The delights of the bottle

The delights of the bottle and the charms of good wine,

To the power and pleasures of love must resign:

Though the night in the joys of good drinking be past,

The debauches but till the next morning will last.

But love's great debauch is more lasting and strong;

For that often lasts a man all his life long.

Love and wine are the bonds that fasten us all,

The world but for these to confusuion would fall;

Were it not for the pleasure of love and good wine,

Mankind for each trifle their lives would resign:

They'd not value dull life, nor would live without thinking,

Nor would kings rule the world, but for love and good drinking.