A song well known in the early part of the century is much heartier, and redounds with patriotic sentiment:—
A POT OF PORTER OH!
When to Old England I came home, Fal lal, fal lal la ! What joy to see the tankard foam Fal lal, fal lal la ! When treading London’s well-known ground, If e’er I feel my spirits tire, I haul my sail and look up around In search of Whitbread’s best entire. I spy the name of Calvert, Of Curtis, Cox, and Co.; I give a cheer and bawl for’t, “A pot of Porter, ho !” When to Old England I come home, What joy to see the tankard foam ! With heart so light and frolic high, I drink it off to liberty ! {377}
Where wine or water can be found Fal lal, fal lal la ! I’ve travell’d far the world around, Fal lal, fal lal la ! Again I hope before I die, Of England’s can the taste to try; For many a league I’d go about To take a draught of Gifford’s stout; I spy the name of Truman, Of Maddox, Meux, and Co.; The sight makes me a new man,— “A pot of porter, ho !” When to Old England I come home, What joy to see the tankard foam ! With heart so light and frolic high, I drink it off to liberty.
CHAPTER XIV.
Then hail, thou big and foaming bowl, Hail, constant idol of my soul; How laughingly the bubbles ride Upon thy rich and sparkling tide.
This, I tell you, is our jolly wassel, And for twelfth-night more meet too.
BEVERAGES COMPOUNDED OF ALE OR BEER WITH A NUMBER OF RECEIPTS.—ANCIENT DRINKING VESSELS.—VARIOUS USES OF ALE OTHER THAN AS A DRINK.