William Croswell

There is a beautiful rill in Barbary received into a large basin, which bears a name signifying “Drink and Away,” from the great danger of meeting with rogues and assassins.—Dr SHAW.

UP! pilgrim and rover,

Redouble thy haste!

Nor rest thee till over

Life’s wearisome waste.

Ere the wild forest ranger

Thy footsteps betray

To trouble and danger,—

Oh drink and away!

Here lurks the dark savage,

By night and by day,

To rob and to ravage,

Nor scruples to slay.

He waits for the slaughter:

The blood of his prey

Shall stain the still water,—

Then drink and away!

With toil though thou languish,

The mandate obey,

Spur on, though in anguish,

There ’s death in delay!

No blood-hound, want-wasted,

Is fiercer than they:—

Pass by it untasted—

Or drink and away!

Though sore be the trial,

Thy God is thy stay,

Though deep the denial,

Yield not in dismay,

But wrapt in high vision,

Look on to the day

When the fountains elysian

Thy thirst shall allay.

There shalt thou for ever

Enjoy thy repose

Where life’s gentle river

Eternally flows,

Yea, there shalt thou rest thee

For ever and aye,

With none to molest thee—

Then, drink and away.

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