Merrie England in the Olden Time, Vol. 2Daniel, George
History
Merrie England in the Olden Time, Vol. 2
Daniel, George
England -- Social life and customs
“Where unfledg'd actors learn to laugh and cry,
Where infant punks their tender voices try,
And little Maximins the Gods defy,”
are difficulties that none but dramatic politicians of experience and
discretion can surmount; and he advised every author to whom appetite
offered a more powerful stimulant than genius, to make haste and possess
himself of the important secret.
Mine host of the Ram now entered with a curiously compounded mug of mum,
in which the great Tragedian (who was not particular from Clos Vougeot
to Old Tom) drank the Stage that goes with and without wheels. Mr.
Bosky, who had got scent of our “Whereabouts,” arrived in time to
propose the memory of Shakspere, and Mr. Bubangrub's longevity; Uncle
Timothy gave Bonassus Bigstick and Bartlemy Fair; and Pegasus toasted
the Tragic Muse and Teresa Tumbletuzzy. The Tragedian unbent by degrees;
his adust countenance warmed into flesh and blood, and he grew facetious
and festive.
“Bubangrub, my Brother of the Sun and Moon! my Nutmeg of delight! give
us a song!”
The call was a command.
To pitch the tune Pegasus twanged from his Jew's-harp a chord, and
apologizing for being “a little ropy,” began, in a voice between a
whistle and a wheeze,
Ye snuff-takers of England
Who sniff your pinch at ease,
How very seldom you enjoy
The pleasures of a sneeze!
Give ear unto us smoking gents *
And we will plainly shew
All the joys, my brave boys!
When we a cloud do blow.
* In 1585, the English first saw pipes made of clay, among
the native Indians of Virginia; which was at that time
discovered by Richard Greenville. Soon after they fabricated
the first clay tobacco-pipes in Europe.
In 1604, James the First endeavoured, by means of heavy
imposts, to abolish the use of tobacco; and, in 1619, wrote
his
“Counterblast” against what he accounted a noxious weed, and
ordered that no planter in Virginia should cultivate more
than one hundred pounds.
In 1610, the smoking of tobacco was known at Constantinople.
To render the custom ridiculous, a Turk, who had been found
smoking, was conducted about the streets with a pipe
transfixed through his nose! And in 1653, when smoking
tobacco was first introduced into the Canton of Appenzell,
in Switzerland, the children ran after the Smokers in the
streets; the Council likewise punished them, and ordered the
innkeepers to inform against such as should smoke in their
houses.--In 1724, Pope Benedict XIV. revoked the bull of
excommunication, published by Innocent, because he himself
had acquired the habit of taking snuff!
The snuffer, buffer! raps his mull,
His nose it cries out “Snuff!”
The Smoker, Joker! puffs his full
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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