← Table of contents
The Book of Ballads

Part 2 — JUPITER AND THE INDIAN ALE

Reading edition

"Take away this clammy nectar!" Said the king of gods and men; "Never at Olympus' table Let that trash be served again.

Ho, Lyæus, thou, the beery! Quick—invent some other drink; Or, in a brace of shakes, thou standest On Cocytus' sulphury brink!"

Terror shook the limbs of Bacchus, Paly grew his pimpled nose, And already in his rearward Felt he Jove's tremendous toes; When a bright idea struck him— "Dash my thyrsus! I'll be bail— For you never were in India— That you know not HODGSON'S ALE!"

"Bring it!" quoth the Cloud-compeller; And the wine-god brought the beer— "Port and claret are like water To the noble stuff that's here!"

And Saturnius drank and nodded, Winking with his lightning eyes, And amidst the constellations Did the star of HODGSON rise!

241m
241m

Original Size

Explore with AITake your curiosity a little further.

Reading settings