POETRY SPOT: THE POPE

Charles James Lever (1806 – 1872) was an Irish novelist and raconteur

His poem The Pope was originally set to music, the lyrics appear below.

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Glossary:

Rhenish wine:

Rhenish wines are any of several white wines from the Rhine River valley in Germany.

Alcoran:

Another name for the Koran.

Tope:

To drink liquor to excess

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The Pope

The Pope he leads a happy life,

He fears not married care nor strife.

He drinks the best of Rhenish wine,--

I would the Pope's gay lot were mine.

But yet all happy's not his life,

He has no maid, nor blooming wife;

No child has he to raise his hope,--

I would not wish to be the Pope.

The Sultan better pleases me,

His is a life of jollity;

He's wives as many as he will,--

I would the Sultan's throne then fill.

But even he's a wretched man,

He must obey the Alcoran;

He dare not drink one drop of wine--

I would not change his lot for mine.

So here I'll take my lowly stand,

I'll drink my own, my native land;

I'll kiss my maiden fair and fine,

And drink the best of Rhenish wine.

And when my maiden kisses me

I'll think that I the Sultan be;

And when my cheery glass I tope,

I'll fancy then I am the Pope.

Charles Lever.