,296 TOBACCO COMPLIMENT. 



That I must) leave thee. 

 For thy sake, TOBACCO, I 

 Would do anything but die, 

 And but seek to extend my days 

 Long enough to sing thy praise. 

 But as she who once hath been, 

 A king's consort, is a queen 

 Ever after, nor will bate 

 Any title of her state, 

 Though a widow, or divorced, 

 So I, from thy converse* forced, 

 The old name and style retain, 

 A right Katherine of Spain, 

 And a seat, too, 'mongst the joys 

 Of the blest Tobacco Boys ; 

 Where, though I, by sour physician, 

 Am debarred the full fruition 

 Of thy favors, I may catch, 

 Some collateral sweets, and snatch, 

 Sidelong odors, that give life 

 Like glances from a neighbor's wife ; 

 And still live in the by-places, 

 And the suburbs of thy graces ; 

 And in thy borders take delight, 

 An unconquered Canaanite." 



Thomas Jones, in the following neat little tribute to to- 

 bacco, pays a deserved compliment, not only to the plant, 

 but to the great English smoker, " ye renowned Sir Walter 

 Kaleigh." 



"Let poets rhyme of what they will, 

 Youth, Beauty, Love or Glory, still 



My theme shall be Tobacco ! 

 Hail, weed, eclipsing every flow'r, 

 Of thee I fain would make my bow'r 

 When fortune frowns, or tempests low'r. 



Mild comforter of woe ! 



" They say in truth an angel's foot 

 First brought to life thy precious root, 



The source of every pleasure ! 

 Descending from the skies he press'd 

 With hallow'd touch Earth's yielding breast, 

 Forth sprang the plant, and then was bless'd, 



As man's chief treasure! 



