Whole Lotta Wine
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009QUESTION: What do Geoffrey Chaucer and Hank Williams III have in common?
ANSWER: Both have described, in delightfully novel verse, the joys of unfettered access to ample stocks of wine.
PROOF: Read excerpts below, with key phrases in bold typeface.
From the “Franklin’s Portrait,” which appears in the General Prologue of Chaucers’s Canterbury Tales:
To liven in delit was ever his wone
For he was Epicurus’ owne sone,
That held opinion that plein delit
Was veray felicity parfit… …
…His breed, his ale was always after oon—
A better envined man was never noon.
To live in delight was ever his wont,
For he was Epicurus’s own son,
Who held the view that complete delight
Was verily perfect felicity.
…His bread, his ale were always second to none—
A better-cellared man has never been known.
And from Hank III’s “Smoke & Wine,” off his 2006 album, Straight to Hell:
[once again, emphasis is mine; open this link in another tab or window to listen to a live version of this song whilst parsing the except below]
Well, I have got no money but I am doin’ fine.
I’m just a hillbilly hell-raiser; I’m tryin’ to kill my time.
An’ I’m lookin’ for that gal, about five foot ten.
An’ I’m gonna take her down that road of livin’ a life of sin.
Because I’m drinkin’, druggin’: I’m havin’ lots of fun.
I always carry round my loaded shotgun.
If I think I’m gonna have a bad time,
I got a little bit of smoke an’ a whole lotta wine.
THANKS to Amy McDaniel for texting me the Chaucer quote this morning.
THANKS also to Lily Peachin, for taking me to the Hank III show at Music Hall of Williamsburg last week. Incidentally, she’s about five foot ten.
