A PANEGYRIC on ALE. Thomas Warton Alexander Huber Editor Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford
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Eighteenth-Century Poetry Archive
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Oxford This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License. T131163 K104099.006 Dodsley, Robert, 1703-1764. A Collection of Poems in Six Volumes. By Several Hands. Vol. VI. London printed by J. Hughs, for R. and J. Dodsley 1763 [1st ed. 1758] pp. 258-263. 6v.: music; 8⁰.

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A PANEGYRIC on ALE . — Mea nec Falernae Temperant vites , neque Formiani Pocula colles . HOR. By T. W***** BALM of my cares , sweet solace of my toils , Hail , juice benignant ! o'er the costly cups Of riot-stirring wine , unwholsome draught , Let Pride's loose sons prolong the wasteful night : My sober ev'ning let the tankard bless , With toast imbrown'd , and fragrant nutmeg fraught , While the rich draught with oft repeated whiffs Tobacco mild improves : divine repast ! Where no crude surfeit , or intemperate joys Of lawless Bacchus reign : but o'er my soul A calm Lethean creeps : in drowsy trance Each thought subsides , and sweet oblivion wraps My peaceful brain , as if the magic rod Of leaden Morpheus o'er mine eyes had shed Its opiate influence . What tho' sore ills Oppress , dire want of chill-dispelling coals , Or cheerful candle , save the makeweight's gleam Hap'ly remaining ; heart-rejoicing ale Cheers the sad scene , and every want supplies . Meantime not mindless of the daily task Of tutor sage , 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 toilsome page , To pot-house I repair , the sacred haunt , Where , Ale , thy votaries in full resort Hold rites nocturnal . In capacious chair Of monumental oak , and antique mould , That long has stood the rage of conquering Time Inviolate , ( not in more ample seat Smokes rosy justice , when th' important cause , Whether of henroost or of mirthful rape , In all the majesty of paunch , he tries : ) Studious of ease , and provident I place My gladsome limbs , while in repeated round Returns replenish'd the successive cup , And the brisk fire conspires to genial joy . Nor seldom to relieve the ling'ring hours In innocent delight , amusive putt On smooth joint-stool in emblematic play The vain vicissitudes of fortune shews . Nor reck'ning , name tremendous , me disturbs , Nor , call'd-for , chills my breast with sudden fear , While on the wonted door ( expressive mark ! ) The frequent penny stands describ'd to view In snowy characters , a graceful row . Hail Ticking ! surest guardian of distress , Beneath thy shelter pennyless I quaff The cheering cup : tho' 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 joys secure , nor deigns the lowly roof Of pot-house snug to visit : wiser he The splendid 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 , falsely deem'd polite , While steams around the fragrant Indian bowl Oft damns the vulgar sons of humbler Ale : In vain — the proctor's voice alarms their joy ; Just fate os wanton pride , and vain excess ! Nor less by day delightful is thy draught , Heart-easing Ale , whose sorrow-soothing sweets Oft I repeat in vacant afternoon , When tatter'd stockings ask 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 undissembled , to repair To friendly butt'ry , there on smoaking crust And foaming Ale to banquet unrestrain'd , Material breakfast ! Thus in ancient times Our ancestors robust with liberal cups Usher'd the morn , unlike the languid sons 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 , undismay'd I har The frequent dun ascend my lofty dome Importunate : whether the plaintive voice Of laundress shrill awake my startled ear , Or taylor with obsequious bow advance ; Or groom invade me with defying look And fierce demeanor , whose emaciate steeds Had panted oft beneath my goring steel ; In vain they plead or threat ; all-powerful Ale Excuses new supplies , and each descends With joyless pace and debt-despairing looks . E'en Sp—y with indignant bow retires , Sternest of duns ! and conquer'd quits the field . Why did the gods such various blessings pour On helpless mortals , from their grateful hands So soon the short-liv'd bounty to recal ? Thus while , improvident of future ill , I quaff the luscious tankard unrestrain'd , And thoughtless riot in ambrosial bliss , Sudden ( dire fate of all things excellent ! ) Th' unpitying bursar's cross affixing hand Blast all my joys , and stops my glad career . Nor now the friendly pot-house longer yields A sure retreat when ev'ning shades the skies , Nor Noted alehouses in Oxford . Sheppard , rushless widow , now vouchsafes The wonted trust , and Noted alehouses in Oxford . 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 feast , fresh shade or vale No more to visit , or vine-mantled grot ; But all forlorn the naked wilderness , And unrejoicing solitudes to trace . Thus too the matchless bard , whose lay resounds The Splendid Shilling's praise , in nightly gloom Of lonesome garret pin'd for cheerful Ale : Whose steps in verse Miltonic I pursue , Mean follower ! like him with honest love Of Ale divine inspir'd , and love of song . 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 distance to pursue , And sing his fav'rite theme in kindred strains .