Panacea, a poem upon tea in two canto's [sic] / by N. Tate ...

CANTO II.

WHen first Apollo, in Celestial Bow'rs, Treated with fragrant Tea, th' immortal Pow'rs, (That more than Nectar and Nepenthe pleas'd) The Goddesses with such Delight were seiz'd; They fell to Strife about the foreign Tree, Who should its Patroness and Guardian be: At last the Competition was referr'd To be before the Gods in Council heard; Who Summon'd, at Iove's Palace now were met, And high above the rest the Thund'rer set.

First IUNO thus, with haughty State, addrest, And Looks that angry Majesty exprest, Which, e'er she spake, the Queen of Heav'n confest;

"Let such impose upon their Judges sense, "Sue Favour, who to Right have no Pretence;

"With soothing Arts of Language strive to please: "I come not here to Plead, but Claim and Seize: "Right I demand; and Deities, I know, "Will do me Right—for, Gods I'll have it so. "Shall Subject Goddesses with me contend? "When once Imperial Iuno shall descend "To Competition, Empire's at an End. "Shall Royal Iuno's Claim be disallow'd "To Tea? with Sov'reign Properties endow'd, "And Queen of Plants by Native Right allow'd. "Let that aspiring Goddess, who shall dare "Here to Usurp my Patronage and Care, "Pretend with me the Thund'rer's Bed to share. "The Rival of my Bed, and what I prize "More Dear, my Throne, and Empire of the Skies. "Speak Iove, decide, e'er it begins, this Strife; "Respect the Empress, tho' you Slight the Wise. "Assert, in Mine, your Own Celestial State: "Iove, let us Reign, or let us Abdicate. "Once to Immortals this Example show, "What will your Stubborn Mortals do Below?

"Already grown Impatient of our Yoke, "For seldom now we see our Altars Smoke; "With sparing Hands They offer from the Store "Our Bounty lends, and grudgingly Adore: "But from our Shrines intirely will Remove, "Till Government is better fix'd Above, "And till convinc'd— "That I am Iuno still, and you are Iove. "O Iupiter, a Monarch's Sway maintain; "And shew the doubting World that you deserve to Reign.

Saturnia Thus—whose Eyes, as she withdrew Disdainful Fire back on th' Assembly threw; Which through the Presence awful Terrour strook; And on his Throne the very Thund'rer shook.

MINERVA next, with stately Mien, advanc'd; Her crested Plume in waving Lustre danc'd, And Lightning from her burnish'd Helmet glanc'd. Delightful Terrour in her Aspect play'd, While Thus, with awful Grace, the Goddess said.

"If Merit must to Majesty give place, "Immortals are in Mortals wretched Case, "And Vassals we, tho' of Celestial Race: "Let Nature in this Claim your Council Guide; "Since she for publick Use this Plant suppli'd, "Let Publick Use, ye Gods, the Cause decide. "If by that President you shall Decree, "The Prize must fall to my Learn'd Sons and Me. "Why should I our known Services repeat? "In Athens Name your Justice I entreat. "Or if my Plea of Athens you disclaim, "Regard my Off-Spring more endear'd to Fame, "My greater Sons of Isis and of Cam. "Think how of Life the Pleasures they resign, "To delve, for Publick good, in Learning's Mine. "O Gods, is't thus you treat industrious Wit? "That does whole Years in brooding Study Sit, "From early Dawn till Day forsakes the Sky, "And Mid-night Lamps the absent Sun supply. "O why should they, with Chymick Patience, wait "Their Work's Perfection, to enrich the State?

"Of Antient Arts the craggy Ruins climb, "And backward tread the painful Steps of Time, "Their Senses with long Contemplation wrought "To Element, their Bodies pin'd to Thought, "If you this cheap Relief to Souls deny "Who with Promethean Fire Mankind supply, "To make those Sons of Clay the Gods Allies, "And justifie their Kindred to the Skies.

