1869 Drinking Cups and their Customs (Mixellany)

CVBS AND THEIE CUSTOMS.

57

Oil! Sir John Barleycorn, tliou glorious Knight of Malt-a, May thy fame never alter: Great Britain's Bacchus I pardon all OUT failings, And "with thy Ale ease all our ailings. I Ve emptied many a barrel In my time—• And, may "be, snail empty many more Before O'er the Styx I sail. E'en when an infant I was fond of Ale, A sort of Ale-y-baby, And still I love, in spite of gibes and jokes Of wine-ing folks. For Stout I Ve stoutly fought for many a year, For Ale I '11fight till I ? ni laid on my bier. October! oh 3 intoxicating name! no drink That e'er was made on earth can match with thee. Of "best French Tbrandy in the Palais Royal I Ve emptied many a phial, And think That double X beats O.D.V. On thy banks, Bhiae, I 're drank such wine As Bacchus' self might well unsober; But, oh! Joliannisberg thy beams are shorn By our John Barleycorn, And Hock Is not Hoek-tober. As for the rest, Cape, Claret, Calcavella, They are but a leather and prunella," Stale, flat, and musty. By the side of Ale Sherry turns pale, And Port grows crusty. Rum, "Whisky, Hollands seem so much sour crout, And Hodges f s Mountain-Dew turns out A mere Hodge-Podge. Of Bishops e f e% god wot! I don't much like the flavour, Imperial Tokay Itself gives way,