Lines on The Mermaid Tavern

         Souls of Poets dead and gone,
     What Elysium have ye known,
     Happy field or mossy cavern,
     Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?
     Have ye tippled drink more fine
     Than mine host's Canary wine?
     Or are fruits of Paradise
     Sweeter than those dainty pies
     Of venison? O generous food!
     Drest as though bold Robin Hood
     Would, with his maid Marian,
     Sup and bowse from horn and can.

         I have heard that on a day
     Mine host's sign-board flew away,
     Nobody knew whither, till
     An astrologer's old quill
     To a sheepskin gave the story,
     Said he saw you in your glory,
     Underneath a new old sign
     Sipping beverage divine,
     And pledging with contented smack
     The Mermaid in the Zodiac.

         Souls of Poets dead and gone,
     What Elysium have ye known,
     Happy field or mossy cavern,
     Choicer than the Mermaid Tavern?