When the Sultan Shah-Zaman
Goes to the city Ispahan,
Even before he gets so far
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When the Sultan Shah-Zaman
Goes to the city Ispahan,
Even before he gets so far
As the place where the clustered palm-trees are,
At the last of the thirty palace-gates
The pet of the harem, Rose-in-Bloom,
Orders a feast in his favorite room--
Glittering square of colored ice,
Sweetened with syrup, tinctured with spice,
Creams, and cordials, and sugared dates,
Syrian apples, Othmanee quinces,
Limes and citrons and apricots,
And wines that are known to Eastern princes.

Oh, dainty and delicious!
Food for the gods! Ambrosia for Apicius!
Worthy to thrill the soul of read more

Oh, dainty and delicious!
Food for the gods! Ambrosia for Apicius!
Worthy to thrill the soul of sea-born Venus,
Or titillate the palate of Silenus!

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating.

Ye diners out from whom we guard our spoons.

Ye diners out from whom we guard our spoons.

Some men are born to feast, and not to fight;
Whose sluggish minds, e'en in fair honor's field,
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Some men are born to feast, and not to fight;
Whose sluggish minds, e'en in fair honor's field,
Still on their dinner turn--
Let such pot-boiling varlets stay at home,
And wield a flesh-hook rather than a sword.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and
hatred therewith.

Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and
hatred therewith.

Here is bread, which strengthens man's heart, and therefore is
called the staff of Life.

Here is bread, which strengthens man's heart, and therefore is
called the staff of Life.

One solid dish his week-day meal affords,
An added pudding solemniz'd the Lord's.

One solid dish his week-day meal affords,
An added pudding solemniz'd the Lord's.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.

The way to a man's heart is through his stomach.