Classic Poem

Act. 3. Sce. I.

Philotas, Stratocles, Archippus, Leocrates, Molops, in drinking Chaplets, after the Grecian manner. Phil .

Set a watch at the doore, to keepe out sleepe;
He's mortall that offers to betray so much weaknes
As to winke. Here Archippus . Arch .
May not a man winke without mortality,
When he lets it goe downe? Here Stratocles . Phil .
I doe state winking in that case divine. Str .
Come thou uneven lumpe, thou heape of sinnes in proofe; we will liquor thy Keyes, open thy Cages, and give thy meager Tenants a Play day, Raskall. Bring the Jarres nearer. As I hope for fortune, I thinke my soule will passe into a frogge. Now for a hundred Throats; to thee Molops . Mol .
You Grecians I thinke have sponges in your mawes; 'tis but setting your hands to your sides, and squeezing your selves, and presently you drinke as much as before. Leoc .
Off with thy Cup Landlord, and talke not; wee learn'd it from the Teat, foole. Mol .
Have at thee, Archippus . Arch .
I doe not like these healths at randome; let's have a sober methodicall order for a while. Phil .
What? shall we drinke by dice then, and let fortune name the heyre to the Cup? Str .
Or shall we drinke our Mistresses names, and soake it Alphabetically? Leoc .
If we drinke names, let not the Letters passe for single ones, but as they would in number: I doe pronounce Alpha no letter till it begin to multiply. Mol .
I never thought Drinking such a Mystery before; a blockhead can't be drunke, I see. Phil .
Right; shallow braines can ne're attaine to't; that makes your fooles, and your old governing Philosophers continue so sober still. The veget Artist, and the vigorous Poët, whose braines are full and forging still, will streight get a pleasant madnesse from that that will but warme those colder Rheumaticke Sages, whose noses alwayes drop like Still-snoutes. Str .
The noblest drinking methinkes is the Postures. Arch .
Let's have 'em. Leo .
A match. Phil .
Bring the Pots in play. But where's the wenches, and the Musicke you promis'd us, good Molops Mol .
For wenches, the Towne will not yeeld any at this time; and I durst not venture my single wife amongst you all. For Fidlers. I have provided them, they stand ready without. Leoc .
Call 'em in sweet Molops . Strat .
Well, what shall those Raskalls play, whiles we drinke the Postures? Phil .
The Battle by all meanes. Str .
Strike up the Battle then. Thinke your selves all in service now, and doe as I doe.
Take your Bowes Gent: and make a stand.
Right! draw your shafts now, & nock 'em.
Very good! now smooth your feathers.
Well done! Present, and take ayme.
Here's to thee Leocrates . Leoc .
Have towards thee Philotas . Phil .
To thee Archippus . Arch .
Here Molops . Mol .
Have at you Fidlers. Str .
Now draw your Bowes and let loose all. Mol .
The other charge, good fellow Souldiers. Phil .
Let's have a Song betweene, and then have at you. Leoc .
Fidlers, employ your Throats and sing awhile; you shall drinke with 'em after. Str .
Sing that which I made in the Prison; 'tis seasonable enough.
Song.

Now, now, the Sunne is fled
Downe into Tethys bed,
Ceasing his solemne course awhile.
What then?
'Tis not to sleepe, but be
Merry all night, as we;
Gods can be mad sometimes, as well as men. Cho:
Then laugh we, and quaffe we, untill our rich noses Grow red, and contest with our Chaplets of Roses.
If he be fled, whence may
We have a second day,
That shall not set till we command?
Here see
A Day that does arise
Like his, but with more eyes,
And warmes us with a better fire, than hee.
Cho: Then laugh we, &c
Thus then we chase the night
With these true floods of light,
This Lesbian wine, which with it's sparkling streams,
Darting diviner Graces,
Cast's Glories round our Faces,
And dulls the Tapers with Majestique Beames.
Cho: Then laugh we, &c Str .
Well said! now the other charge to the honour of Cratander . Phil .
I feele a rumbling in my head; as if the Cyclops were forging Thunder in my Braines: But no matter, give it me: our ancient Orpheus sayes it, Perpetuall drunkennesse is the reward of Vertue.