William Blake (1757–1827). The Poetical Works. 1908.
Songs from An Island in The MoonXI. This city and this country has brought forth many mayors
T
To sit in state, and give forth laws out of their old oak chairs,
With face as brown as any nut with drinking of strong ale—
Good English hospitality, O then it did not fail!
With stockings roll’d above their knees and shoes as black as jet;
With eating beef and drinking beer, O they were stout and hale—
Good English hospitality, O then it did not fail!
Were fit to give law to the city; each ate as much as ten:
The hungry poor enter’d the hall to eat good beef and ale—
Good English hospitality, O then it did not fail!