Songs and Verses Social and Scientific: By An old contributor to Maga [i.e. Charles Neaves]: Fourth Edition, Enlarged |
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OLD NOAH'S INVENTION. |
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OLD NOAH'S INVENTION.
We read that old Noah, soon after the Flood,
Found out a new liquor to quicken his blood:
Of water grown tired in his long navigation,
He hit on the process of vinification.
It doesn't appear that he took out a patent,
But the wondrous discovery wasn't long latent;
For Noah, though such might not be his intention,
Got drunk on this very stupendous invention.
Found out a new liquor to quicken his blood:
Of water grown tired in his long navigation,
He hit on the process of vinification.
It doesn't appear that he took out a patent,
But the wondrous discovery wasn't long latent;
For Noah, though such might not be his intention,
Got drunk on this very stupendous invention.
And ever since then we have evidence ample,
Mankind have been following Noah's example.
Sometimes they get drunk, and sometimes they do not;
But the business of drinking is seldom forgot.
They drink when they're merry, they drink when they're sad;
They drink whensoever good drink's to be had.
What marriage or christening would meet with attention,
If you didn't still practise this wondrous invention?
Mankind have been following Noah's example.
Sometimes they get drunk, and sometimes they do not;
But the business of drinking is seldom forgot.
They drink when they're merry, they drink when they're sad;
They drink whensoever good drink's to be had.
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If you didn't still practise this wondrous invention?
The Wine-Cup may Poetry claim as a daughter,
Though a poet or two have been drinkers of water:
Good wine to the wise is a swift-wingèd steed,
While abstainers in general come little speed.
Would Homer or Horace have written a line,
Without plenty of Greek and Falernian wine?
What were North without Ambrose? or who would e'er mention
A Socratic repast without Noah's invention?
Though a poet or two have been drinkers of water:
Good wine to the wise is a swift-wingèd steed,
While abstainers in general come little speed.
Would Homer or Horace have written a line,
Without plenty of Greek and Falernian wine?
What were North without Ambrose? or who would e'er mention
A Socratic repast without Noah's invention?
Old Plato, the prince of political sages,
For the uses of drinking his credit engages.
When pleasure invites, if you'd learn self-denial,
A convivial meeting will serve as a trial.
Should you wish to find out if a man's a good fellow,
His virtues and faults will appear when he's mellow:
To whatever good gifts he may e'er make pretension,
The truth you can test by old Noah's invention.
For the uses of drinking his credit engages.
When pleasure invites, if you'd learn self-denial,
A convivial meeting will serve as a trial.
Should you wish to find out if a man's a good fellow,
His virtues and faults will appear when he's mellow:
To whatever good gifts he may e'er make pretension,
The truth you can test by old Noah's invention.
Some folks would persuade us from drink to abstain,
For they trace ev'ry crime to that terrible bane:
But if drinking's a sin, yet I cannot help thinking,
Mankind have had sins independent of drinking.
The Antediluvians were free from that curse;
But their lives were no better,—in fact, they were worse:
And at least you can't prove any moral declension,
Since the date when old Noah made known his invention.
For they trace ev'ry crime to that terrible bane:
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Mankind have had sins independent of drinking.
The Antediluvians were free from that curse;
But their lives were no better,—in fact, they were worse:
And at least you can't prove any moral declension,
Since the date when old Noah made known his invention.
Then wisely partake of the generous juice;
But don't forfeit the boon by excess or abuse.
At your board let the Muses and Graces be found,
And the light-hearted Virtues still hover around.
And let this, I beseech you, be one of your rules,
Never show any folly in presence of fools;
For the wise man alone has a due comprehension,
And can make a right use—of old Noah's invention.
But don't forfeit the boon by excess or abuse.
At your board let the Muses and Graces be found,
And the light-hearted Virtues still hover around.
And let this, I beseech you, be one of your rules,
Never show any folly in presence of fools;
For the wise man alone has a due comprehension,
And can make a right use—of old Noah's invention.
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