Touch Not the Cup

1 Touch not the cup, it is death to the soul,
Touch not the cup, touch it not;
Many I know that have quaff'd from the bowl,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
Little they tho't that the demon was there,
Blindly they drank, and were caught in the snare,
Then of that death-dealing bowl, O beware;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

2 Touch not the cup when the win glistens bright,
Touch not the cup, touch it not;
Tho' like the ruby it shines in the light;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
Fangs of the serpent are hid in the bowl,
Deeply the poison will enter thy soul,
Soon will it plunge thee beyond thy control;
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

3 Touch not the cup, O young man, in thy pride,
Touch not the cup, touch it not;
Hark to the warning of thousands who've died,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.
Go to their lonely and desolate tomb,
Think of their death, of their sorrow and gloom,
Think that perhaps you may share in their doom,
Touch not the cup, touch it not.

Source: Kind Words: a new collection of hymns and tunes for sunday schools and the social circle #89b