“The Nightcap”

Description

Phoebus, after a tiring ride, unhitches his horses for the night and asks Thetis for something worthwhile to drink. She gives him a cruiskeen of poteen and he goes to sleep happily ignoring the dampness of his bed.

Notes

Phoebus (Apollo), among his other tasks, drove the sun. The reference to Thetis is peculiar; as far as I know, she had nothing to do with Apollo. I suspect the reference is rather to Themis, who helped to care for Apollo in his youth. - RBW

References

  1. Croker-PopularSongs, pp. 92-94, "The Nightcap" (1 text)
  2. BI, CrPS092

About

Author: Thomas Hamblin Porter (source: Croker-PopularSongs)
Earliest date: c.1820 (written in 1817 and printed in "a Dublin newspaper or magazine," according to Croker-PopularSongs)
Keywords: drink gods horse