Come then! and while the slow icicle hangs
At the stiffe thatch, and Winter's frosty pangs
Benumme the year, blithe-as of old-let us
Midst noise and war, of peace and mirth discusse.
This portion thou wert born for: why should we
Vex at the time's ridiculous miserie?

An age that thus hath fooled itself, and will—
Spite of thy teeth and mine-persist so still.
Let's sit then at this fire; and, while we steal
A revell in the town, let others seal,

Purchase or cheat, and who can,
let them pay,
Till those black deeds bring on the darksome day.
Innocent spenders we! a better use

Shall wear out our short lease, and leave th' obtuse
They and their bags at best
We care for a jest.

Henry Vaughan.

Rout to their husks.
Have cares in earnest.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

WINTER AND CHRISTMAS

FRIENDS AND THE FIRE

PAGE

2

3

ON THE COLLAR OF

DINGLEY'S LAP-DOG

ISLET THE DACHS
GEIST'S GRAVE.

TO MY CAT

TO A CAT

BEN INVITES A FRIEND

AD MINISTRAM

ROAST PIG

SIR PETER

THE POPE

MRS.

THE TABLE AND THE BINN

Ben Jonson .

W. M. Thackeray.

A SALAD

FISH

THE BALLAD OF BOUILLABAISSE
OLD VEUVE

To R. A. M. S.
CLARET

CANDLE-LIGHT

BALLADE OF THE BOOKWORM

MY BOOKS

TO LIVE MERRILY

ODE ON THE POETS.

THE POET

READING.

.

John Keats

AN AGED ANd a Great WINE George Meredith

ANOTHER INVITATION

Anon

J. Swift

George Meredith

Matthew Arnold

Graham R. Tomson

A. C. Swinburne .

Charles Lamb

Sydney Smith

"MIDNIGHT DARLINGS"

Charles Lamb

Andrew Lang

Austin Dobson

.

R. Herrick

J. Keats

Sir Philip Sidney.

Charles Lamb

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