Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ODE (1), by CHARLES COTTON


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

ODE (1), by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: The day is set did earth adorn
Last Line: Health, and his sceptre to the king.
Subject(s): Drinks & Drinking; Wine


I

THE Day is set did Earth adorn,
To drink the brewing of the Main,
And, hot with travel, will e'er morn
Carouse it to an ebb again,

Then let us drink, Time to improve,
Secure of Cromwell and his spies,
Night will conceal our healths, and Love
For all her thousand thousand eyes.

Cho: Then let us drink secure of spies
To Phoebus, and his second rise.

II

Without the evening dew, and show'rs,
The Earth would be a barren place,
Of trees, and plants, of herbs, and flow'rs,
To crown her now enamell'd face;

Nor can wit spring, or fancies grow,
Unless we dew our heads in wine,
Plump Autumn's wealthy overflow,
And sprightly issue of the vine.

Cho: Then let us drink secure of spies
To Phoebus, and his second rise.

III

Wine is the cure of cares, and sloth,
That rust the metal of the mind,
The juice, that man to man does both
In Freedom, and in Friendship bind.

This clears the Monarch's cloudy brows,
And cheers the hearts of sullen swains,
To wearied souls repose allows,
And makes slaves caper in their chains.

Cho: Then let us drink secure of spies
To Phoebus, and his second rise.

IV

Wine, that distributes to each part
Its heat and motion, is the spring,
The Poet's head, the subject's heart,
'Twas wine made old Anacreon sing.

Then let us quaff it, whilst the night
Serves but to hide such guilty souls,
As fly the beauty of the light;
Or dare not pledge our loyal bowls.

Cho: Then let us revel, quaff and sing,
Health, and his Sceptre to the King.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net