I found an old songbook called "Gems of Irish Song" and one of them is called;

"Posies and Rose"

Such beauties in view I can never praise too high
Nor Pallas's blue eye is brighter than thine
Nor fount of Susannah Nor Gold of fair Dana
Nor Moon of Diana so clearly can shine
Not beard of Silenus nor tresses of Venus
I swear by quaegenus with yours can compare
Not Hermes' candusus nor flower deluces
not all the nine Musses to me are so fair.

Chorus
What posies and roses to noses discloses
your breath all so sweet your breath all so sweet
to the tip of your lip as they trip
the bees lip honey sip
Like choice flip their Hybla forget.

When girls like you pass us I saddle Pergasus
and ride up Parnassus to Helicon's stream
Even that is a puddle where others may muddle
My nose let me fuddle in bowls of your cream
Old Jove the Great Hector may tipple his nectar
of gods the director may thunder above
I'd quaff off a full can as Baccus or Vulcan
Or Jove the old bull can to her that I love

Chorus


I love it, especially the line "My nose let me fuddle in bowls of your cream" I just want to be there. And some of the rhymes are outrageous "I'd quaff off a full can as Baccus or Vulcan" I can't say it without chuckling with mirth.
I need the tune and I need to know the meaning of some of the references and some of the words, can mudcatters help? I bet they can!

Who or what were Pallas, Silenus, quaegenus, Hermes, candusus, deluces, Hybla, Parnassus, Helcion's stream, the Great Hector?
Regards Fergus