Our Man in Europedave delacroix/ "A Pot of Good Ale!"

Our Man in Europe/dave delacroix/ "A Pot of Good Ale!" (old English song)


The Poor man will praise it, so he has good cause,
that all the year round, eats neither partridge nor quail,
but sets up his rest and makes up his feast
with a crust of brown bread and a pot of good Ale.

And the good old Cleric, whose sight grows too dark,
and ever he thinks the print is too small?
He will see every letter and SAY "service" better
if he glaze but his eyes with a pot of good Ale.

The Poet divine that cannot reach wine
because his money has many times failed?
Will hit on the vein, to make a good strain
if he but inspired with a pot of good Ale!...

(From "An antidote against melancholy", published: 1661, edited by Payne Collier/updated by Dave Delacroix, 2014)

c 2014/nov/davedelacroix/ourmanineurope/piacenza-Italy.