She paus'd, and frown'd, with such a dreadful Grace, As when she charges on the Plains of Thrace. Then thus renews her Plea—

"Nature for Students this Regale design'd, "Invention's Fountain to repay in Kind, "The vast expences of their gen'rous Mind. "Till the spent Soil shall fresh Idea's yield, "And new Plantations stock wide Fancy's Field. "From this Pirene, this Castalian Spring, "Exclude the Muses, And what Muse will sing? "And when no Poet will vouchsafe to write, "What hardy Hero will vouchsafe to fight.

"'Tis Tea sustains, Tea only can inspire "The Poet's Flame, that feeds the Hero's Fire.

Her Voice and Mien such deep impression strook, The Goddess read Consent in ev'ry Look. Till VENUS, (from her Chariot drawn by Doves, Surrounded by a Troop of smiling Loves) Unveil'd the milder Glories of her Face, With Native Charms, and ev'ry study'd Grace: Which, from her haughty Rivals, heretofore, On Ida's Mount, the Prize of Beauty bore. Nor doubts she, with the same resistless Smile, The Gods, as then the Shepherd to beguile. With lovely Pride She cast her Eyes around, And gave with every pointed Glance a Wound. Which made the sternest in the Presence melt, And sullen Saturn feel what Paris felt. Thus she advanc'd; and, while she urg'd her Plea, She look'd and breath'd the fragrant Soul of Tea,

"In Beauty's Cause I sue—can Gods despise "A Blessing Mortals have the Sense to Prize?

"Tho' in your Looks I read a Senate's Awe, "(How else should you the Publick Rev'rence draw?) "Yet doubt I not the stubborn'st Breast to win, "Having so strong a Party lodg'd within. "Tho' none in open Court appears my friend, "I safely on your private Votes depend. "So shall your Goddesses and Nymphs be kind, "As Love and Beauty your Protection find. "For Beauty's sake, and her resistless Charms, "The desp'rate Soldier rushes to Alarms, "And for a Night of Love serves whole Cam∣paigns in Arms. "To Stars the wakeful Shepherd sings his Lays, "Which he by day compos'd in Phillis Praise, "Hoping the Nymph he does Immortal make, "Will Pity on her dying Lover take. "Look down ye Pow'rs, the British Ladies View, "See there the Effects of this Celestial Dew! "See there how grateful Tea, their choice Delight, "It's gen'rous Patronesses does requite! 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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"Sublimes their Native Charms; and makes 'em shine "As bright, almost, as lasting too as mine. "Who then but Beauty's Goddess, can pretend "A Title to the Plant that's Beauty's Friend? "To me, ye Pow'rs, this Prize you must assign, "For that which thus can Beauty's Charms refine, "And keep them ever young, for ever should be mine.

She said—and reassum'd her Flying Chair; While Cupid's fan, with glossy wings, the Air, And Venus seem'd ey'n more than Venus Fair.

Bright CINTHIA next appear'd with solemn Grace, (A rosie Blush adorns her Virgin-Face) As from the Chase return'd, her Vestments hung With careless Decency, her Bow unstrung, Her Quiver loose behind her Shoulder slung. High on her Front the silver Crescent blaz'd: The hush'd Assembly on her Figure gaz'd, Surpriz'd and pleas'd, Transported and amaz'd.

Her Aspect, Stature, Movement, Shape, and Dress Did such Majestick Modesty express, As when, supported by her Forest Launce, Before her thousand Nymphs she does advance On Cynthus Top, and leads the Solemn Dance. Through ev'ry Breast a thrilling Pleasure ran, While thus the Goddess of the Groves began.

"Love's Queen, despairing this chast Prize to win, "Discreetly call'd the British Ladies in; "And if for Beauty only they excell'd, "The Queen of Beauty's Title must have held; "But since they are no less for Vertue fam'd "Their Votes by me, with nobler right, are claim'd. "If Vertue then (which British Ladies Prize "Above the brightest Glances of their Eyes) "Not quite has lost her Int'rest in the Skies, "To me you must assign the sacred Tree, "To me the sacred Drink of Chastity; "In which the Graces safely may rejoyce, "Of Virgin Innocence the blameless Choice: "Then, Deities, join yours with Nature's Voice.

