The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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THE DOUBTFUL CASE OF ABSTINENCE AND TEMPERANCE—
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 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
THE DOUBTFUL CASE OF ABSTINENCE AND TEMPERANCE—
WITH THE UMPIRE'S OPINION.
THE WATER-DRINKERS.
As long as there are wells and springs,
And clear refreshing fountains,
As long as mighty rivers run
To ocean from the mountains,
As long as seas give back to clouds
The rains that form the river,—
We'll drink our draughts of water pure,
And bless the bounteous giver.
And clear refreshing fountains,
As long as mighty rivers run
To ocean from the mountains,
As long as seas give back to clouds
The rains that form the river,—
We'll drink our draughts of water pure,
And bless the bounteous giver.
THE WINE-DRINKERS.
As long as vineyards yield the grape
And nectarines grow mellow,
As long as apples load the trees
And barley-fields are yellow,—
We'll drink our cider, ale or mead,
And wine, the best of liquors,
And press whatever juice we please
To fill our flowing bickers.
And nectarines grow mellow,
As long as apples load the trees
And barley-fields are yellow,—
We'll drink our cider, ale or mead,
And wine, the best of liquors,
And press whatever juice we please
To fill our flowing bickers.
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THE WATER-DRINKERS.
Let those who toast the lords of war
And demigods of battle,
Prefer the draught of fiery wine,
And make the tables rattle;
We drink to men of peaceful deeds,
To men abhorring slaughter,
The civilizers of the earth,
And—here's to them—in water!
And demigods of battle,
Prefer the draught of fiery wine,
And make the tables rattle;
We drink to men of peaceful deeds,
To men abhorring slaughter,
The civilizers of the earth,
And—here's to them—in water!
Let those whose fitful passions rove
From new to newer beauty,
Drink to their changeful loves in wine,
And scorn the charms of duty;
We drink the mild domestic hearth,
The wife, the son, the daughter—
The bright fireside of honest men—
And—here's to it—in water!
From new to newer beauty,
Drink to their changeful loves in wine,
And scorn the charms of duty;
We drink the mild domestic hearth,
The wife, the son, the daughter—
The bright fireside of honest men—
And—here's to it—in water!
THE WINE-DRINKERS.
Let you who are so puling weak,
So lost to self-reliance,
As not to trust your own resolve
To bid excess defiance,
Drink, if you will, at pumps and wells,
Lest use of wine should hurt you;
We'll taste the blessings Heaven has sent,
Nor think denial virtue.
So lost to self-reliance,
As not to trust your own resolve
To bid excess defiance,
Drink, if you will, at pumps and wells,
Lest use of wine should hurt you;
We'll taste the blessings Heaven has sent,
Nor think denial virtue.
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Poor souls! you fear not other men,
You dread internal treason,
But if you starved for fear you'd choke,
You'd show as much of reason.
We too can honour virtuous love
And fame unbought of slaughter—
We'll drink to both in wholesome wine,
And wash ourselves in water.
You dread internal treason,
But if you starved for fear you'd choke,
You'd show as much of reason.
We too can honour virtuous love
And fame unbought of slaughter—
We'll drink to both in wholesome wine,
And wash ourselves in water.
THE UMPIRE'S OPINION.
Like every umpire ever named
A doubtful case to settle,
I can but say I love you both,
Oh goblet!—and oh kettle!—
Whene'er I drink to honest hearts,
I'll drink with equal pleasure
The limpid water from the brook,
Or wine in flowing measure.
A doubtful case to settle,
I can but say I love you both,
Oh goblet!—and oh kettle!—
Whene'er I drink to honest hearts,
I'll drink with equal pleasure
The limpid water from the brook,
Or wine in flowing measure.
Let those who, masters of themselves,
Can use without abusing,
Drink the good wine, whate'er it be—
I leave it to their choosing.
But those who feel their want of strength
When woo'd by potions richer,
Are wise if they confine their draughts
To water from the pitcher.
Can use without abusing,
Drink the good wine, whate'er it be—
I leave it to their choosing.
But those who feel their want of strength
When woo'd by potions richer,
Are wise if they confine their draughts
To water from the pitcher.
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |