ON OXFORD ALE. BY A GENTLEMAN OF TRINITY COLL. ------------_Mea nec Falernæ Temperant vites, neque Formiani Pocula colles._ HORAT. Balm of my cares, sweet solace of my toils, Hail JUICE benignant! O'er the costly cups Of riot-stirring wine, unwholsome draught, Let Pride's loose sons prolong the wasteful night; My sober ev'ning let the tankard bless, With toast embrown'd, and fragrant nutmeg fraught, While the rich draught with oft-repeated whiffs Tobacco mild improves. Divine repast! Where no crude surfeit, or intemperate joys Of lawless Bacchus reign; but o'er my soul A Calm Lethean creeps; in drowsy trance Each thought subsides, and sweet oblivion wraps My peaceful brain, as if the leaden rod Of magic Morpheus o'er mine eyes had shed Its opiate influence. What tho' sore ills Oppress, dire want of chill-dispelling coals Or chearful candle, (save the make-weight's gleam Haply remaining) heart-rejoicing ALE Chears the sad scene, and every want supplies. Meantime, not mindless of the daily task Of Tutor sage, upon the learned leaves Of deep SMIGLECIUS much I meditate; While ALE inspires, and lends its kindred aid, The thought-perplexing labour to pursue, Sweet Helicon of Logic! But if friends Congenial call me from the toilsome page, To pot-house I repair, the sacred haunt, Where ALE, thy votaries in full resort, Hold rites nocturnal. In capacious chair Of monumental oak and antique mould, That long has stood the rage of conquering years Inviolate, (nor in more ample chair Smoaks rosy Justice, when th' important cause, Whether of hen-roost, or of mirthful rape, In all the majesty of paunch he tries) Studious of ease, and provident, I place My gladsome limbs; while in repeated round Returns replenish'd, the successive cup, And the brisk fire conspires to genial joy: While haply, to relieve the ling'ring hours In innocent delight, amusive Putt On smooth joint-stool in emblematic play The vain vicissitudes of fortune shews. Nor reck'ning, name tremendous, me disturbs, Nor, call'd for, chills my breast with sudden fear; While on the wonted door, expressive mark, The frequent penny stands describ'd to view, In snowy characters and graceful row.---- Hail, TICKING! surest guardian of distress! Beneath thy shelter pennyless I quaff The chearful cup, nor hear with hopeless heart New oysters cry'd:--tho' much the poet's friend, Ne'er yet attempted in poetic strain, Accept this tribute of poetic praise!---- Nor Proctor thrice with vocal heel alarms Our joys secure, nor deigns the lowly roof Of pot-house snug to visit: wiser he The splendid tavern haunts, or coffee-house Of JAMES or JUGGINS, where the grateful breath Of loath'd tobacco ne'er diffus'd its balm;