They  fling,  they  snort,  they  foam,  they  rise  inflamed,

Insisting  on  their  own  sole  will  so  wild.
OadsbudI  my  buzzing  friend,  thou  art  not  dead;
The  Fates,  so  kind,  hare  not  yet  snapped  thy  thread;
By  heavens,  thou  mov'st  a  leg,  and  now  its  brother.
And  kicking,  lo,  again,  thou  mov'st  another!

And  now  thy  little  drunken  eyes  unclose.
And  now  thou  feelest  for  thy  little  nose.
And,  finding  it,  thou  rubbest  thy  two  hands
Much  as  to  say,  '*I'm  glad  I'm  here  again."
And  well  mayest  thou  rejoice — ^'tis  very  plain.
That  near  wert  thou  to  Death's  unsocial  lands.
And  now  thou  roUest  on  thy  back  about,
Happy  to  find  thyself  alive,  no  doubt —

Now  tumest — on  the  table  making  rings.
Now  crawling,  forming  a  wet  track.
Now  shaking  the  rich  liquor  from  thy  back.
Now  fluttering  nectar  from  thy  silken  wings.
Now  standing  on  thy  head,  thy  strength  to  find.
And  poking  out  thy  small,  long  legs  behind;
And  now  thy  pinions  dost  thou  briskly  ply;
Preparing  now  to  leave  me — farewell,  fly!

Go,  join  thy  brothers  on  yon  sunny  board.
And  rapture  to  thy  family  afford —

There  wilt  thou  meet  a  mistress,  or  a  wife.
That  saw  thee  drunk,  drop  senseless  in  the  stream.
Who  gave,  perhaps,  the  wide-resounding  scream.
And  now  sits  groaning  for  thy  precious  life.
Yes,  go  and  carry  comfort  to  thy  friends.
And  wisely  tell  them  thy  imprudence  ends.
Let  bims  and  sugar  for  the  future  charm;
l^heae  will  delight,  and  feed,  and  work  no  harm —


r


786  Tribute

While  Punch,  the  grinning,  merry  imp  of  sin,
Invites  th'  unwary  wanderer  to  a  kiss.
Smiles  in  his  face,  as  though  he  meant  him  bliss,

Then^  like  an  alligator,  drags  him  in,

John  IVolcot.
