A SALAD DRESSING IN A POEM ( SYDNEY SMITH 1771 -1845 )

TO MAKE THIS CONDIMENT YOUR POET BEGS
THE POUNDED YELLOW OF TWO HARD BOIL`D EGGS
TWO BOILED POTATOES , PASSED THROUGH THE KITCHEN SEIVE
SMOOTHNESS AND SOFTNESS TO THE SALAD GIVE
LET THE ONION ATOMS LURK WITHIN THE BOWL
AND , HALF SUSPECTED , ANIMATE THE WHOLE
OF MORDANT MUSTARD ADD A SINGLE SPOON
DISTRUST THE CONDIMENT THAT BITES TOO SOON .
BUT DEEM IT NOT , THOU A MAN OF HERBSC , A FAULT
TO ADD A DOUBLE QUANTITY OF SALT .
FOUR TIMES THE SPOON WITH OIL OF LUCCA CROWN
AND TWICE THE VINEGAR PROCURED FROM THE TOWN
AND LASTLY O`ER THE FLAVOUR`D COMPOUND TOSS
A MAGIC SOUPCON OF ANCHOVY SAUCE
OH GREEN AND GLORIOUS ! OH HERBBACEOUS TREAT !
WOULD TEMPT THE DYING ANCHORITE TO EAT
BACK TO THE WORLD HE WOULD HE`D TURN HIS FLEETING SOUL
AND PLUNGE HIS FINGERS IN THE SALAD BOWL !
SERENELY FULL , THE EPICURE WOULD SAY
`FATE CANNOT HARM ME , I HAVE DINED TODAY `