I. THOU por'st on Helvicus, and studiest in vain, How many years pass'd betwixt King and King's reign, To make an old woman ev'n twitter for joy At an eighty-eight story, or the scuffle at Troy: But where the good wine, and best fire is When the cruel North-wind does blow, And the trees do penance in snow; Where the poet's delight and desire is, Thou, pitiful book-worm, ne'er troublest thy brain. II. Come, drawer, some claret, we'll drown this new Moon. More candles t' improve this dull night into noon: Let the healths, let the house, and the glasses turn round, But no tears, except those of the tankard, abound. Come! here's a good health to the Muses, Three brimmers to the three times three, And one to each grace let there be; The triple-skull'd dog bite him that refuses. III. Let's be mad as March-hares, call the minstrels and singers, Strike up there! -- kick that rogue -- he has chilblains on's fingers, Let that whoreson our neighbour, on his bags that lies thinking, Bear a part in the storm, but not the calm of our drinking. Come! bring us a wench, or two, prithee; Thou Telephus look'st pretty fair, And hast a good thick head of hair, Fetch him Chloe, she's buxom, and loves to trade with thee; Call Glycera to me, for I am one of her swingers. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...WRITTEN UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF DELIRIUM by WILLIAM COWPER A THOUGHT FOR MOTHER'S DAY by MAMIE COLLINS BARRY MEXICAN FUNERAL PROCESSION by BEULAH VICK BICKLEY THE BATTLE OF THE FLOWERS by MATHILDE BLIND THE LADY UNKNOWN by ALEXANDER (ALEKSANDR) ALEXANDROVICH BLOK |