Laudator Temporis Acti

Charles Cotton (1630-1687), "Anacreontick," in his Poems on Several Occasions (London: Printed for Tho. Bassett..., 1689), pp. 88-89:

Fill a Boul of lusty Wine,
Briskest Daughter of the Vine;
Fill't untill it Sea-like flow,
That my cheek may once more glow.
I am fifty Winters old,
Bloud then stagnates and grows cold,
And when Youthfull heat decays,
We must help it by these ways.
Wine breeds Mirth, and Mirth imparts
Heat and Courage to our hearts,
Which in old men else are lead,
And not warm'd would soon be dead.

Now I'm sprightly, fill agen,
Stop not though they mount to ten;
Though I stagger do not spare,
'Tis to rock and still my Ear;
Though I stammer 'tis no matter,
I should doe the same with water;
When I belch, I am but trying
How much better 'tis than sighing;
If a tear spring in mine eye,
'Tis for joy not grief I cry:
This is living without thinking.
These are the effects of drinking.

Fill a main, (Boy) fill a main,
Whilst I drink I feel no pain;
Gout or Palsie I have none,
Hang the Chollick and the Stone;
I methinks grow young again,
New bloud springs in ev'ry vein;
And supply it (Sirrah) still,
Whilst I drink you sure may fill:
If I nod, Boy, rouse me up
With a bigger fuller Cup;
But when that, Boy, will not doe,
Faith e'en let me then goe to,
For 'tis better far to lie
Down to sleep than down to dye.