To take advantage of the circumstance,
And make it favourable to his art.
Then military tactics have their use;
And this the learn'd professor knows, and like
A prudent general, marshals out his force
In proper files, for order governs all;
He sees each dish arranged upon the board
With due decorum, in its proper place,
And borne from thence in the same order, too;
No hurry, no confusion; his quick eye
Discovers at a glance if all is right;
Knows how to suit the taste of every guest,
If such a dish should quickly be removed,
And such another occupy its place.
To one serves up his food quite smoking hot,
And to another moderately warm,
Then to a third quite cold, but all in order,
And at the moment, as he gives the word.
This knowledge is derived, as you perceive,
From strict attention to the rules of art
And martial discipline.—Would you know more?
B. I am quite satisfied, and so farewell.—Anon.
The same.
Such lore, he said, was requisite
For him who thought beside his spit;
And undeterr'd by noise or heat,
Could calmly con each new receipt:
Star knowledge first, for meats are found
With rolling months to go the round;
And, as the sunshine's short or long,
Yield flavours exquisite or strong:
Fishes, 'tis known, as seasons vary,
Are delicate, or quite 'contrary;'
The tribes of air, like those of fin,
Change with each sign the sun goes in:
So that who only knows what cheer,
Not when to buy's no cook, 'tis clear.
A cook who would his kitchen show,
Must also architecture know;
