CURIOUS CREATURES. 35 



You may sooner bite off their beards that are 



Full hard, and stiff with bristled, rugged, hair, 



Than their wide mouths leave Milk their daily fare : 



We fly from dainty Kitchins, and do fill 



Our Bellies with rank Meats, and Countray swill, 



Of old, men fed on boyl'd Meats, 'gainst their will. 



A dish of Grass, that had no smack, did hold 



Hog's and sheep's flesh together, hot or cold, 



Nor to pollute their meats with mingling were they bold ; 



He that eats Cream we bid him for to be 



Strong, and to have a mind that's bold and free. 



Eleven Lords of elder time we were, 

 That waited on King Hachon, and at fare 

 Helgo Begachus sat first in order there. 

 First dish he eat was a dry'd Gammon, and 

 A Crust as hard as Flint he took in hand, 

 This made his hungry, yawning stomach stand : 

 No man at Table fed on stinking meat, 

 But what was good and common, each man eat, 

 Content with simple fare, though nere so great ; 

 The greatest were not Gluttons, nor yet fine, 

 The King himself full sparingly would dine. 

 No Drinks were used that did of Honey bost, 

 Beer was their common Liquor, Ceres owest, 

 They fed on Meats were little boyl'd, no rost. 

 Each Table was with Meats but meanly drest, 

 Few Dishes on't, Antiquity thought best ; 

 And in plain Fare each held himself most blest. 

 There were no Flagons, nor broad Bowls in use, 

 Nor painted Dishes grown to great abuse, 

 Each, at the Tap, did fill his wooden cruze. 

 No man, admirer of the former days, 

 Did use Tankards or Oxeys ; x for their ways 

 Were sparing, almost empty Dishes this bewrays. 

 No Silver Basons, or guilt Cups were thought 

 Fit by the Host, and to the table brought, 

 To garnish, or by Ghests were vainly sought." 



1 Ox horns, horn cups. 



