Page:Tea, a poem.pdf/7

7 The wives of our cits of inferior degree Will soak up repute in a little bohea; The potion is vulgar, and vulgar the slang With which on their neighbour's deffects they harrangue; But the scandal improves, a refinement in wrong! As our matrons are richer, and rise to souchong. With hyson a beverage that's still more refined, Our ladies of fashon enliven their mind, And by nods, innuendoes, and hints, and what not, Reputations and tea send together to pot. While madam in laces and cambrics array'd With her plate and her liviries in splended parade, Will drink in imperial a friend at a sup, Or in gunpowder blow them in dozens all up. Ah me! how I groan when with full swelling sail Wafted stately along by the favouring gale, A china ship proudly arrives in our bay, Displaying her streamers and blazing away. Oh! more fell to our port is the cargo she bears