But then to the learned say we again, If life’s a smoke as they maintain; If life’s a vapour without doubt, When a man does die, He should not cry, That his glass is run but his pipe is out. But whether we smoke or whether we sing, Let us be loyal and remember the King, Let him live, and let his foes vanish thus, thus, thus, Like, like a pipe, like a pipe of Spanish, thus, thus, thus, A pipe of Spanish! From “_Bacchus and Venus_.” 1737. ―――― INVOCATION TO TOBACCO. Weed of the strange power, weed of the earth, Killer of dulness――parent of mirth; Come in the sad hour, come in the gay, Appear in the night, or in the day: Still thou art welcome as June’s blooming rose, Joy of the palate, delight of the nose. Weed of the green field, weed of the wild, Foster’d in freedom, America’s child; Come in Virginia, come in Havannah, Friend of the universe, sweeter than manna: Still thou art welcome, rich, fragrant and ripe. Pride of the tube-case, Delight of the pipe. Weed of the savage, weed of each pole, Comforting,――soothing,――Philosophy’s soul; Come in the snuff-box, Come in cigar, In Strasburgh and King’s, come from afar; Still thou art welcome, the purest, the best, Joy of earth’s millions, for ever carest. From _Nicotiana_, by Henry James Meller. London Effingham Wilson. 1832. ―――― VIRGINIA TOBACCO. Two maiden dames of sixty-two Together long had dwelt: Neither, alas! of love so true, The bitter pangs had felt. But age comes on, they say, apace, To warn us of our death, And wrinkles mar the fairest face, At last it stops our breath. One of these dames, tormented sore With that curst pang, tooth-ache, Was at a loss for such a bore What remedy to take: “I’ve heard,” thought she, “this ill to cure, A pipe is good, they say, Well then, tobacco I’ll endure, And smoke the pain away.” The pipe was lit, the tooth soon well, And she retir’d to rest―― When thus the other ancient belle Her spinster mate addressed:―― “Let me request a favour, pray”―― “I’ll do it if I can”―― “Oh! well then, love, smoke everyday, _You smell so like a man_!” From _Gimcrackiana_, or Fugitive pieces on Manchester Men and Manners. Manchester, 1833. (Attributed to John Stanley Gregson.) ―――― AN IMITATION OF MR. ABRAHAM COWLEY.