Stedman and Hutchinson, comps. A Library of American Literature:
An Anthology in Eleven Volumes. 1891.
Vols. IX–XI: Literature of the Republic, Part IV., 1861–1889
The Parting Glass
By Philip Freneau (17521832)T
And hopes to find some comfort here,
To rise above this earthly mass,—
The only way’s to drink his glass.
Where hopes and fears the soul engage,
And while, amid the joyous band,
Unheeded flows the measured sand,
Forget not as the moments pass,
That time shall bring the parting glass!
This is the glass I always feared,
The glass that would the rest destroy,
The farewell cup, the close of joy!
I could, for ages, sit and drink:
But with the fool, the sot, the ass,
I haste to take the parting glass.
His draught of joys to future days,
Delays too long—for then, alas!
Old age steps up, and—breaks the glass!
Whose sprightly wit my fancy warms;
What though she tends this country inn,
And mixes wine, and deals out gin?
With such a kind, obliging lass,
I sigh to take the parting glass.
(Dull Momus, of the plodding train),
The wretch, who thrives by others’ woes,
And carries grief where’er he goes:—
With people of this knavish class
The first is still my parting glass.
With him that apes the grunting swine,
Who fills his page with low abuse,
And strives to act the gabbling goose
Turned out by fate to feed on grass—
Boy, give me quick, the parting glass.
Who knows no guilt, and feels no fear;—
It would require a heart of brass
With him to take the parting glass.
Who holds to all an even scale;
Who hates a knave, in each disguise,
And fears him not—whate’er his size—
With him, well pleased my days to pass,
May heaven forbid the Parting Glass!