The Wiccamical Chaplet a selection of original poetry; comprising smaller poems, serious and comic; classical trifles; sonnets; inscriptions and epitaphs; songs and ballads; mock-heroics, epigrams, fragments, &c. &c. Edited by George Huddesford |
 |
|
|
|
|
 |
BACCHANALIAN SONG. |
|
|
 | The Wiccamical Chaplet |  |
BACCHANALIAN SONG.
[_]
Part of this Song is taken from one in a printed Collection. The finishing couplets of the fourth and fifth Stanzas, and the three entire remaining Stanzas, are original.
You know that our antient philosophers hold
There is nothing in equipage, honours, or gold;
That bliss in Externals we seldom can find,
And, in truth, my good friends, I am quite of their mind.
There is nothing in equipage, honours, or gold;
That bliss in Externals we seldom can find,
And, in truth, my good friends, I am quite of their mind.
What makes a man happy I never can doubt:
'Tis something within him, 'tis nothing without.
This something, they said, was the source of content;
But whatever they call'd it, 'twas wine that they meant.
'Tis something within him, 'tis nothing without.
This something, they said, was the source of content;
But whatever they call'd it, 'twas wine that they meant.
Upon their own principles I could have shown 'em
That the juice of the grape is the true Summum Bonum;
Without us, I grant ye, 'tis not worth a pin,
But, ye Gods, how divine when we get it within!
That the juice of the grape is the true Summum Bonum;
Without us, I grant ye, 'tis not worth a pin,
But, ye Gods, how divine when we get it within!
119
The wealthy are poor, and the haughty repine,
If, with gold and with grandeur, you give them no wine:
But plenty of wine to the beggar afford,
Only make him as drunk—he's as great as a Lord.
If, with gold and with grandeur, you give them no wine:
But plenty of wine to the beggar afford,
Only make him as drunk—he's as great as a Lord.
While the bottle is wanting the soul is depress'd,
And Beauty can kindle no flame in the breast;
But the toper for ev'ry encounter is ready,
And Joan, when you're drunk, is as good as my Lady.
And Beauty can kindle no flame in the breast;
But the toper for ev'ry encounter is ready,
And Joan, when you're drunk, is as good as my Lady.
He surely can boast little brains of his own
Who attempts to find out the Philosopher's Stone:
To turn lead into gold is an idle design;
So I'll be content to turn gold into wine.
Who attempts to find out the Philosopher's Stone:
To turn lead into gold is an idle design;
So I'll be content to turn gold into wine.
Your Heroes, in story who make such a figure,
Were indebted to wine for their conduct and vigour;
Hence Persia was won by the Macedon Boy:
Sure the Greeks too drank Sack, or they ne'er had sack'd Troy.
Were indebted to wine for their conduct and vigour;
Hence Persia was won by the Macedon Boy:
Sure the Greeks too drank Sack, or they ne'er had sack'd Troy.
Wine, wine for my bev'rage to take I determine;
Give water to Poets and such kind of vermin;
Then broach the decanter and let the wine cóme free,
And he that don't like it let him dine with Duke Humphrey.
Derry down.
Give water to Poets and such kind of vermin;
Then broach the decanter and let the wine cóme free,
And he that don't like it let him dine with Duke Humphrey.
Derry down.
| The Wiccamical Chaplet | |