The Kail Brose of Auld Scotland (Stirling)/The Gods of the Greeks

by Anonymous

THE GODS OF THE GREEKS.

Once the Gods of the Greeks at ambrosial feast,
Large bowls of rich nectar were quaffing;
Merry Momus amongst was set as a guest;
(Homer says the celestials love laughing)
On each of the synod the humourist droll'd,
So none could his jokes disapprove,
He sung, rapartee'd and some smart stories told,
And at length he began upon Jove.

Sire, Atlas, who long has the universe born,
Grows grievously tired of late;
He says that mankind are much worse than before,
So he begs to be eas'd of his weight.
Jove knowing the earth on poor Atlas was hurl'd,
From his shoulders commanded the ball,
Gave his daughter, Attraction, the charge of the world,
And she hung it up high in his hall.

Miss pleas'd with the present, review'd the globe round,
To see what each climate was worth;
Like a diamond, the whole with an atmosphere bound,
And she variously planted the earth;
With silver, gold, jewels, she India bestow'd,
France and Spain, to rear vineyards taught she,
What suited each clime, on each clime she bestow'd,
And freedom she found flourish'd here.

Four Cardinal Virtues she left in this isle,
As guardians to cherish the root;
The blossoms of Liberty then first did smile,
And Britain's sons fed on the fruit:
Thus fed and thus bred from a bounty so rare,
O preserve it as free as 'twas given!
We will, whilst we've breath; nay, we'll grasp it in death,
Then return it untainted to heaven.

---