When He Would Have His Verses Read

In sober mornings do thou not

The holy incantation of a verse;

But when that men have both well drunk, and fed,

Let my enchantments then be sung, or read.

When laurel spurts i' th' fire, and when the

Smiles to itself, and gilds the roof with mirth;

When up the thyrse is raised, and when the

Of sacred orgies flies: "A round, a round;"When the rose reigns, and locks with ointments shine,

Let rigid Cato read these lines of mine.