This is my tale of woe; and if thou wilt
Be warn'd by me, the sparkling cup resign;
A serpent lurks within the ruby wine,
Guileful and strong as him who erst betray'd
The world's first parents in their bowers of joy.
Let not the tempting draught your soul pervade;
It shines to kill, and sparkles to destroy.
The drunkard's sentence has been seal'd above,--
Exiled for ever from the heaven of love!"