Invocation

by Herman Melville

　　

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Ha, ha, gods and kings; fill high, one and all;Drink, drink! shout and drink! mad respond to the call!Fill fast, and fill full; 'gainst the goblet ne'er sin;Quaff there, at high tide, to the uttermost rim:— Flood-tide, and soul-tide to the brim!Who with wine in him fears? who thinks of his cares?Who sighs to be wise, when wine in him flares?Water sinks down below, in currents full slow;But wine mounts on high with its genial glow:— Welling up, till the brain overflow!As the spheres, with a roll, some fiery of soul,Others golden, with music, revolve round the pole;So let our cups, radiant with many hued wines,Round and round in groups circle, our Zodiac's Signs:— Round reeling, and ringing their chimes!Then drink, gods and kings; wine merriment brings;It bounds through the veins; there, jubilant sings.Let it ebb, then, and flow; wine never grows dim;Drain down that bright tide at the foam beaded rim:— Fill up, every cup, to the brim!

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