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SOULS of poets dead and gone, | |
What Elysium have ye known, | |
Happy field or mossy cavern, | |
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern? | |
Have ye tippled drink more fine | 5 |
Than mine hosts Canary wine? | |
Or are fruits of Paradise | |
Sweeter than those dainty pies | |
Of venison? O generous food! | |
Drest as though bold Robin Hood | 10 |
Would, with his maid Marian, | |
Sup and bowse from horn and can. | |
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I have heard that on a day | |
Mine hosts sign-board flew away, | |
Nobody knew whither, till | 15 |
An astrologers old quill | |
To a sheepskin gave the story, | |
Said he saw you in your glory, | |
Underneath a new old-sign | |
Sipping beverage divine, | 20 |
And pledging with contented smack | |
The Mermaid in the Zodiac. | |
|
Souls of poets dead and gone, | |
What Elysium have ye known, | |
Happy field or mossy cavern, | 25 |
Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern? | |
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