Beds of roses/Time caught and drown'd in wine

Time Caught and Drown'd in Wine.

ONE cv'ning Good humour brought wit as a guest,
By friendship invited to share of the feast;
Their liquor was Claret, and love was their host,
And harmony garnish'd each double meant toast.

⁠But while like true bucks they cnjoy'd their design,
For the joys of a buck lie in love, wit and wine,
Alarm'd they all heard at the door a loud knock,
And the watchman hoarse bellow'd-past 12 o'clock.

⁠They nimbly ran down, the disturbing dog found,
And up stairs they dragg'd the impertinent hound,
When brought to the light how much were they pleas'd
To find 'twas the gray glutton, time, they had seiz'd.

⁠His glass for a lanthorn, his scythe for a pole,
And a single lock dangled down his smooth skull,
My friends (quoth he couching) I thought fit to knock,
And bid you begone for 'tis past twelve o'clock.

⁠Says the venom-tooth savage, on this advice fix,
Tho' nature strikes twelve, folly still points at six,
He longer had preach'd but no longer they'd bear it,
So hid him at once in a hogshead of Claret,

⁠This is right, then says wit, while we're yet in our prime,
There is nothing like claret for killing of time,
Huzza, replies love, now no more can he knock,
Nor impertinent tell us-'tis past twelve o'clock.

⁠Since time is no more, nor no more can forbid us,
Wit & love of that troublesome gucst well have rid us,
But if time should be wanting for any design,
Henceforth he is found in a hogshead of wine.

⁠Since time is confin'd in our wine let us think,
By this rule we are sure of our time when we drink,
Come, lads, let your glasses with bumpers be prim'd,
Since we're certain our drinking is always well tim'd.