Fill up, Lind!—So.—Now in a tea-oration,
I'll show of tea and Love the true relation.
[The guests cluster round him.
It has its home in the romantic land;
Alas, Love's home is also in Romance,
Only the Sun's descendants understand
The herb's right cultivation and advance.
With Love it is not otherwise than so.
Blood of the Sun along the veins must flow
If Love indeed therein is to strike root,
And burgeon into blossom, into fruit.
Miss Jay.
But China is an ancient land; you hold
In consequence that tea is very old—
Strawman.
Past question antecedent to Jerusalem.
Falk.
Yes, 'twas already famous when Methusalem
His picture-books and rattles tore and flung—
Miss Jay [triumphantly].
And Love is in its very nature young!
To find a likeness there is pretty bold.
Falk.
No; Love, in truth, is also very old;
That principle we here no more dispute
Than do the folks of Rio or Beyrout.
