School: Caladh na Feirsde (roll number 13481/2)

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1. The Curse of the Bottle (continued)

   

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   In this from old times were instructed
   A brute it will make of the greatest divine
   The scholar when tipsy scarce scribbles a line
   And now I will give you the end of my rhyme
   Though often I've gone to the bottle.
   VII
   Next see Alexander proud, pampered and vain
   All men he disdained as his vassals
   How wild, how fantastic, how frantic his schemes
   And Macedon paid for his glasses
   He was raised by his fancy in God-head to shine
   While quaffing, like Bacchus, whole gallons of wine
   Yet stained were his hands with the blackest of crimes
   O cursed desire of the bottle.
   See Troy with her warriors, how long did sustain
   A war with all Greece put together
   And Ajax their commander had stopped with her, slain
   Alone by the prowess of Hector.
   One night as her champions lay vanquished in wine
   And Argive in ambush with Pallas divine
   Old Priam was butchered, his sons and their wives
   And thousands besides without mercy.
   VIII
   See Gomorrah and Sodom how happy of old
   How populous, wholesome and pleasant
   There grandeur and riches had fixed their abode
   Alike with their nobles and peasants.

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   Transcribed by a member of our volunteer transcription project.

   History Edit

   Topics

   1. genre
      1. poetry
         1. folk poetry (~9,504)
   2. products
      1. food products (~3,601)

   Language

   English

   Collector

   Seamas Ó Luain

   Gender

   Male

   Occupation

   Múinteoir

   Address

   Callanafersy West, Co. Kerry