XXXIX.
Reading edition
TO MR. SYME.
WITH A PRESENT OF A DOZEN OF PORTER.
[The tavern where these lines were written was kept by a wandering mortal of the name of Smith; who, having visited in some capacity or other the Holy Land, put on his sign, “John Smith, from Jerusalem.” He was commonly known by the name of Jerusalem John.]
O, had the malt thy strength of mind, Or hops the flavour of thy wit, ’Twere drink for first of human kind, A gift that e’en for Syme were fit.
Jerusalem Tavern, Dumfries.