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The Arethusa/How Stands the Glass Around

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For other versions of this work, see How Stands the Glass Around.
4688493The Arethusa — How Stands the Glass AroundAnonymous

HOW STANDS THE GLASS AROUND

How stands the glass around?
For shame, ye take no care, my boys;
How stands the glass around?
Let mirth and wine abound.
The trumpets sound,
The colours they are flying, boys,
To fight, kill, or wound,
May we still be found
Content with our hard fate, my boys,
On the cold ground.

Why, soldiers, why,
Should we be melancholy, boys?
Why solders, why,
Whose business ’tis to die!
What—sighing?—fie;
Don’t fear, drink on, be jolly, boys;
’Tis he, you, or I—
Cold, hot, wet, or dry,
We’re always bound to follow, boys,
And scorn to fly.

’Tis but in vain,
(I mean not to upbraid you, boys)
’Tis but in vain
For soldiers to complain:
Should next campaign
Send us to him who made us, boys,
We’re free from pain;
But if we remain,
A bottle and kind landlady
Cure all again.