Classic Poem

To a Friend,

Inviting him to a meeting upon promise.

May you drinke beare, or that adult'rate wine
Which makes the zeale of Amsterdam divine;
If you make breach of promise. I have now
So rich a Sacke, that even your selfe will bow
T'adore my Genius . Of this wine should Prynne
Drinke but a plenteous glasse, he would beginne
A health to Shakespeares ghost. But you may bring
Some excuse forth, and answer me the King
To day will give you audience, or that on
Affaires of state, you and some serious Don
Are to resolve; or else perhaps you'le sin
So farre, as to leave word y'are not within.
 The least of these, will make me onely thinke
Him subtle, who can in his closet drinke
Drunke even alone, and thus made wise create
As dangerous plots as the Low Countrey state,
Projecting for such baits, as shall draw ore
To Holland , all the Herrings from our shore.
 But y'are too full of candor: and I know
Will sooner stones at Salis'bury casements throw,
Or buy up for the silenc'd Levits, all
The rich impropriations, then let pall
So pure Canary, and breake such an oath:
Since charity is sinn'd against in both.
 Come therefore blest even in the Lollards zeale,
Who canst with conscience safe, 'fore hen and veale
Say grace in Latine; while I faintly sing
A Penitentiall verse in oyle and Ling.
Come then, and bring with you prepar'd for fight,
Vnmixt Canary, Heaven send both prove right!
This I am sure: My sacke will disingage
All humane thoughts, inspire so high a rage,
That Hypocrene shall henceforth Poets lacke,
Since more Enthusiasmes are in my sacke.
 Heightned with which, my raptures shall commend,
 How good Castara is, how deare my friend.

To a Friend,

Inviting him to a meeting upon promise.

May you drinke beare, or that adult'rate wine
Which makes the zeale of Amsterdam divine;
If you make breach of promise. I have now
So rich a Sacke, that even your selfe will bow
T'adore my Genius . Of this wine should Prynne
Drinke but a plenteous glasse, he would beginne
A health to Shakespeares ghost. But you may bring
Some excuse forth, and answer me the King
To day will give you audience, or that on
Affaires of state, you and some serious Don
Are to resolve; or else perhaps you'le sin
So farre, as to leave word y'are not within.
 The least of these, will make me onely thinke
Him subtle, who can in his closet drinke
Drunke even alone, and thus made wise create
As dangerous plots as the Low Countrey state,
Projecting for such baits, as shall draw ore
To Holland , all the Herrings from our shore.
 But y'are too full of candor: and I know
Will sooner stones at Salis'bury casements throw,
Or buy up for the silenc'd Levits, all
The rich impropriations, then let pall
So pure Canary, and breake such an oath:
Since charity is sinn'd against in both.
 Come therefore blest even in the Lollards zeale,
Who canst with conscience safe, 'fore hen and veale
Say grace in Latine; while I faintly sing
A Penitentiall verse in oyle and Ling.
Come then, and bring with you prepar'd for fight,
Vnmixt Canary, Heaven send both prove right!
This I am sure: My sacke will disingage
All humane thoughts, inspire so high a rage,
That Hypocrene shall henceforth Poets lacke,
Since more Enthusiasmes are in my sacke.
 Heightned with which, my raptures shall commend,
 How good Castara is, how deare my friend.