Unicuique proprium dat natura donum.
Ego versus faciens vinum bibo bonum,
Et quod habent melius dolia cauponum
Tale vinum generat copiam sermonum.

Tales versus facio quale vinum bibo;
Nihil possum scribere nisi sumpto cibo,
Nihil valet penitùs quod jejunus scribo,
Nasonem post calices carmine præibo.

Mihi nunquam spiritus prophetiæ datur
Nisi tunc cum fuerit venter benè satur;
Cum in arce cerebri Bacchus dominatur,
In me Phoebus irruit ac miranda fatur.

II.

Translation of the same, said to have been made by Mr. Derby, of Fordingbridge, Hampshire.

(Ibid. pp. 101-2.)

I'm resolv'd in a tavern with honour to die ;

At my mouth place a full flowing bowl, That angels, while round me they hover, may cry, "Peace, O God, peace to this jolly soul."

By toping, the mind with fresh vigour is fraught,
The heart too soars up to the skies;

Give me wine that's unmixed-not the watery draught
Which the president's butler supplies.

To each man his gift nature gives to enjoy,
To pretend to write well is a jest

When I'm hungry; I yield, overcome by a boy;
And a fast like the grave I detest.

My verses all taste of the wine that I stow;
While I'm empty my muse is unkind;

But with bumpers enliven'd how sweet does she flow,
Fam'd Ovid I leave far behind.

Till my belly's well fill'd, truths I ne'er can divine; But when Bacchus presides in my pate,

The strong impulse I feel of the great god of rhyme, And wonderful things I relate.

III.

FESTIVE SONG,

About the Twelfth Century.

Citing Petri Andreæ Canonherii De admirandis vini virtutibus, Antwerp, 1627, p. 501.

(Ibid. pp. 102-3.)

QUICUNQUE Vult esse frater,

Bibat bis, ter, et quater:

Bibat semel, et secundo,

Donec nihil sit in fundo.

Bibat hera, bibat herus,
Ad bibendum nemo serus:

Bibat iste, bibat illa,

Bibat servus cum ancillâ.
Et pro Rege, et pro Papâ
Bibe vinum sine aquâ.
Et pro Papâ, et pro Rege:
Bibe vinum sine lege:

Hæc una est lex Bacchica,

Bibentium spes unica.

IV.

AN ANGLO-NORMAN DRINKING SONG.

(Reliquiæ Antiq. vol. ii, pp. 168-9. From MS. Reg. 16, E. viii., fol. 103, ro.-Early in the thirteenth Century.)

Letabundus.

OR hi parra,

La cerveyse nos chauntera,

Alleluia!

Qui que aukes en beyt,

Si tel seyt com estre doit,

Res miranda!

Bevez quant l'avez en poin,

Ben est droit, car mut est loing

Sol de stella.

Bevez bien & bevez bel

Il vos vendra del tonel,

Semper clara.

Bevez bel & bevez bien

Vos le vostre & jo le mien,

Pari forma.

V.

ANGLO-NORMAN CAROL.

(Wright's Carols, p. 1, from MS. Bib. Reg. 16, E viii., and in Douce's Illustrations of Shakespeare.)

Car l'em nus dit que en cest hostel

Soleit tenir sa feste anuel

Ahi, cest iur.

Deu doint a tuz icels joie d'amurs
Qui a danz Noel ferunt honors !

Seignors jo vus dis por veir,

Ke danz Noel ne velt aveir

Si joie non ;

E repleni sa maison,

De payn, de char, e de peison,

Por faire honor,

Deu doint a tuz ces joie d'amur!

Seignors, il est crie en l'ost,

Que cil qui despent bien, e tost,

E largement;

E fet les granz honors sovent,

Deu li duble quanque il despent

Por faire honor

Deu doint a..