The Poetical Works of James Thomson The City of Dreadful Night: By James Thomson ("B. V."): Edited by Bertram Dobell: With a Memoir of the Author: In two volumes |
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CREEDS AND MEN |
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 | The Poetical Works of James Thomson |  |
284
CREEDS AND MEN
Twohosts received me in one day,
And poured their best to greet my stay;
The bottles, labels, seals were twins
Alike as penalties and sins:
Yet one flowed forth the richest wine;
The other acid, gall, and brine.
And poured their best to greet my stay;
The bottles, labels, seals were twins
Alike as penalties and sins:
Yet one flowed forth the richest wine;
The other acid, gall, and brine.
Two hosts received me the next day,
And poured their best to greet my stay;
The bottles, labels, seals in sooth
Unlike as falsehood unto truth:
Yet both flowed forth a liberal wine
Of festal jubilance divine.
And poured their best to greet my stay;
The bottles, labels, seals in sooth
Unlike as falsehood unto truth:
Yet both flowed forth a liberal wine
Of festal jubilance divine.
Seals, labels, bottles are but vain;
Regard the spirit they contain. [OMITTED]
A poor gin-bottle I found one day,
Full of the wine of rich Tokay;
A Tokay-bottle I found, within
Only the vilest vitriol gin:
No more of the outward form I ask,
But, what is the spirit that fills the flask?
Regard the spirit they contain. [OMITTED]
A poor gin-bottle I found one day,
Full of the wine of rich Tokay;
A Tokay-bottle I found, within
Only the vilest vitriol gin:
No more of the outward form I ask,
But, what is the spirit that fills the flask?
1878.
| The Poetical Works of James Thomson | |