all?
In the chain of Helot thrall?
Will ye let the last hour find ye
In the lowest pit of all?
Oh! stand back in godly terror,
When Temptation's joys begin;
'Tis such wily maze of Error,
Few get out who once go in.
When Temptation's joys begin;
'Tis such wily maze of Error,
Few get out who once go in.
Shun the “dram” that can but darken,
When its vapour-gleam has fled.
Reason says, and ye must hearken,
“Lessened drink brings double bread.”
When its vapour-gleam has fled.
Reason says, and ye must hearken,
“Lessened drink brings double bread.”
Though your rulers may neglect ye,
“Be ye sober!” in your strength;
And they must and shall respect ye,
And the light shall dawn at length.
“Be ye sober!” in your strength;
And they must and shall respect ye,
And the light shall dawn at length.
But let none cry out for Freedom
With a loud and fevered breath,
While they let a full cup lead 'em
To the slavery of death.
With a loud and fevered breath,
While they let a full cup lead 'em
To the slavery of death.
| The Poetical Works of Eliza Cook | |