Robert Herrick

“ The pheasant, partridge, gotwit, reeve, ruff, rail,
The cock, the curlew and the quail,
These and thy choicest viands do extend
Their taste unto the lower end
Of thy glad table: not a dish more known
To thee than unto anyone.
But as thy meat so thy immortal wine
Makes the smirk face of each to shine
And spring fresh rosebuds, while the salt, the wit,
Flows from the wine and graces it ”

“ Which tries and counter-stands the shock
And ram of time, and by vexation grows
The stronger; virtue dies when foes
Are wanting to her exercise, but great
And large she spreads by dust and sweat. ”

“ Of ancient honesty may boast
It keeps a growth in thee, and so will run
A course in thy fame's pledge, thy son.
Thus, like a Roman tribune, thou thy gate
Early sets ope to feast and late;
Keeping no currish waiter to affright
With blasting eye the appetite,
Which fain would waste upon thy cates, but that
The trencher-creature marketh what
Best and more suppling piece he cuts, and by
Some private pinch tells danger's nigh ”