Ben Jonson, Inviting a Friend to Supper

TO-NIGHT, grave sir, both my poore house, and I

Doe equally desire your companie:

Not that we thinke us worthy such a guest,

But that your worth will dignifie our feast,

With those that come; whose grace may make that seeme

Something, which, else, could hope for no esteeme.

It is the faire acceptance, Sir, creates

The entertaynment perfect: not the cates.

Yet shall you have, to rectifie your palate,

An olive, capers, or some better sallad

Ushring the mutton; with a short-leg'd hen,

If we can get her, full of eggs, and then,

Limons, and wine for sauce: to these, a coney

Is not to be despair'd of, for our money;

And, though fowle, now, be scarce, yet there are clerkes,

The skie not falling, thinke we may have larkes.

I'll tell you of more, and lye, so you will come:

Of partrich, pheasant, wood-cock, of which some

May yet be there; and godwit, if we can:

Knat, raile, and ruffe too. How so e'er, my man

Shall reade a piece of VIRGIL, TACITUS,

LIVIE, or of some better booke to us,

Of which wee'll speake our minds, amidst our meate;

And I'll professe no verses to repeate:

To this, if ought appeare, which I know not of,

That will the pastrie, not my paper, show of.

Digestive cheese, and fruit there sure will bee;

But that, which most doth take my Muse, and mee,

Is a pure cup of rich Canary-wine,

Which is the Mermaids, now, but shall be mine:

Of which had HORACE, or ANACREON tasted,

Their lives, as doe their lines, till now had lasted.

Tabacco, Nectar, or the Thespian spring,

Are all but LUTHERS beere, to this I sing.

Of this we will sup free, but moderately,

And we will have no Pooly, or Parrot by;

Nor shall our cups make any guiltie men:

But, at our parting, we will be, as when

We innocently met. No simple word

That shall be utter'd at our mirthfull board

Shall make us sad next morning: or affright

The libertie, that wee'll enjoy to-night.