A PANEGYRICK on ALE.

B

Mea nec Falerna

Temperant vites, neque Formiani

Pocula colles.

HORAT.

ALM of my cares, fweet folace of my toils,
Hail, JUICE benignant! O'er the coftly cups
Of riot-ftirring wine, unwholfome draught,
Let Pride's loofe fons prolong the wasteful night;
My fober ev'ning let the tankard bless,
With toaft embrown'd and fragrant nutmeg fraught;
While the rich draught with oft-repeated whiffs
Tobacco mild improves. Divine repast!
Where no crude furfeit, or intemp'rate joys
Of lawless Bacchus reign; but o'er my foul
A calm Lethæan creeps; in drowsy trance
Each thought fubfides, and fweet oblivion wraps
My peaceful brain, as if the leaden rod

Of magic Morpheus o'er mine eyes had shed
Its opiate influence. What tho' fore ills
Opprefs, dire want of chill-difpelling coals
Or chearful candle, (fave the make-weight's gleam
Haply remaining) heart-rejoicing ALE
Chears the fad scene, and every want supplies,

Meantime not mindlefs of the daily task
Of Tutor fage, upon the learned leaves
Of deep Smiglecius much I meditate;

While ALE infpires, and lends its kindred aid,
The thought-perplexing labour to pursue,
Sweet Helicon of Logic! But if friends
Congenial call me from the toilfome page,
To Pot-house I repair, the facred haunt,
Numb. III

Where,

Where, ALE, thy votaries in full refort
Hold rites nocturnal. In capacious chair
Of monumental oak and antique mould,
That long has flood the rage of conquering years
Inviolate, (nor in more ample chair

Smoaks rofy Juftice, when th' important caufe,
Whether of hen-rooft or of mirthful rape,

In all the majefty of paunch he tries)
Studious of cafe and provident, I place
My gladfome limbs; while in repeated round
Returns replenish'd the fucceffive cup,
And the brifk fire confpires to genial joy:
While haply, to relieve the ling'ring hours
In innocent delight, amufive Putt

On fmooth joint-ftool in emblematic play
The vain viciffitudes of fortune fhews.
Nor Reckoning, name tremendous, me difturbs,
Nor, call'd for, chills my breaft with fudden fear
While on the wonted door, expreffive mark,
The frequent penny stands describ'd to view,
In fnowy characters and graceful row.

Hail, TICKING! fureft guardian of distress !
Beneath thy fhelter pennylefs I quaff

The chearful cup, nor hear with hopeless heart
New oyfters cry'd:-Tho' much the poet's friend,
Ne'er yet attempted in poetic ftrain,

Accept this tribute of poetic praise!

Nor Proctor thrice with vocal heel alarms
Our joys fecure, nor deigns the lowly roof
Of Pot-houfe fnug to vifit: wifer he
The fplendid Tavern haunts, or Coffee-house
Of James or Juggins, where the grateful breath
Of loath'd Tobacco ne'er diffus'd its balm;
But the lewd spendthrift, falfely deem'd polite,
While fteams around the fragrant Indian bowl,
Oft damns the vulgar fons of humbler ALE:

In

In vain—the Proctor's voice arrests their joys;
Juft fate of wanton pride and loofe excefs!

Nor lefs by day delightful is thy draught,
All-pow'rful ALE! whofe forrow-foothing fweets
Oft I repeat in vacant afternoon;

When tatter'd stockings afk my mending hand
Not unexperienc'd; while the tedious toil
Slides unregarded. Let the tender swain
Each morn regale on nerve-relaxing tea,
Companion meet of languor-loving nymph :
Be mine each morn, with eager appetite
And hunger undiffembled, to repair

To friendly Buttery; there on fmoaking Cruft
And foaming ALE to banquet unreftrain'd,
Material breakfast! Thus in ancient days
Our ancestors robuft with liberal cups
Usher'd the morn, unlike the fqueamish fons
Of modern times: Nor ever had the might
Of Britons brave decay'd, had thus they fed,
With British ALE improving British worth.

With ALE irriguous, undifmay'd I hear
The frequent Dun afcend my lofty dome
Importunate whether the plaintive voice
Of Laundrefs fhrill awake my startled ear;
Or Barber fpruce with fupple look intrude;
Or Taylor with obfequious bow advance;
Or Groom invade me with defying front
And ftern demeanour, whofe emaciate feeds
(Whene'er or Phoebus fhone with kindlier beams,
Or luckier chance the borrow'd boots fupply'd)
Had panted oft beneath my goring steel.
In vain they plead or threat: all-pow'rful ALE
Excufes new fupplies, and each defcends
With joyless pace and debt-defpairing looks:
Q 2

E'en

E'en Spacey with indignant brow retires,
Fierceft of Duns! and conquer'd quits the field.

Why did the Gods fuch various bleffings pour
On hapless moitals, from their grateful hands
So foon the fort-liv'a bounty to recall ?
Thus, while unprovident of future ill
I quaff the lufcious tankard unreftrain'd,
And thoughtiefs riot in unlicenc'd blifs;
Sudden (dire fate of all things excellent!)
Th' unpitying Burfar's cross-affixing hand
Blafts all my joys, and ftops my glad career.
Nor now the friendly Pot-houfe longer yields
A fure retreat, when night o'erfhades the skies;
Nor Sheppard, barbarous matron, longer gives
The wonted truft, and Winter ticks no more.

Cut off from joys like thefe by frowning fate,
Siluria's matchlefs bard, whofe lay refounds
The SPLENDID SHILLING's praife, in nightly gloom
Of lonesome garret pin'd for chearful ALE;
Whose steps in verfe Miltonic I pursue,
Mean follower, like him with honeft love
Of ALE divine infpir'd, and love of fong.
But long may bounteous heav'n with watchful care
Avert his hapless lot! Enough for me,

That burning with congenial flame I dar'd
His guiding fteps at diftance to pursue,

And fing his fav'rite theme in kindred ftrains.

T. W. x. Y. Z.

Cn

On DREAM S.

From a FRAGMENT of PETRONIUS ARBITER.

W

THENCE come thefe dreams, this bufy idle train Of airy forms, that flutter round the brain? Sure not from heav'n descend these trifling guests; No, they are creatures form'd within our breafts; The fport of Fancy; which, while flumbers bind Th' unconscious fenfe, leaves the dull mass behind, Treads fairy ground, and wantons unconfin'd; By night the labours of the day renews, In mimick forms the various theme pursues.

Flush'd with the hopes of conqueft, from afar The Soldier views the dreadful scenes of war; Grafps his drawn fword, directs the pointed force, Difmounted cries, A kingdom for a horse;

Tramples on kings expiring on the plain,

Wades thro' a fea of blood, and ftrides o'er hills of flain.

The Pleader anxious weighs the dubious caufe,
With fpecious glofs explains away the laws;
With trembling heart furveys the crowded bar
And awful judge in folemn ftate appear.

The Miser still new mines of treasure fpies, Broods o'er his bags, and hugs the secret prize.

The Huntsman joyous hears the vocal hound, Horns wind, men hollow, and the woods refound: The faithful Hound with fympathizing care

Takes fcent, and in full cry pursues the circling hare.

The