WISE men use days as husbandmen use bees,
And steal rich drops from every pregnant hour;
Others, like wasps on blossomed apple-trees,
Find gall, not honey, in the sweetest flower.
Congratulations for a scene like this!
The olden times are here-these shall be olden
When, years to come, remembering present bliss,
We sigh for past Papyrian dinners golden.
We thank the gods! we call them back to light-
Call back to hoary Egypt for Osiris,
Who first made wine, to join our board to-night,
And drain this loving cup with the Papyrus.
He comes! the Pharaoh’s god! fling wide the door-
Welcome, Osiris! See-thine old prescription
Is honored here; and thou shalt drink once more
With men whose treasured ensign is Egyptian.
A toast! a toast! our guest shall give a toast!
By Nilus’ flood, we pray thee, god, inspire us!
He smiles-he wills-let not a word be lost-
His hand upon the cup, he speaks:-
“Papyrus!
“I greet ye! and mine ancient nation shares
In greeting fair from Ammon, Ptah, and Isis,
Whose leaf ye love-dead Egypt’s leaf, that bears
Our tale of pride from Cheops to Cambyses.
“We gods of Egypt, who are wise with age-
Five thousand years have washed us clean of passion-
A golden era for this board presage,
While ye do keep this cup in priestly fashion.
“We love to see the bonds of fellowship
Made still more sacred by a fine tradition;
We bless this bowl that moves from lip to lip
In love’s festoons, renewed by every mission.
“Intern the vessel from profaning eyes;
The lip that kisses should have special merit;
Thus every sanguine draught shall symbolize
And consecrate the true Papyrian spirit.
“For brotherhood, not wine, this cup should pass;
Its depths should ne’er reflect the eye of malice;
Drink toasts to strangers with the social glass,
But drink to brothers with this loving chalice.
“And now, Papyrus, each one pledge to each:
And let this formal tie be warmly cherished.
No words are needed for a kindly speech-
The loving thought will live when words have perished.”
(John Boyle O Reilly)
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Based on Topics: Love Poems, God Poems, Flowers Poems, Happiness Poems, Wisdom & Knowledge Poems, Pride Poems, Speaking Poems, Age Poems, Wine Poems, Kiss Poems, Passion PoemsBased on Keywords: husbandmen, osiris, nilus, prescription, toasts, papyrus, congratulations, cheops, profaning, symbolize, intern