The Virtue of Drunkenness

If the beauty of truth unadorned is seen best, The man that is drunk of fair truth is the test; For liquor man's natural temper assumes, While every thing artful flies off with the fumes, The vizor of life is pull'd off by the bowl, And the face of a drunkard exhibits his soul. Then beware all who are in rascality sunk, You'll all be detected if once you get drunk.

If contempt of all danger true courage e'er gave The man that is drunk as a lion is brave; For like any Caesar, he'ell riot and storm, And talk of great feats he's two weak to perform. He'll utter big oaths, know not what to be at, Thump his head with his fist, but there's nothing in that, Then beware Braggadocias in cowardice sunk, You'll all be detected if once you get drunk.

Come on let us drink then, right conscious the bowl, In each rosy cheek tho' it light up the soul, Can nothing of worldly deformity shew, Nor prove that we ought but with honesty glow. 'Tis the ordeal of truth and of gen'rous delight, Which to keep us all honest, we'll try ev'ry night. Proving still by our acts in no meanness we're, sunk, But true honest friends, whether sober or drunk.