'Come in, my friends, here shall ye dine and lie; And here shall breakfast and shall dine again, And sup and breakfast on (if ye comply), For I have still some dozens of Champaign.'[308] Witty Mat Prior, poet and diplomatist, was always ready to manifest his contempt for the heavy fluid with which the Methuen treaty deluged our island in place of the light fresh-tasting wines of France that had cheered and inspired his earlier sallies. Writing whilst in custody on a charge of treason between 1715 and 1717, and referring to the mind under the name of Alma, he tells us how 'By nerves about our palate placed, She likewise judges of the taste, Else (dismal thought!) our warlike men Might drink thick Port for fine Champagne.'[309] He likewise inculcates a lesson of philosophy, especially suited to his own situation at that moment, when he remarks of fortune: 'I know we must both fortunes try, And bear our evils, wet or dry. Yet, let the goddess smile or frown, Bread we shall eat, or white or brown; And in a cottage or a court Drink fine Champagne or muddled Port.'[310] There were many, no doubt, ready to emulate the hero of one of his minor pieces, and 'from this world to retreat As full of Champagne as an egg's full of meat.'[311] Shenstone gives expression to much the same sentiment as Prior when he found 'his warmest welcome at an inn,' and wrote on the window-pane at Henley: ''Tis here with boundless power I reign, And every health which I begin Converts dull Port to bright Champagne; Such freedom crowns it at an inn.'[312] [Illustration] Vanbrugh, whose writings were of a decidedly lighter character than the edifices he erected, probably had recourse to Champagne to assist him in the composition of the former, and neglected it when planning the designs for the latter. These, indeed, would seem to have been conceived under the influence of some such 'heavy muddy stuff' as the 'Norfolk nog,' which Lady Headpiece reproaches her husband for allowing their son and heir to indulge in, saying: 'Well, I wonder, Sir Francis, you will encourage that lad to swill such beastly lubberly liquor. If it were Burgundy or Champaign, something might be said for't; they'd perhaps give him some art and spirit.'[313]