lyo ST NICOTINE 



the song become that Dr. Hague, in 1805, set the words to 

 music, and Mr. Samuel Wesley, at a later date, adapted them 

 to a tune said to be still in vogue. Yet, out of the multitude 

 of admirers who so readily adopted and adapted Wither's 

 song, no one seems to have cared to acknowledge the source 

 of his inspiration. But for the diligent reseach of Mr. Payne 

 Collier, the student might have remained forever in ignorance 

 of its true parentage. Turning to Mr. Chappell's ' Popular 

 Music of the Olden Time ' we come upon the following 

 passage relating to this song : — ' The earliest copy ' says Mr. 

 Chappell, ' I have seen is in a manuscript volume of poetry 

 transcribed during James's reign and which was kindly lent 

 to me by Mr. Payne Collier. It there bears the initials of 

 G[eorge] W[ither] a very likely person to have written such a 

 song. A courtier poet would not have sung the praises of 

 smoking — so obnoxious to the King as to induce him to 

 write a Count evhlaste to Tobacco — but Wither despised 

 the servility which would have tended to his advancement 

 at Court. The original song, the first verse of which is at 

 the head of this chapter, runs as follows : — 



The earthen pipe so lily white 

 Shows that thou art a mortal wight ; 

 Even such — and gone with a small touch : 

 Thus think, and drink tobacco. 



And when the smoke ascends on high, 

 Think on the worldly vanity 

 Of worldly stuff — 'tis gone with a puff ; 

 Thus think, and drink tobacco. 



And when the pipe is foul within 

 Think how the soul's defiled with sin — 

 To purge with fire it doth require : 

 Thus think, and drink tobacco. 



