I'll laugh, and whilft gay wine inflames,
I'll court the laughter-loving dames ;
And study to resign my breath
In extasy, and smile in death.
RING me, o bring th' enlivening draught,
Then Care retires, alham'd to show
His downcast eye, and faded brow.
I banish business to the great,
To all that curse, yet covet state.
Death haftes amain : then who would run
To meet what most he strives to shun?
Or antedate the dreadful day
By cares, and aid the fiend to lay ?
If tears could bribe his dreadful powers,
I'd weep, and bless the precious showers;
But let our lot be joy or woe,
Alike he speeds to strike the blow.
Then crown the bowl !---ye forrows, fly
To kill some wretch who wants to die.
ODE XXXI. The pleasing FRENZY,
Now bring, by all the powers divina,
Bring me a bowl of rosy wine; A mighty bowl of wine I crave : When wine inspires, 'tis sweet to rave.
In frantic rage Alcinæon drew
His faulchion, and his * mother slew :
Orestes in a furious mood
Raving shed his + mother's blood.
Dreadful, sober madmen, they !---
None, harmless drunkard, none I llay:
The blood of grapes I only crave :
I quaff it, and 'tis sweet to rave.
Alcides frantic grasp'd his bow,
His quiver rattled, stor'd with woe;
Stern Ajax shook his glittering blade,
And broad his sevenfold shield display'd:
Dangerous madman ! how he drew
His sword, and hosts in fancy New!
I, peaceful I, no faulchion wield,
I bend no bow, I poise no shield.
The flowery garland crowns my hairs,
My hand the powerful goblet bears,
The powerful goblet, nobly brave,
I drain, and then 'tis sweet to rave.
TALK not to me of pedant rules,
I leave debates to learned fools,
Who solemnly in form advise :
At best, impertinently wise!
To ine more pleasing precepts give,
And teach the science how to live :
* Eryphile. + Clytænneftra.
To bury in the friendly draught
Sorrows that spring from too much thought ;
To learn soft lessons from the fair,
How life may glide exempt from care.
Alas ! I'm old! I see my head
With hoary locks by time o'erspread :
Then instant be the goblet brought
To make me young---at least in thought.
Alas! incessant speeds the day
When I must mix with common clay.
When I must tread the dismal shore,
And dream of love and wine no more.
SE
EE Winter 's past! the seasons bring
Soft breezes with returning Spring ;
At whose approach the Graces wear
Fresh honours in their flowing hair :
The raging seas forget to roar,
And, smiling, gently kiss the shore:
The sportive duck, in wanton play,
Now dives, now rises into day;
The cranes from freezing skies repair,
And failing float to warmer air ;
Th' enlivening suns in glory rise,
And gaily dance along the skies.
The clouds disperse; or if in showers
They fall, it is to wake the flowers :
See verdure cloaths the teeming earth!
The olive struggles into birth :
The swelling grapes adorn the vine,
And kindly promise future wine :
Blest juice ! already I in thought
Quaff an imaginary draught.
G'VE me Homer's tuneful lyre,
Let the found my breast inspire!
But with no troublesome delight
Of arms, and heroes slain in fight :
Let it play, no conquests here,
Or conquests only o'er the fair !
Boy, reach that volume-book divine :
The statutes of the God of Wine!
He, legislator, statutes draws,
And I, his judge, inforce his laws :
And, faithful to the weighty trust,
Compel his votaries to be just:
Thus, round the bowl impartial flies,
Till to the spirightly dance we rise ;
We frisk it with a lively bound,
Charm’d with the lyre's harmonious sound :
Then pour forth, with an heat divine,
Rapturous songs that breathe of wine.
ODE L. The happy Effects of Wine,
SEE!
EE! see the jolly god appears,
His hand a mighty goblet bears :
With sparkling Wine full-charg'd it flows,
The fovereign cure of human woes.
Wine gives a kind release from care,
And courage to subdue the fair ;
Instructs the chearful to advance
Harmonious in the sprightly dance :
Hail, goblet ! rich with generous wines !
See! round the verge a vine-branch twines.
See! how the mimic clusters roll,
As ready to re-fill the bowl !
Wine keeps its happy patients free
From every painful malady;
Our best physician all the year,
Thus guarded, no disease we fear,
No troublesome disease of mind,
Until another year grows kind,
And loads again the fruitful vine,
And brings again our health- new wine,
O DE LII. GRAPE S, or the VINTAGE.
1°
0! the vintage now is done !
And black’ned with th’ autumnal sun
The grapes gay youths and virgins bear,
The sweetest product of the year!
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