A PREPARATIVE to Study: OR, THE VERTVE OF Sacke.
FEtch me
Ben. Iohnsons Scull, and fill't with Sacke,
Rich as the same he dranke, when the whole packe
Of jolly Sisters pledg'd, and did agree,
It was no sinne to be as drunke as hee;
If there be any weakenesse in the wine,
Ther's vertue in the Cup to mak't divine;
This muddy drench of Ale does tast too much
Of Earth, the Malt retaines a scurvy touch
Of the dull Hynde that sow'd it, and I feare
There's heresie in hops; give
Calvyn Beere,
[Page 2]And his precise Disciple, such as thinke
There's Powder Treason in all
Spanish drinke,
Call Sack an Idoll, we will kisse the cup,
For feare their Conventicle be blowne up
With superstition; aw
[...]y with Brew-house Almes,
Whose best mirth is six-shilling Beere and Psalmes.
Let me rejoyce in sprightly Sack that can
Create a Braine even in an empty Pan,
Canary! it is thou that dost inspire
And actuate the soule with heavenly fire.
Thou that sublim'st the Genius-making wit
Scorne earth, and such as love or live by it,
Thou mak'st us Lords of Regions large and faire,
Whilst our conceipts build Castles in the Ayre.
Since fire, earth, ayre, thus thy inferiors bee,
Henceforth Ile know no Element but thee;
Thou precious
Elixar of all Grapes
Welcome, by thee our Muse begins her scapes;
I would not leave thee Sack to be with
Iove,
His
Nectar is but faign'd, but I doe prove
Thy more essentiall worth: I am (me thinkes)
In the
Exchequer now, harke how it chinks,
And doe esteeme my venerable selfe
As brave a fellow as if all that Pelfe
[Page 3]Were sure mine owne, and I have thought a way
Already how to spend it, I would pay
No debts, but fairely empty every Trunke
And change the Gold for Sack to keepe me drunke,
And so by consequence till rich
Spaines wyne
Being in my Crowne, the
Indies too were mine,
And when my Braines are once aflote (Heav'n blesse us)
I thinke my selfe a better man then
Croesus,
And now I doe conceipt my selfe a Judge,
And coughing, laugh, to see my Clyents trudge
After my Lordships Coach unto the Hall
For Justice, and am full of Law withall,
And doe become the Bench as well as hee
That fled of late for want of honestie,
But Ile be Judge no longer, though in jeast,
For feare I should be talk't with like the rest,
When I am sober: who can chuse but thinke
Me wise, that am so wary in my drinke?
Oh, admirable Sack! heer's dainty sport,
I am come backe from
Westminster to Court,
And am growne young againe, my Phtisick now
Hath left me, and my Judges graver brow
Is smooth'd, and I turn'd amorous as
May,
When she invites young Lovers forth to play
[Page 4]Upon her flowry bosome: I could winne
A Vestall now, or tempt a Saint to sinne.
Oh, for a score of Queenes! you'd laugh to see
How they would strive, which first should ravish mee.
Three Goddesses were nothing: Sack has tipt
My tongue with Charmes like those which
Paris sipt
From
Venus when she taught him how to kisse
Faire
Helen, and invite a farther blisse,
Mine is
Canary-Rhetorique, that alone
Would turne
Diana to a burning stone,
Stone with amazement burning with Loves fire,
Hard to the touch, but short in her desire,
Inestimable Sack! thou mak'st us rich,
Wise, amorous, any thing; I have an itch
To t'other Cup, and that perchance will make
Me valiant too, and quarrell for thy sake:
If I be once inflam'd against thy Foes
That would preach down thy worth in small-beer-prose,
I shall doe Miracles as bad or worse,
As he that gave the King an hundred horse:
I'me in the North already; Lasley's dead,
He that would rise, carry the King his head,
And tell him (if he aske, who kill'd the
Scot)
I knock't his Braines out with a pottle pot.
[Page 5]Out ye Rebellious Vipers; J'me come back
From thence againe, because there's no good Sack,
T'other odde Cup, and I shall be prepar'd
To snatch at Starres, and pluck downe a reward
With mine owne hands, from
Iove upon their backs
That are, or
Charles his Enemies or Sacks;
Let it be full, if I doe chance to spill
Over my study by the way, I will,
Dipping in this diviner Incke my pen,
Write my selfe sober, and fall too't agen.
FINIS.