Miscellaneous writings of the late Dr. Maginn :: :: University of Virginia Library

If Horatius Flaccus made jolly old Bacchus
So often his favourite theme;
If in him it was classic to praise his old Massic,
And Falernian to gulp in a stream;
If Falstaff's vagaries, 'bout Sack and Canaries,
Have pleased us again and again;
Shall we not make merry on Port, Claret, Sherry,
Madeira, and sparkling Champagne?

2

First Port, that potation, preferr'd by our nation
To all the small drink of the French;
'Tis the best standing liquor, for layman or vicar,
The army, the navy, the bench;
'Tis strong and substantial, believe me, no man shall
Good Port from my dining-room send;
In your soup—after cheese—every way—it will please,
But most tête-a-tête with a friend.

3

Fair Sherry, Port's sister, for years they dismiss'd her,
To the kitchen to flavour the jellies—
There long she was banish'd, and well-nigh had vanish'd
To comfort the kitchen-maids' bellies—
Till his Majesty fixt, he thought Sherry when sixty
Years old, like himself, quite the thing—
So I think it but proper, to fill a tip-topper
Of Sherry to drink to the King.

4

Though your delicate Claret by no means goes far, it
Is famed for its exquisite flavour;
'Tis a nice provocation, to wise conversation,
Queer blarney, or harmless palaver;

206

'Tis the bond of society—no inebriety
Follows a swig of the Blue;
One may drink a whole ocean, nor e'er feel commotion,
Or headache from Chateau Margoux.

5

But though Claret is pleasant, to taste for the present,
On the stomach it sometimes feel cold;
So to keep it all clever, and comfort your liver,
Take a glass of Madeira that's old:
When 't has sail'd to the Indies, a cure for all wind 'tis,
And colic 'twill put to the rout;
All doctors declare, a good glass of Madeira,
The best of all things for the gout.

6

Then Champagne! dear Champagne! ah! how gladly I drain a
Whole bottle of Oeil de Perdrix;
To the eye of my charmer, to make my love warmer,
If cool that love ever could be,
I could toast her for ever—But never, oh! never,
Would I her dear name so profane;
So if e'er when I'm tipsy, it slips to my lips, I
Wash it back to my heart with Champagne!