Poem by John Dyer

Down Among the Dead Men

              (Old English Melody)

Here’s a health to the King, and a lasting peace,
To faction an end, to wealth increase;
Come, let’s drink it while we have breath,
For there’s no drinking after death.
		And he that will this health deny.
		Down among the dead men let him lie.

Let charming beauty’s health go round, 
In whom celestial joys are found; 
And may confusion still pursue 
The senseless woman-hating crew; 
		And they that woman’s health deny, 
		Down among the dead men let them lie.

In smiling Bacchus’ joys I’ll roll, 
Deny no pleasure to my soul; 
Let Bacchus’ health round briskly move, 
For Bacchus is a friend to Love. 
		And he that will this health deny. 
		Down among the dead men let him lie.
 
May love and wine their rites maintain, 
And their united pleasures reign; 
While Bacchus’ treasure crowns the board, 
We’ll sing the joys that both afford; 
		And they that won’t with us comply. 
		Down among the dead men let them lie.

1. To Aaron Hill, Esq.
2. An Epistle to a Famous Painter
3. Bedford Level
4. Written at Ocriculum, in Italy, 1725
5. An Epistle to a Friend in Town

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