A
PANEGYRIC
on
ALE
.
—
Mea
nec
Falernae
Temperant
vites
,
neque
Formiani
Pocula
colles
.
HOR.
By
T.
W*****
BALM
of
my
cares
,
sweet
solace
of
my
toils
,
Hail
,
juice
benignant
!
o'er
the
costly
cups
Of
riot-stirring
wine
,
unwholsome
draught
,
Let
Pride's
loose
sons
prolong
the
wasteful
night
:
My
sober
ev'ning
let
the
tankard
bless
,
With
toast
imbrown'd
,
and
fragrant
nutmeg
fraught
,
While
the
rich
draught
with
oft
repeated
whiffs
Tobacco
mild
improves
:
divine
repast
!
Where
no
crude
surfeit
,
or
intemperate
joys
Of
lawless
Bacchus
reign
:
but
o'er
my
soul
A
calm
Lethean
creeps
:
in
drowsy
trance
Each
thought
subsides
,
and
sweet
oblivion
wraps
My
peaceful
brain
,
as
if
the
magic
rod
Of
leaden
Morpheus
o'er
mine
eyes
had
shed
Its
opiate
influence
.
What
tho'
sore
ills
Oppress
,
dire
want
of
chill-dispelling
coals
,
Or
cheerful
candle
,
save
the
makeweight's
gleam
Hap'ly
remaining
;
heart-rejoicing
ale
Cheers
the
sad
scene
,
and
every
want
supplies
.
Meantime
not
mindless
of
the
daily
task
Of
tutor
sage
,
upon
the
learned
leaves
Of
deep
Smiglecius
much
I
meditate
;
While
ale
inspires
,
and
lends
her
kindred
aid
The
thought-perplexing
labour
to
pursue
,
Sweet
Helicon
of
logic
!
—
But
if
friends
Congenial
call
me
from
the
toilsome
page
,
To
pot-house
I
repair
,
the
sacred
haunt
,
Where
,
Ale
,
thy
votaries
in
full
resort
Hold
rites
nocturnal
.
In
capacious
chair
Of
monumental
oak
,
and
antique
mould
,
That
long
has
stood
the
rage
of
conquering
Time
Inviolate
,
(
not
in
more
ample
seat
Smokes
rosy
justice
,
when
th'
important
cause
,
Whether
of
henroost
or
of
mirthful
rape
,
In
all
the
majesty
of
paunch
,
he
tries
:
)
Studious
of
ease
,
and
provident
I
place
My
gladsome
limbs
,
while
in
repeated
round
Returns
replenish'd
the
successive
cup
,
And
the
brisk
fire
conspires
to
genial
joy
.
Nor
seldom
to
relieve
the
ling'ring
hours
In
innocent
delight
,
amusive
putt
On
smooth
joint-stool
in
emblematic
play
The
vain
vicissitudes
of
fortune
shews
.
Nor
reck'ning
,
name
tremendous
,
me
disturbs
,
Nor
,
call'd-for
,
chills
my
breast
with
sudden
fear
,
While
on
the
wonted
door
(
expressive
mark
!
)
The
frequent
penny
stands
describ'd
to
view
In
snowy
characters
,
a
graceful
row
.
Hail
Ticking
!
surest
guardian
of
distress
,
Beneath
thy
shelter
pennyless
I
quaff
The
cheering
cup
:
tho'
much
the
poet's
friend
Ne'er
yet
attempted
in
poetic
strain
,
Accept
this
humble
tribute
of
my
praise
.
Nor
proctor
thrice
with
vocal
heel
alarms
Our
joys
secure
,
nor
deigns
the
lowly
roof
Of
pot-house
snug
to
visit
:
wiser
he
The
splendid
tavern
haunts
,
or
coffee-house
Of
James
or
Juggins
,
where
the
grateful
breath
Of
mild
tobacco
ne'er
diffus'd
its
balm
;
But
the
lewd
spendthrift
,
falsely
deem'd
polite
,
While
steams
around
the
fragrant
Indian
bowl
Oft
damns
the
vulgar
sons
of
humbler
Ale
:
In
vain
—
the
proctor's
voice
alarms
their
joy
;
Just
fate
os
wanton
pride
,
and
vain
excess
!
Nor
less
by
day
delightful
is
thy
draught
,
Heart-easing
Ale
,
whose
sorrow-soothing
sweets
Oft
I
repeat
in
vacant
afternoon
,
When
tatter'd
stockings
ask
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
undissembled
,
to
repair
To
friendly
butt'ry
,
there
on
smoaking
crust
And
foaming
Ale
to
banquet
unrestrain'd
,
Material
breakfast
!
Thus
in
ancient
times
Our
ancestors
robust
with
liberal
cups
Usher'd
the
morn
,
unlike
the
languid
sons
Of
modern
days
;
nor
ever
had
the
might
Of
Britons
brave
decay'd
,
had
thus
they
fed
,
With
English
Ale
improving
English
worth
.
With
Ale
irriguous
,
undismay'd
I
har
The
frequent
dun
ascend
my
lofty
dome
Importunate
:
whether
the
plaintive
voice
Of
laundress
shrill
awake
my
startled
ear
,
Or
taylor
with
obsequious
bow
advance
;
Or
groom
invade
me
with
defying
look
And
fierce
demeanor
,
whose
emaciate
steeds
Had
panted
oft
beneath
my
goring
steel
;
In
vain
they
plead
or
threat
;
all-powerful
Ale
Excuses
new
supplies
,
and
each
descends
With
joyless
pace
and
debt-despairing
looks
.
E'en
Sp—y
with
indignant
bow
retires
,
Sternest
of
duns
!
and
conquer'd
quits
the
field
.
Why
did
the
gods
such
various
blessings
pour
On
helpless
mortals
,
from
their
grateful
hands
So
soon
the
short-liv'd
bounty
to
recal
?
Thus
while
,
improvident
of
future
ill
,
I
quaff
the
luscious
tankard
unrestrain'd
,
And
thoughtless
riot
in
ambrosial
bliss
,
Sudden
(
dire
fate
of
all
things
excellent
!
)
Th'
unpitying
bursar's
cross
affixing
hand
Blast
all
my
joys
,
and
stops
my
glad
career
.
Nor
now
the
friendly
pot-house
longer
yields
A
sure
retreat
when
ev'ning
shades
the
skies
,
Nor
Noted
alehouses
in
Oxford
.
Sheppard
,
rushless
widow
,
now
vouchsafes
The
wonted
trust
,
and
Noted
alehouses
in
Oxford
.
Winter
ticks
no
more
.
Thus
Adam
exil'd
from
the
blissful
scenes
Of
Eden
griev'd
,
no
more
in
hallow'd
bow'r
On
nect'rine
fruits
to
feast
,
fresh
shade
or
vale
No
more
to
visit
,
or
vine-mantled
grot
;
But
all
forlorn
the
naked
wilderness
,
And
unrejoicing
solitudes
to
trace
.
Thus
too
the
matchless
bard
,
whose
lay
resounds
The
Splendid
Shilling's
praise
,
in
nightly
gloom
Of
lonesome
garret
pin'd
for
cheerful
Ale
:
Whose
steps
in
verse
Miltonic
I
pursue
,
Mean
follower
!
like
him
with
honest
love
Of
Ale
divine
inspir'd
,
and
love
of
song
.
But
long
may
bounteous
Heav'n
with
watchful
care
Avert
his
hapless
fate
!
enough
for
me
,
That
burning
with
congenial
flame
I
dar'd
His
guiding
steps
at
distance
to
pursue
,
And
sing
his
fav'rite
theme
in
kindred
strains
.