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While the rich draught with oft repeated whiffs
Tobacco mild improves : divine repast!

Where no crude furfeit, or intemperate joys
Of lawless Bacchus reign: but o'er my foul
A calm Lethean creeps: in drowsy trance
Each thought fubfides, and fweet oblivion wraps
My peaceful brain, as if the magic rod

Of leaden Morpheus o'er mine eyes had shed
Its opiate influence, What though fore ills
Oppress, dire want of chill-dispelling coals,
Or cheerful candle, fave the makeweight's gleam
Hap❜ly remaining; heart-rejoicing ale

Cheers the fad scene, and every want fupplies.
Meantime not mindless of the daily task

Of tutor fage, upon the learned leaves
Of deep Smiglecius much I meditate;
While ale inspires, and lends her kindred aid
The thought-perplexing labour to pursue,
Sweet Helicon of logic! -But if friends
Congenial call me from the toilfome page,
To pot-house I repair, the facred haunt,
Where, Ale, thy votaries in full refort
Hold rites nocturnal. In capacious chair.
Of monumental oak, and antique mould,

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That long has stood the rage of conquering Time
Inviolate, (not in more ample feat

Smokes rofy justice, when th' important cause,
Whether of henrooft or of mirthful rape,.

In all the majesty of paunch, he tries,)
Studious of eafe, and provident I place
My gladfome limbs, while in repeated round
Returns replenish'd the fucceffive cup,
And the brifk fire confpires to genial joy.
Nor feldom to relieve the ling'ring hours
In innocent delight, amufive putt

On smooth joint-ftool in emblematic play
The vain viciffitudes of fortune fhews.
Nor reck'ning, name tremendous, me difturbs,
Nor, call'd-for, chills my breast with fudden fear,
While on the wonted door (expreffive mark!)
The frequent penny ftands defcrib'd to view
In fnowy characters, a graceful row.

Hail Ticking! furest guardian of distress,

Beneath thy fhelter pennylefs I quaff

The cheering cup: though much the poet's friend, Ne'er

yet attempted in poetic strain,

Accept this humble tribute of my praise.

Nor proctor thrice with vocal heel alarms

Our

Our joys fecure, nor deigns the lowly roof
Of pot-houfe fnug to vifit: wifer he

The fplendid tavern haunts, or coffee-house
Of James or Juggins, where the grateful breath
Of mild tobacco ne'er diffus'd its balm;

But the lewd spendthrift, falfely deem'd polite,
While steams around the fragrant Indian bowl,
Oft damns the vulgar fons of humbler Ale:
In vain the proctor's voice alarms their joy;
Juft fate of wanton pride, and vain excess!

Nor less by day delightful is thy draught,
Heart-eafing Ale, whofe forrow-foothing fweets
Oft I repeat in vacant afternoon,

When tatter'd stockings afk my mending hand
Not unexperienc'd, while the tedious toil
Slides unregarded. Let the tender swain
Each morn regale on nerve-relaxing tea,
Companion meet of languor-loving nymph:
Be mine each morn with eager appetite
And hunger undiffembled, to repair
To friendly butt'ry, there on fmoaking crust
And foaming Ale to banquet unrestrain'd,
Material breakfaft! Thus in ancient times
Our ancestors robust with liberal cups

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Ufher'd the morn, unlike the languid fons
Of modern days; nor ever had the might
Of Britons brave decay'd, had thus they fed,
With English Ale improving English worth.
With Ale irriguous, undifmay'd I hear
The frequent dun afcend my lofty dome
Importunate: whether the plaintive voice
Of laundress fhrill awake my startled ear,
Or taylor with obfequious bow advance;
Or groom invade me with defying look
And fierce demeanor, whofe emaciate fteeds
Had panted oft beneath my goring steel :-
In vain they plead or threat; all-powerful Ale
Excufes new fupplies, and each defcends
With joyless pace and debt-despairing looks.
E'en Sp-y with indignant bow retires,
Sterneft of duns! and conquer'd quits the field.
Why did the gods fuch various bleffings pour
On helpless mortals, from their grateful hands » 1. §
So foon the fhort-liv'd bounty to recal ?
Thus while, improvident of future ill,
I quaff the luscious tankard unrestrain'd,
And thoughtless riot in ambrofial bliss,
Sudden (dire fate of all things excellent.

i.

Th'

Th' unpitying burfar's cross affixing hand
Blafts all my joys, and ftops my glad career.
Nor now the friendly pot-house longer yields
A fure retreat when ev'ning shades the skies,
Nor* Sheppard, ruthless widow, now vouchsafes
The wonted truft, and Winter ticks no more.
Thus Adam exil'd from the blissful scenes

*

Of Eden griev'd, no more in hallow'd bow'r
On nect'rine fruits to feaft, fresh fhade or vale
No more to vifit, or vine-mantled grot;
But all forlorn the naked wilderness,

And unrejoicing folitudes to trace.

Thus too the matchless bard, whose lay refounds
The Splendid Shilling's praise, in nightly gloom
Of lonesome garret pin'd for cheerful Ale:
Whose steps in verfe Miltonic I purfue,
Mean follower! like him with honeft love
Of Ale divine inspir'd, and love of fong.
But long may bounteous Heav'n with watchful care
Avert his hapless fate! enough for me,

That burning with congenial flame I dar'd
His guiding steps at diftance to pursue,

And fing his fav'rite theme in kindred strains.

Noted alehoufes in Oxford,

ODE

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