"Who, with this Chast Nepenthe, would requite "Her Woods kind Patroness, and Queen of Night. "When faint with Toil, through Phoebus scorching Beams, "My Nymphs and I retreat to shady Sreams, "Can the cold Spring a fit Refreshment be? "Which idle Naids drink as well as we; "And Dryads, who in Solitary Bow'rs, "With Sleep or Revels pass their useless Hours. "Let then the Forest-Tyrants safely Reign, "And Mountain-Savages lay waste the Plain: "Till Earth afford your Altars no Supplies "Of hallow'd Fruits; no Flames of Incense rise, "And Moonless Nights affright your guilty Skies.

She ceas'd; and Terror through the Presence strook, Resuming now the same resenting Look, As in her Bathing-Fountain when surpriz'd, Luckless Actaeon's Error she chastisd. Then with a smile (as when she does unshroud Her Lustre, starting from a sullen Cloud)

In milder Accents thus— "No! Sacred Pow'rs, for Cynthia to mistrust "Her Merit or your Honour, were unjust! "It must not, cannot be! (hence idle Fears!) "I still shall Guard your Earth, and Gild your Spheres. "My Cause no Competition can admit, "Where Virtue pleads, and Gods in Council sit.

Diana thus—and, with her Sylvan Train Of Nymphs attended, mounts her Starry Wain.

Scarce had the Court recover'd this Surprize, When a new Scene of Glory charm'd their Eyes; While THETIS and her Nereids they descry'd, Adorn'd in all the Ocean's glitt'ring Pride; Bright Shells and Gems, that with reflected Fire Startled the Skies, and made the Stars retire. Delightful Wonder all th' Assembly seiz'd; But Neptune ev'n to Extasie seem'd pleas'd, Who now display'd the same Pacifick Face That hush'd the Storm, and sav'd the Trojan Race.

In gentle Symphony the Nereids sung To twisted Shells, on which the Tritons rung Loud Peals, that to th' Olympian Confines ran, While thus the Goddess of the Seas began.

"'Tis I that rule your watry World below; "To Mortals I the Arts of Commerce show, "To me your Albion does her Glory owe. "By Me her Fleets to Eastern Climates run, "And spread their Wings beneath the rising Sun. "Thus your Augusta's floating Grandeur's shown "On Seas and Shores to Ancient Fame unknown; "While Rome, the World's fam'd Mistress she excels, "As far as Thames above the Tyber swells. "Both Her's and Nature's Empire I sustain, "By Correspondence 'twixt her Earth and Main: "Her Tributary Streams, to me convey'd, "In just recruits are carefully repay'd: "Those Pastures where her Flocks and Herds are Bred, "Themselves are from my Bounty cloath'd and fed.

"The Plant and Nymph, whose happy Nuptials give "This New-found Nectar, by my Bounty live; "From my fresh Stores the Nymph her cooling Dew, "And from my Salts the Plant his* 1.1 Vigour drew. "When, deep in Briny Cells, my Nymphs and I "The Business of your Ocean-Empire ply, "Gods! Can you then this fresh Regale deny? "Is't thus you treat the Goddess of the Sea, "With Oozy Brine?— "When happy Nymphs at Land rejoyce in Tea? "Of all the Rarities our Waves convey, "Give us but This, our Service you repay: "Else from their dens your prison'd Winds release, "Let Seas and Skies no longer be at Peace, "Destructive Tempests reign, and useful Traffick cease.

Thus Thetis, and resumes her Crystal Wain, As when, surrounded by her Ocean-Train, She rides in Triumph o'er the wond'ring Main.

