Page:Fugitive Poetry 1600-1878.djvu/450
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COLD WATER.
'Tis sweet the nectar of the gods to quaff,
And very pleasant is the rosy wine;
Refreshing is the taste of "half-and-half,"
But of all drinks cold water shall be mine.
And very pleasant is the rosy wine;
Refreshing is the taste of "half-and-half,"
But of all drinks cold water shall be mine.
The verdant turf is grateful to the feet,
And some recline upon the mossy vale;
But smoothest lawns yield not so soft a seat
Ab that afforded by a well-filled pail
And some recline upon the mossy vale;
But smoothest lawns yield not so soft a seat
Ab that afforded by a well-filled pail
Before another century has fled,
Water! thy virtues none will dare deny;
Posterity will humbly bare its head,
When thou in rain descendest from the sky.
Water! thy virtues none will dare deny;
Posterity will humbly bare its head,
When thou in rain descendest from the sky.
The workman, when his daily labour's done—
Eager alike for luxury and rest—
Will to his water-butt impatient run,
The spigot turn—lie under—and be blest!
Eager alike for luxury and rest—
Will to his water-butt impatient run,
The spigot turn—lie under—and be blest!
No longer to the couch will idlers fly,
When the siesta they would fain invite;
But 'neath the pump will indolently lie
While lackeys work away with all their might,
When the siesta they would fain invite;
But 'neath the pump will indolently lie
While lackeys work away with all their might,
No more will builders try their utmost skill,
As now, to render houses waterproof;
But all their tiles in little holes they'll drill,
And make a shower-bath in every roof.
As now, to render houses waterproof;
But all their tiles in little holes they'll drill,
And make a shower-bath in every roof.
Economists will search in every street
For friendly water-spouts supplied with rain;
Where, gratis, they may with the luxury meet—
Ay, luxury!—of water on the brain.
For friendly water-spouts supplied with rain;
Where, gratis, they may with the luxury meet—
Ay, luxury!—of water on the brain.
No more shall watering-pots their blessings shed
Alone on vegetables, fruit, and flowers;
But man, reclining on a water-bed,
Shall be refreshed by gently falling showers.
Alone on vegetables, fruit, and flowers;
But man, reclining on a water-bed,
Shall be refreshed by gently falling showers.
Umbrellas, also, will be only known
By specimens in old museums seen,
Which, as barbaric relics, will be shown
Of customs curious that once had been.
By specimens in old museums seen,
Which, as barbaric relics, will be shown
Of customs curious that once had been.
And when 'tis read in history's faithful page,
That pickpockets were pumped on, now and then,
Our children will despise a foolish age,
That so much honoured such unworthy men.
That pickpockets were pumped on, now and then,
Our children will despise a foolish age,
That so much honoured such unworthy men.