Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 3: SATIRE: 6, by JOSEPH HALL


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

VIRGIDEMIAE: BOOK 3: SATIRE: 6, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When gullion died (who knows not gullion?)
Last Line: Desunt nonnulla.
Variant Title(s): Toothless Satires: A Drunkard Arrives In Hades
Subject(s): Drinks & Drinking; Soul; Wine


When Gullion di'd (who knowes not Gullion?)
And his dry soule ariu'd at Acheron,
He faire besought the Feryman of hell,
That he might drinke to dead Pantagruel.
Charon was fraide leaste thirsty Gullion,
Would haue drunke dry the riuer Acheron.
Yet last consented for a little hyre,
And downe he dips his chops deepe in the myre,
And drinks, and drinks, and swallows in the streame
Vntill the shallow shores all naked seeme.
Yet still he drinkes, nor can the Botemans cries,
Nor crabbed ores, nor praiers make him rise.
So long he drinkes, till the blacke Carauel,
Stands still fast grauel'd on the mud of hell.
There stand they still, nor can goe, nor retyre,
Tho greedie ghosts quicke passage did require.
Yet stand they still, as tho they lay at rode,
Till Gullion his bladder would vnlode.
They stand, and wait, and pray for that good houre:
Which when it came, they sailed to the shore.
But neuer since dareth the Feryman
Once intertaine the ghost of Gullian.
Drinke on drie soule, and pledge sir Gullian:
Drinke to all healths, but drinke not to thine owne

Desunt nonnulla.





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