Page:Nelson's lament.pdf/6

                                 6

THE PRAISES OF WINE.

LET a set of sober asses

rail against the joys of drinking,

While water, tea, and milk agree,

to set cold brains a thinking :

Pow'r and wealth beauty health,

Wit and mirth in wine are crown'd ;

Joys abound, pleasure's found,

Only where the glass goes round.

The ancient sects on happiness,

all differ'd in opinion ;

But wiser rules of modern schools;

in wine fix their dominion.

Wine gives the lover vigour,

makes glow the checks of beauty.

Makes poets write, and soldiers fight,

and friendship do its duty.

Wine was the only Helicon,

whence poets are long liv'd so ;

'Twas no other main then brisk champaign

Whence Venus was deriv’d too.