"If they but Taste of Chocolate"

Excerpted from Chocolate: or, An Indian Drinke.  The Wise and Moderate Use Whereof Health is Preserved and Sicknesse Diverted

Nay more: It’s vertue is so much,

That if a Lady get a Touch,

Her griefe it will Extenuate,

If she but smell of Chocolate.

The Feeble-Man, whom Nature Tyes

To doe his Mistresse’s Drudgeries;

O how it will his minde Elate,

If shee allow him Chocolate!

‘Twill make Old women Young and Fresh;

Create New-Motions of the Flesh,

And cause them long for you know what,

If they but Tast of Chocolate.

There’s ne’re a Common Counsell-Man,

Whose Life would Reach unto a Span,

Should he not Well-Affect the State,

And First and Last Drinke Chocolate.

Nor e’re a Citizen’s Chast wife,

That ever shall prolong her Life,

(Whilst open stands Her Posterne-Gate)

Unlesse she drinke of Chocolate.

Nor dost the Levite any Harme,

It keepeth his Devotion warme,

And eke the Hayre upon his Pate,

So long as he drinkes Chocolate.

Both High and Low,

both Rich and Poore My Lord,

my Lady, and his -- With all the Folkes at Billingsgate,

Bow, Bow your Hamms to Chocolate.

~ Don Diego de Vadesforte.