1892 Drinks of the world

DRINKS.

264

Chief seat of Slander, Ever there we see Thick Scandal circulate with right Bohea. There, source of black'ning Falsehood's Mint of Lies \ Each Dame th' Improvement of her Talent tries, \ And at each Sip a Lady's Honour dies ) Truth rare as Silence, or a Negro Swan, Appears among those Daughters of the Fan/'

wrote "A

Peter Motteux, in the same reign (171 2),

Poem in Praise of Tea ; " but his theme may, after all, only have been taken to advertise his East India Ware- house in Leadenhall Street. He says :

'* From boist'rous Wine I fled to gentle Tea ;

For, Calms compose us after Storms at Sea. In vain wou'd Coffee boast an equal Good ; The Chrystal Stream transcends the flowing Mud. Tea, ev'n the Ills from Coflee sprung, repairs, Disclaims its Vices, and its Vertue shares. To bless me with the Juice two Foes conspire. The clearest Water with the purest Fire, Wine's Essence in a Lamp to Fewel turns, Exhales its Soul, and for a Rival burns. The Leaf is mov'd, and the diflusive Good, Thus urg'd, resigns its Spirits in the Flood. In curious Cups the liquid Blessing flows. Cups fit alone the Nectar to enclose. Dissembled Groves and Nymphs by Tables plac'd, Adorn the Sides, and tempt the Sight and Taste, Yet more the gay, the lovely Colour courts. The Flavour charms us, but the Taste transports," etc., etc. sung its praises ; and the following portion of " Tea Drinking " brings us down to 1752, by which time it was a necessity in polite society : As years went on, the poets still