ODE XIX.—REASONS FOR DRINKING.
The earth drinks up the genial rains
Which deluge all her thirsty plains;
The lofty trees that pierce the sky[1]
Drain up the earth and leave her dry;
Th' insatiate sea imbibes, each hour,[2]
The welcome breeze that brings the show'r;
The sun, whose fires so fiercely burn,
Absorbs the wave; and, in her turn,
The modest moon enjoys, each night,[3]
Large draughts of his celestial light.
Then, sapient sirs, pray tell me why,
If all things drink, why may not I?
- ↑ The poet here refers to the supply of moisture which trees receive by means of their roots and fibres.
- ↑ This passage, which seems to have given the commentators some trouble, is by many supposed to be an error in the text. I have followed the usual reading, though I think Fawkes's amendment very judicious. He has it, "the sea drinks up the rivers," certainly a much more natural idea.
- ↑ The moon is said to drink from the sun, because she borrows her light from that luminary.