THE BACCHANALIANS. ____ ENCIRCL’D in a cloud of smoke, Sat the convivial
core; Like light’ning flash’d the
merry joke, The thund’ring laugh did roar; Blythe Bacchus pierc’d his fav’rite hoard, The sparkling glasses shine: “ ’Tis this,” they cry, “come, sweep the board, Which makes us all divine.” Apollo tun’d the vocal shell, With song, with catch, and glee, The sonorous hall the notes did
swell, And echoed merily; Each sordid, selfish, little
thought, For shame itself did drown, And social love, with every draught, Approv’d them for her own. “Come fill another bumper up, “And drink in Bacchus’
praise, “Who sent the kind congenial cup, “Such heavenly joys to raise.” Great Jove, quite mad to see such fun, At Bacchus ’gan
to curse, And to remind they were but
men, Sent down the fiend REMORSE. |