Living
O for a Bowl of Fat Canary
From Lyrics from the Dramatists of the Elizabethan Age, ed. A. H. Bullen (London: Nimmo, 1889)
O for a bowl of fat canary,
Rich Aristippus, sparkling sherry!
Some nectar else from Juno's dairy;
O these draughts would make us merry!
O for a wench! I deal in faces,
And in other daintier things;
Tickled am I with her embraces;
Fine dancing in such fairy rings!
O for a plump, fat leg of mutton,
Veal, lamb, capon, pig, and coney!
None is happy but a glutton,
None an ass, but who wants money.
Wines, indeed, and girls are good;
But brave victuals feast the blood;
For wenches, wine, and lusty cheer,
Jove would come down to surfeit here.
Codex Note
Bullen's index gives this song to Middleton, with a query.
Cite this poem
MLA
Middleton, Thomas. “O for a Bowl of Fat Canary.” Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/middleton/5/.
Chicago
Middleton, Thomas. “O for a Bowl of Fat Canary.” Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/middleton/5/.
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