Pretty Lessons in Verse for Good Children; with Some Lessons in Latin, in Easy Rhyme. By Sara Coleridge. The Fourth Edition, with Many Cuts |
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HERBERT'S BEVERAGE. |
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 | Pretty Lessons in Verse |  |
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HERBERT'S BEVERAGE.
A laddie like Herbert disdains to repine,
Because he drinks water, instead of rich wine;
What need has a laddie like Herbert for beer,
When he can have water transparently clear?
Because he drinks water, instead of rich wine;
What need has a laddie like Herbert for beer,
When he can have water transparently clear?
A child of his age wants no port wine or sherry
To make his cheek rosy—his little heart merry;
His life he is feeling in every young limb—
Then what can bright sherry and port do for him?
To make his cheek rosy—his little heart merry;
His life he is feeling in every young limb—
Then what can bright sherry and port do for him?
The brown muddy porter and very strong ale
Would make his head heavy, his senses to fail;
Harsh cider would give him good cause to complain,
And headaches come after the tempting champagne.
Would make his head heavy, his senses to fail;
Harsh cider would give him good cause to complain,
And headaches come after the tempting champagne.
Let Claret and Burgundy blush like the ruby—
If he were to drink them he'd blush like a booby;
Let costly Madeira like topazes shine,
My Herbert cares nought for the fruit of the vine.
If he were to drink them he'd blush like a booby;
Let costly Madeira like topazes shine,
My Herbert cares nought for the fruit of the vine.
And as to fine Rhenish and dainty Moselle,
The hues of the chrysolite they may excel;
But Herbert's pure element leaps from the rock,
As clear as Moselle and more sparkling than Hock.
The hues of the chrysolite they may excel;
But Herbert's pure element leaps from the rock,
As clear as Moselle and more sparkling than Hock.
The coarse vulgar rum he would never admire,
And gin and strong brandy are like liquid fire;
To swallow such potions would give him great pain—
Besides they would certainly fuddle his brain.
And gin and strong brandy are like liquid fire;
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Besides they would certainly fuddle his brain.
Strong tea he would think disagreeably bitter,
And coffee for youths of his years is no fitter;
For coffee and chocolate what should he care,
When nice milk and water has come to his share?
And coffee for youths of his years is no fitter;
For coffee and chocolate what should he care,
When nice milk and water has come to his share?
The water he drinks is as clear as the crystal,
And every where met with from Berwick to Bristol;
Fróm brooks that run over a bed of bright sand,
He oft scoops it up in the palm of his hand.
And every where met with from Berwick to Bristol;
Fróm brooks that run over a bed of bright sand,
He oft scoops it up in the palm of his hand.
The excellent fluid that comes from the cow,
Is better than wine for my Herbert just now;
'Tis whiter than pearls, and as soft as fine silk—
There's both meat and drink in the nourishing milk.
Is better than wine for my Herbert just now;
'Tis whiter than pearls, and as soft as fine silk—
There's both meat and drink in the nourishing milk.
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