180 DITHYRAMBICS. 



riment with their lucubrations, that they have been read, and 

 have been believed, and will be read and believed by many who 

 never trouble themselves to look for confirmation or refutation 

 of the assertions made by others in an author's works. 



Some such critics as those above alluded to, on being brought 

 to task for their slanders, have excused themselves, by saying 

 that they were only meant as jokes ; is not such jesting some- 

 thing like giving a man a dose of arsenic, and saying, in six hours 

 afterwards, "Ah !^ my dear fellow, I hope it wont hurt you, I 

 only gave it to you for a joke ?'^ J. B. 



DITHYRAMBICS. 



Aye, others may boast of the pure crystal rill, 

 And of broth, soda water, and lemonade swill ; 

 But leave us the bottle ; a draught may be found 

 That will banish our ills for to night — push it round ; 

 Round ! push it round. 



Who cares for a head-ache ? the heart-ache is worse, 

 The rough world alas 1 is a pitiless nurse ; 

 We shall laugh at its frowns o'er the bright, brimming cup, 

 Let us drain it again to the last — fill it up ; 

 Up ! fill it up. 



To Prometheus — the knowing — the jolly, old blade 

 Who first distilled brandy, and set up the trade ; 

 And boozed like a son of the gods (though I think 

 He riddled his liver a bit) let us drink ; 



Drink ! let us drink. 



Who proses of gout or of gall stones ? in war 

 A bullet lops off the two legs of a tar. 

 Can a twinge in the toe or a stich in the spine 

 Ever shadow his anguish ? Oh ! no. Bring us wine ; 

 Wine I mighty wine. 



Will your sallow-faced, white-livered loon live a jot 

 More at ease with himself than our tun-bellied sot ? 

 Aye — when vinegar's flavour is sweet — not till then ; 

 So cheer us, true hearts — fill a bumper again ; 



Again ! fill a bumper again. 



O ! dream not of care, we extinguish it now ; 

 No shadow of sadness shall darken the brow. 

 We '11 offer to Bacchus libation and hymn, 

 And drink till the candles grow double and dim ; 

 Dim ! double and dim. 

 Stoke, MentTJr. 



