Pope, Welsted, Denham, and Beer

Abstract

POPE himself pointed out, in a footnote to The Dunciad Variorum (1729), that his mockery of Leonard Welsted— Flow Welsted, flow! like thine inspirer, Beer, Tho’ stale, not ripe; tho’ thin, yet never clear; So sweetly mawkish, and so smoothly dull; Heady, not strong, and foaming tho’ not full.1 O could I flow like thee, and make thy stream My great example, as it is my theme. Tho’ deep, yet clear; tho’ gentle, yet not dull; Strong, without rage; without o’erflowing, full.2 A New Miscellany of Original Poems (1701) contains a poem ‘On the Cessation of the Tax on Mault’ which is an attempt to persuade William III not to continue the tax on beer. Beer is characterized as a loyal and Whiggish drink: A legal Liquor, that ne’r meant, Ill to the King or Goverment. And tho’ the Drink it self had ne’r Took Oaths, it prompted all to Swear. With this when oft the Glass was Crown’d, First mighty William's Health went round. The Beer it self consenting was, Smil’d at the Health and flowr’d within the Glass. Ingrateful Senate to oppress A Subject, that confirms, like this. What has the harmless Creature done? Thus to be doubly tax’d like a non-con?4 The Hogshead charg’d with pure and potent Streams, Shall justly claim the Character of Thames; Tho’ deep yet Clear, tho’ gentle yet not dull, Strong without Rage, without o’reflowing full. No muddy Foggs shall in the Bumper sink, Nor Drawers Art debouch the genuine Drink. But pure, brisk Ale smile in the Topers Face, And Quintessence of Barley crown the Glass. Fill Fill about and drain the running Stream, For Nassau's health do's a full Bumper Claim. Liquor like this must certainly invite Ev’n U— to conform, Make P— a Williamite.5