LVIII.

And lately, by the Tavern Door agape, Came shining through the Dusk an Angel Shape Bearing a vessel on his Shoulder; and He bid me taste of it; and 'twas--the Grape!

This quatrain is a refined version of C. 297.

Yesterday, whilst drunk, I was passing a tavern, I saw a drunken old man bearing a vessel on his shoulder. I said, «Old man, does not God make thee ashamed?» He replied, «God is merciful, go, drink wine!»

_Ref._: C. 297, L. 462, B. 458, S.P. 243, P. 278, T. 197.--W. 284, N. 244, V. 501.