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Poem
October 11, 1836
Rutland Herald
Rutland, Rutland County, Vermont
What is this article about?
The poem 'The Drunkard's Train' from the Working Herald depicts the downward spiral of alcoholism through ironic toasts to peace, reason's overthrow, bestiality, crime, loss of fame, family shame, poverty, broken hearts, and death, warning against the perils of drink.
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POETRY.
THE DRUNKARD'S TRAIN
The following vivid picture of the miseries in the drunkard's train is from the Working Herald. How many alas can find their own dark career reflected therein! To the eye of reason alone it would seem that if the slave to strong drink could be blessed with one, even one, calm sober moment of reflection, he would dash the deceitful bowl forever from his lips.
Fill the cup, the bowl, the glass,
With wine and separate high
And we will drink while round they pass,
To—Peace and Mercy
Pass quickly round the draught again,
And drain the goblet low
And drink in revelry swelling strain
To Reason's Overthrow
Fill, fill again—fill higher still
The glass more firmly press—
Fill up and drink, and drink and fill
To—Human bestiality.
Push round, push round in quickest time
The lowest drop be spent
In one loud round to—Guilt and Crime."
And—Crime's just punishment."
Fill, fill again, fill to the brim.
To—Loss of honest Fame!
Yea, deeper quaff—while now we drink
—Our wives, our children's shame
Push round, push round! with loudest cheers.
Of mirth and revelry
We drink to—Woman's nights sad tears,
And children's poverty."
Fill up the glass—Fill yet more high.
Thus soon ne'er let us part—
Stop not for woman's seat and sigh.
Give—Beauty’s broken heart
Once more, while power does yet remain.
Can with its latest breath
Drink!" To ourselves—Decease and pain
And infamy and death
THE DRUNKARD'S TRAIN
The following vivid picture of the miseries in the drunkard's train is from the Working Herald. How many alas can find their own dark career reflected therein! To the eye of reason alone it would seem that if the slave to strong drink could be blessed with one, even one, calm sober moment of reflection, he would dash the deceitful bowl forever from his lips.
Fill the cup, the bowl, the glass,
With wine and separate high
And we will drink while round they pass,
To—Peace and Mercy
Pass quickly round the draught again,
And drain the goblet low
And drink in revelry swelling strain
To Reason's Overthrow
Fill, fill again—fill higher still
The glass more firmly press—
Fill up and drink, and drink and fill
To—Human bestiality.
Push round, push round in quickest time
The lowest drop be spent
In one loud round to—Guilt and Crime."
And—Crime's just punishment."
Fill, fill again, fill to the brim.
To—Loss of honest Fame!
Yea, deeper quaff—while now we drink
—Our wives, our children's shame
Push round, push round! with loudest cheers.
Of mirth and revelry
We drink to—Woman's nights sad tears,
And children's poverty."
Fill up the glass—Fill yet more high.
Thus soon ne'er let us part—
Stop not for woman's seat and sigh.
Give—Beauty’s broken heart
Once more, while power does yet remain.
Can with its latest breath
Drink!" To ourselves—Decease and pain
And infamy and death
What sub-type of article is it?
Satire
Song
What themes does it cover?
Temperance Moderation
Moral Virtue
Satire Society
What keywords are associated?
Drunkard
Temperance
Alcoholism
Vice
Family Shame
Poverty
Death
Poem Details
Title
The Drunkard's Train
Subject
Miseries In The Drunkard's Train
Form / Style
Rhymed Stanzas With Ironic Toasts
Key Lines
Fill The Cup, The Bowl, The Glass,
With Wine And Separate High
And We Will Drink While Round They Pass,
To—Peace And Mercy
Fill, Fill Again—Fill Higher Still
The Glass More Firmly Press—
Fill Up And Drink, And Drink And Fill
To—Human Bestiality.
We Drink To—Woman's Nights Sad Tears,
And Children's Poverty.
Drink!" To Ourselves—Decease And Pain
And Infamy And Death