 | Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature |  |
264
OUR SOCIAL REPUBLIC.
(AT THE CLUB OF “THE HOOKS AND EYES.”)
In this Republic where we sit,
Each man his glass in hand,
Free as the birds that chant in upper air,
Be this the Charter of our wit,
That all may understand,
And these the taxes every one must bear.
Lightly, brightly,
Let the wit abound;
And temperance pass
In every glass,
That sparkles in our round;
And he who jeers at Woman's Truth,
Or tips his jest with gall,
Or scorns the man that nobly dares be poor—
Whate'er his age, whate'er his youth,
A traitor to us all,
He shall be banished! banished evermore!
Each man his glass in hand,
Free as the birds that chant in upper air,
Be this the Charter of our wit,
That all may understand,
And these the taxes every one must bear.
Lightly, brightly,
Let the wit abound;
And temperance pass
In every glass,
That sparkles in our round;
And he who jeers at Woman's Truth,
Or tips his jest with gall,
265
Whate'er his age, whate'er his youth,
A traitor to us all,
He shall be banished! banished evermore!
But he, the generous citizen,
Whose jests are pure, though keen—
Who laughs his laugh, and sings his hearty song—
Who aids the cause of honest men,
His country and his Queen,
And bears no hate, except the hate of wrong;
Duly, truly,
One of us is he;
To all our rights,
Through joyous nights,
We give him welcome free.
To this Republic where we sit,
Each man the other's friend,
And bolt all knaves and scorners from our door,
To feasts where wisdom, mirth, and wit,
With social pleasures blend,
We make him welcome, welcome evermore!
Whose jests are pure, though keen—
Who laughs his laugh, and sings his hearty song—
Who aids the cause of honest men,
His country and his Queen,
And bears no hate, except the hate of wrong;
Duly, truly,
One of us is he;
To all our rights,
Through joyous nights,
We give him welcome free.
To this Republic where we sit,
Each man the other's friend,
And bolt all knaves and scorners from our door,
To feasts where wisdom, mirth, and wit,
With social pleasures blend,
We make him welcome, welcome evermore!
| Studies from the Antique and Sketches from Nature | |