WHEN THE WINE-CUP IS SMILING.

When the wine-cup is smiling before us,

And we pledge round to hearts that are true, boy, true,

Then the sky of this life opens o'er us,

And Heaven gives a glimpse of its blue.

Talk of Adam in Eden reclining,

We are better, far better off thus, boy, thus;

For him but two bright eyes were shining —

See, what numbers are sparkling for us!

When on one side the grape-juice is dancing,

While on t'other a blue eye beams, boy, beams,

‘ Tis enough,‘ twixt the wine and the glancing,

To disturb even a saint from his dreams.

Yet, tho’ life like a river is flowing,

I care not how fast it goes on, boy, on,

So the grape on its bank is still growing,

And Love lights the waves as they run.