Drink and Away

Drink and Away

Up! pilgrims and rover,

Redouble thy haste!

Nor rest thee till over

Life's wearisome waste.

Ere the wild forest ranger

Thy footsteps betray,

To trouble and danger -

Oh, drink and away!

Here lurks the dark savage

By night and by day,

To rob and to ravage

Nor scruples to slay.

He waits for the slaughter:

The blood of his prey

Shall stain the still water -

Then drink and away!

With toil though thou languish,

The mandate obey:

Spur on , though in anguish,

There's death in delay!

No blood-hound, want-wasted,

Is fiercer than they:

Pass by it untasted -

Oh drink and away!

Though sore be the trial,

Thy GOD is thy stay:

Though deep denial,

Yield not in dismay.

But wrapped in high vision,

Look on to the day,

When the fountains elysian

Thy thirst shall allay.

Rev. William Croswell

1:32, p. 4

1837.08.12

There is, in Barbary, a beautiful rill received into a large basin, which bears a name signifying 'Drink and Away,' from the great danger of meeting rogues and assassins.