Page:Hesperides Vol 1.djvu/315

Help from the garlick, onion and the leek,
And pay no vows to thee, who art the best
God, and far more transcending than the rest?
Had Cassius, that weak water-drinker, known
Thee in the Vine, or had but tasted one
Small chalice of thy nectar, he, even he
As the wise Cato had approved of thee.
Had not Jove's son, the rash Tyrinthian swain
(Invited to the Thesbian banquet), ta'ne
Full goblets of thy [†] blood; his *lustful sprite
Had not kept heat for fifty maids that night.
†As Queens meet Queens, so let sack come to me
Or as Cleopatra unto Anthonie,
When her high visage did at once present
To the Triumvir love and wonderment.
Swell up my feeble sinews, let my blood
†Fill each part full of fire,* let all my good
Parts be encouraged, active to do
What thy commanding soul shall put me to,
And till I turn apostate to thy love,
Which here I vow to serve, never remove
Thy blessing from me; but Apollo's curse
Blast all mine actions; or, a thing that's worse,
When these circumstants have the fate to see
The time when I prevaricate from thee,
Call me the Son of Beer, and then confine
Me to the tap, the toast, the turf; let wine
Ne'er shine upon me; let my verses all
Haste to a sudden death and funeral:
And last, dear Spouse, when I thee disavow,
May ne'er prophetic Daphne crown my brow."
Certainly this manuscript version is in every way