With You, whom Reason taught to think, I could, for ages, sit and drink: But with the fool, the sot, the ass, I haste to take the parting glass. The luckless wight, that still delays His draught of joys to future days, Delays too long--for then, alas! Old age steps up, and--breaks the glass! The nymph, who boasts no borrowed charms, Whose sprightly wit my fancy warms; What tho' she tends this country inn, And mixes wine, and deals out gin? With such a kind, obliging lass I sigh, to take the parting glass. With him, who always talks of gain, (Dull Momus, of the plodding train)-- The wretch, who thrives by others' woes, And carries grief where'er he goes:-- With people of this knavish class The first is still my parting glass. With those that drink before they dine-- With him that apes the grunting swine, Who fills his page with low abuse, And strives to act the gabbling goose Turned out by fate to feed on grass-- Boy, give me quick, the parting glass. The man, whose friendship is sincere, Who knows no guilt, and feels no fear:-- It would require a heart of brass With him to take the parting glass! With him, who quaffs his pot of ale; Who holds to all an even scale; Who hates a knave, in each disguise, And fears him not--whate'er his size-- With him, well pleased my days to pass, May heaven forbid the Parting Glass! [51] Published in the _National Gazette_, May 10, 1790. Text from the 1809 edition. A WARNING TO AMERICA[52] Removed from Europe's feuds, a hateful scene (Thank heaven, such wastes of ocean roll between) Where tyrant kings in bloody schemes combine, And each forbodes in tears, Man is no longer mine! Glad we recall the Day that bade us first Spurn at their power, and shun their wars accurst; Pitted and gaffed no more for England's glory Nor made the tag-rag-bobtail of their story. Something still wrong in every system lurks, Something imperfect haunts all human works-- Wars must be hatched, unthinking men to fleece, Or we, this day, had been in perfect peace, With double bolts our Janus' temple shut, Nor terror reigned through each back-woods-man's hut, No rattling drums assailed the peasant's ear Nor Indian yells disturbed our sad frontier, Nor gallant chiefs, 'gainst Indian hosts combined Scaped from the trap--to leave their tails behind.