325. Drinking Song. Richard Brinsley Sheridan. 1909-14. English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald. The Harvard Classics

English Poetry II: From Collins to Fitzgerald.
The Harvard Classics. 1909–14.

325. Drinking Song

Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816)


HERE’S to the maiden of bashful fifteen,
Here’s to the widow of fifty;
Here’s to the flaunting extravagant quean,
And here’s to the housewife that’s thrifty;

Chorus. Let the toast pass,	5
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.

Here’s to the charmer, whose dimples we prize,
And now to the maid who has none, sir,
Here’s to the girl with a pair of blue eyes,	10
And here’s to the nymph with but one, sir.
Let the toast pass, etc.

Here’s to the maid with a bosom of snow,
And to her that’s as brown as a berry;
Here’s to the wife with a face full of woe,	15
And now to the girl that is merry:
Let the toast pass, etc.

For let’em be clumsy, or let’em be slim,
Young or ancient, I care not a feather;
So fill a pint bumper quite up to the brim,	20
And let us e’en toast them together.

Chorus. Let the toast pass,
Drink to the lass,
I’ll warrant she’ll prove an excuse for the glass.