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136
[Outside warm, inside cool]
Outside warm, inside cool,Then my body's in good rule.
[I like a good dinner; but none is good]
I like a good dinner; but none is goodWhere the company does not excel the food.
[B's wine is excellent—but you]
B's wine is excellent—but youMust swallow his conversation too.
[No banquet's ever to my wish]
No banquet's ever to my wishUnless the talk be the finest dish.
[Give me enough of meat and drink]
Give me enough of meat and drinkThat of meat and drink I may cease to think.
But what is enough? Much less, I trow,
Than all that ill habit longs for now.
And what is too little?—with all the rest,
My whim demands its share of the best.
137
[For my soul's and body's food]
For my soul's and body's food,I will take what does me good.
Spite of folk's or sages' cry,
Take what does me good will I.
[Wine, good wine, is an excellent thing]
Wine, good wine, is an excellent thing;The vintner, too often, deserves to swing.
[Nothing that is not immortal is worth an immortal's care.]
Nothing that is not immortal is worth an immortal's care.But mortal things nourish immortal; therefore of these be aware.
[Clouded mind and sluggish will,—]
Clouded mind and sluggish will,—All my life is full of ill!
Give me, give me—one blue pill.
A ten-mile walk is better still.
138
[When I am ill, I only long for health]
When I am ill, I only long for health;When I am well, I long for further wealth—
I know not what; then rashly rove and fall;
Then long again for health as all in all.
[The surest test of health is sleep]
The surest test of health is sleep,Turbid and broken, or fresh and deep.
[Unnatural chastity, enforced celibacy]
Unnatural chastity, enforced celibacy,Make private misery, open profligacy.
[Mere eating and drinking]
Mere eating and drinkingAre base, to my thinking;
I scorn them and scout them,
Would fain do without them;
But vain is all strife,
For, such is our life,
Our blood there's no cheating
Of drinking and eating.
I'll seek then such food
As I find does me good,
139
And quickly forget it,
Nor waste any thinking
On eating and drinking.
Vegetarianism.
These lower Lives eat Lives, I know;A reason more we do not so,
Being Human, with a gleam and glow
Upon our life which travels far
From beyond the furthest star.
We know we are not as they are;
What they are, we do not know.
[“There's daily need]
“There's daily need
That we should feed;
But what are all your Arts indeed?
That we should feed;
But what are all your Arts indeed?
Pray who would brook
To lose his cook
Rather than not read Homer's book?”
To lose his cook
Rather than not read Homer's book?”
140
Pig's tail and snout!
Here's truth, no doubt;
But topsy-turvy, inside-out.
Here's truth, no doubt;
But topsy-turvy, inside-out.
The Needfullest,
Is that the Best?
Your guts in modest cave should rest!
Is that the Best?
Your guts in modest cave should rest!
Who binds up dung
Sweet flowers among?
Are frying-pans as pictures hung?—
Sweet flowers among?
Are frying-pans as pictures hung?—
Eat, drink, your fill,
Gain strength and will;
If need be, take a draught or pill;
Gain strength and will;
If need be, take a draught or pill;
And if some power
In lucky hour
Shall make you feel the heavenly dower
In lucky hour
Shall make you feel the heavenly dower
That Genius brings
On mystic wings
To light the world of common things,—
On mystic wings
To light the world of common things,—
Poor dolt! at least
Mock not the feast
Which proves you are not all a beast.
Mock not the feast
Which proves you are not all a beast.
Be humble,—nay
Kneel down and say
“Thank Heaven for one true glimpse to-day!”
Kneel down and say
“Thank Heaven for one true glimpse to-day!”
141
[Wealth can serve special uses,—failing these]
Wealth can serve special uses,—failing these,Wealth is at once a vice and a disease.
[All should work, and all should play]
All should work, and all should play,Give to, gather from, the day:
Make the share
Of each as fair
As human laws and customs may.
[Better a hollow tree in a wood]
Better a hollow tree in a wood,Or a cave by the wild sea-foam,
Than the warmest bed and the daintiest food,
And another man's house for home.
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