Upon his drinking a bowl

Vulcan contrive me such a Cup, 
As Nestor us'd of old;
Shew all thy skill to trim it up, 
Damask it round with Gold.

Make it so large, that fill'd with Sack,
Up to the swelling brim,
Vast Toasts, on the delicious Lake,
Like Ships at Sea may swim.

Engrave no Battail on his Cheek,
With War, I've nought to do;
I'm none of those that took Mastrich,
Nor Yarwouth Leager knew.

Let it no name of Planets tell.
Fixt Stars, or Constellations;
For I am no Sir Sydrophell,
Nor none of his Relations.

But carve thereon a spreading Vine,
Then add Two lovely Boys;
Their Limbs in Amorous folds intwine,
The Type of future joys.

Cupid, and Bacchus, my Saints are,
May drink, and Love, still reign,
With Wine, I wash away my cares,
And then to Cunt again.

Submitted by David K. Smythe

Authorship

• by John Wilmot, Earl of Rochester (1647 - 1680), "Upon his drinking a bowl", written 1673, first published 1680 [ author's text not yet checked against a primary source]

• a text in French (Français) by Pierre de Ronsard (1524 - 1585) [text unavailable] FRE
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• a text in Greek (Ελληνικά) by Anacreon (c582BCE - c485BCE), no title [text unavailable]
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Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)

[ None yet in the database ]

Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:

• Also set in English, [adaptation] by Roger Quilter.
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Text added to the website between May 1995 and September 2003.

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