Ben Jonson: "The Entertaynment Perfect"

INVITING A FRIEND TO SUPPER

To-night, grave sir, both my poore house, and I 
Doe equally desire your companie : 
Not that we thinke us worthy such a guest, 
But that your worth will dignifie our feast, 
With those that come ; whose grace may make that seeme 
Something, which, else, could hope for no esteeme. 
It is the faire acceptance, Sir, creates 
The entertaynment perfect : not the cates. 
Yet shall you have, to rectifie your palate, 
An olive, capers, or some better sallad 
Ushring the mutton ; with a short-leg'd hen, 
If we can get her, full of eggs, and then, 
Limons, and wine for sauce : to these, a coney 
Is not to be despair'd of, for our money ; 
And, though fowle, now, be scarce, yet there are clerkes, 
The skie not falling, thinke we may have larkes. 
I'll tell you of more, and lye, so you will come : 
Of partrich, pheasant, wood-cock, of which some 
May yet be there ; and godwit, if we can : 
Knat, raile, and ruffe too. How so e'er, my man 
Shall reade a piece of VIRGIL, TACITUS, 
LIVIE, or of some better booke to us, 
Of which wee'll speake our minds, amidst our meate ; 
And I'll professe no verses to repeate : 
To this, if ought appeare, which I know not of, 
That will the pastrie, not my paper, show of. 
Digestive cheese, and fruit there sure will bee; 
But that, which most doth take my Muse, and mee, 
Is a pure cup of rich Canary-wine, 
Which is the Mermaids, now, but shall be mine : 
Of which had HORACE, or ANACREON tasted, 
Their lives, as doe their lines, till now had lasted. 
Tabacco, Nectar, or the Thespian spring, 
Are all but LUTHERS beere, to this I sing. 
Of this we will sup free, but moderately, 
And we will have no Pooly, or Parrot by ; 
Nor shall our cups make any guiltie men : 
But, at our parting, we will be, as when 
We innocently met. No simple word 
That shall be utter'd at our mirthfull board 
Shall make us sad next morning : or affright 
The libertie, that we'll enjoy to-night.

--Ben Jonson