To Crown the Scene HEALTH's Goddess last appears, Who chearfully her Sanguine Aspect rears; Fresh as the Spring, when by Celestial show'rs To Earth invited, from Elysian Bow'rs: Her sprightly looks the pleas'd Assembly drew; While Spicy Zephyrs hov'ring round her flew, And Odours, sweeter than Ambrosia, threw. Attended by a Troop of Nymphs and Swains, The Pride of Nature, Glory of the Plains; The Youths, like Oaken Plants, all sternly Gay, The Nymphs all Fair, and Mild as blooming May, Then with an Air, that vital warmth display'd, And healthful Fragrancy, the Goddess said—

"Celestial Pow'rs, this Rural Tribe survey; "You have no Vot'ries so sincere as They!

"When Earth of your Astraea was berest, "'Mongst these the Goddess her last Footsteps left. "If Venus's Plea this awful Court can move, "Her Cupids are not better vers'd in Love: "Or if Diana's Title may be pass'd, "They plead her Merit, for their Loves are Chast "But 'tis not for their sakes I chiefly sue, "Who Health enjoy without your healing Dew; "For they from Nature's Cup, the Crystal Spring, "With Birds contentedly can Drink and Sing. "But far, O far unlike to these, a Throng "Of wretched Mortals to my Charge belong; "Who with tormenting restless Sickness griev'd, "About my Altar languish, Unreliev'd: "O, for their Suff'ring sakes, in pity grant "This Panacea, this Reviving Plant; "Relieve their Mis'ry, or revoke their Breath; "Give 'em the Drink of Health, or give 'em Death!

Thus Salus urg'd her Charitable Plea, That soon had Crown'd her Patroness of Tea:

But Fiend Alecto, in a Nymph's Disguise, (Grudging the Sickly Earth so Rich a Prize) Amongst the Goddesses fresh Discord threw, Which into Parties the Convention drew; Mars swagger'd, Aeol bluster'd, Neptune rag'd, Whom Iove with louder Thunder scarce asswag'd.

SOMNUS, whom Tea's delicious Fume had charm'd With golden Visions, by the Dinn alarm'd, Starts up; and, with a Look surprizing Gay, To sudden Pleasure turn'd the sudden Fray. Pleas'd, as a Prophet, from his Dream he woke, And, like a Prophet, Thus, in Rapture spoke—

"O Glorious Prospect! such delightful Fields "Elysium nor our own Olympus yields. "O Sacred Streams and Bow'rs! O Fragrant Seats, "Of Elemental Joys the calm Retreats! "Come wretched Mortals, in this Nectar steep "Your weary Souls, and charm your Cares to Sleep.

"That, while the pleasing slumber lasts, shall drown "Your Griefs; and with success your Wishes crown. "That every dismal Object shall remove, "And your Desires to Extasy improve. "What e'er you want or wish, in Dreams is brought, "(By Tea inspir'd) before your ravish'd Thought; "Visions of Wealth the poor Man's Wants beguile; "The hopeless Lover sees his Mistress smile: "The Voyager, for some rich Coast design'd, "Spreads all his Sail, and runs afore the Wind, "The Pleader, Soldier, Poet, fierce and warm, "Set boldly in, and wond'rously perform: "Thus Human Life, in cruel Fate's despight, "May have its Sorrows checquer'd with delight, "And if such Bliss can Mortal Sense employ, "What Transport, Deities, must you enjoy! "For sure, when sprightly Tea and Fancy join "Their Wond'rous Pow'rs, the Work must be Divine.

"How rich the Figures! how surprising bright! "Wrought on the sable Curtains of the Night.

This strange Discov'ry both surpris'd the Gods, And set the Goddesses again at Odds; Whilst, to secure the Quiet of the Skies, The Thunderer once more was forc'd to rise.

A Plant that can so many Virtues boast, He judg'd too rich a Prize to be Ingross'd; And to no single Goddess Lot should fall, That merited the Patronage of All: Therefore, at once to silence all their Pleas, And yet Oblige his Female Deities; In Common grants what they did singly claim; And strait gives Orders for the Trump of Fame To sound aloud, That* 1.2 GODDESS was its Name.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Sal Volatile.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.