s: Night's silence, murmurs of the wave that flows,


s: If sleeplessness and fever had not driven


s: Thy thought to yearn for infinite repose?


s: By a fair woman's love art thou not blest?


s: When thou dost hold and clasp her hand in thine,


s: Does not the thought of woes that once possessed,


s: Make all the sweeter now her smile divine?


s: Midst blooming woods, on sands like silver bright?


s: Does not the white wraith of the aspen-tree


s: In that green palace, mark the path at night?


s: And seest thou not, within the moon's pale ray,


s: Her lovely form sink on thy breast again?


s: If thou shouldst meet with Fortune on thy way,


s: Wouldst thou not follow singing, in her train?


s: What hast thou to regret?  Immortal Hope


s: Is shaped anew in thee by Sorrow's hand.


s: Why hate experience that enlarged thy scope?


s: Why curse the pain that made thy soul expand?


s: Who from thine eyes such bitter tears did press,


s: Through her, the secret of all happiness.


s: Her task was hard; she loved thee, it may be,


s: Yet must she break thy heart, so fate decreed.


s: She knew the world, she taught it unto thee,


s: Pity her! dreamlike did her love disperse,


s: She saw thy wound--nor could thy pain remove.


s: All was not falsehood in those tears of hers--


s: Pity her, though it were,--for thou canst love!


s: He longed for a bustling activity, aimed at a position at court,


s: Marrano..--See Verse xix., Line 7th of "Epistle."


s: The enforced recipients of baptism who remained in Spain formed a


s: And, in that day, I shall not greatly care


s: It will not grieve me then, as once it did,


s: A few short years at most (it may be less),


s: I shall have done with earthly storm and


s: The hat-stand seems to fill the tiny hall;


s: That staircase, too, has such an awkward


s: Then, all the rooms are cramped and close


s: And there's a musty smell in rainy weather.


s: Yes, and it makes the daily work go hard


s: These creaking doors, these draughts, this


s: Would try, I think, the temper of a saint,


s: Washing the breakfast dishes, so I think,


s: (Those endless pots, that filled the tiny


s: Enlarge my foolish heart, that by-and-by


s: Thou shalt have glory even in this place.


s: In carrying water up these awkward stairs,


s: As for the house . . . . Lord, let it be


s: To walk within it with a perfect heart."


s: Nay, not with principalities, nor powers--


s: Dark spiritual foes of God's and man's--


s: I toil with feverish haste, while tear-drops


s: (O, child of mine, be still. And listen--


s: So well (I thought), no skill contrive so


s: With leisured feet, and idle hands, I sat.


s: Sat down to listen, and to learn. And lo,


s: My thousand tasks were done the better so.


s: Remember childish joys and childish fears.


s: I never yet knew hands so soft and kind,


s: You who seemed hearkening to my lightest


s: When days are short, and nights are long;


s: Clings round my skirts till day is done;


s: "Christian!" he cried, "what is your stock-


s: No interview with Christ from day to day,


s: Then gently, lovingly, with look intense,


s: That all was true. The daily toil and press


s: If you had time . . . the daily Interview


s: (I dared, yes dared, to reason thus with


s: Or I shall smell the porridge burning, yes,


s: There's not ten minutes, Lord, in all the


s: I can be sure of peace in which to watch


s: That gentle Voice spake softly, lovingly--


s: Nice spicy buns for tea, hot from the baking,


s: Who made the time to join the butter queue


s: The kind soft wind of His sweet pleading


s: "Dear soul, do try the daily Interview!"


s: There came a breath from a far countrie,


s: "Your hall was as narrow as this is wide,


s: Till a ceiling fell, on my new frock too!


s: "In your parlour flooring a loose board hid,


s: When a great hope came to you, long ago?


s: With the silver urn, and the fluted plates.


s: But the little blind Love with the wings,


s: "Back to your place with the quiet dead.


s: Back to your place, lest my servants see,


s: Of sweetnesses which noble ladies crave.


s: To one who prays, but cannot sit at ease?


s: Up to Thy house, with saintly faces set;


s: Till vials full of odours cloud Thy feet;


s: And, if they knew, then would they greatly


s: When nurse has lowered that too-brilliant


s: When the talk ceases, and the ward grows


s: I know the anguish and the helplessness.


s: I know the fears that toss you to and fro.


s: No time to finish darning all the socks;


s: Nor sew clean frilling in the children's


s: To brush the kitchen flues, or scrub the


s: Knows just exactly how he likes his tea.


s: She loves to run outside into the street


s: And Jane's hands are so full, she'll never


s: And I'm quite sure the clean clothes won't


s: And, oh, I can't, I really can't be spared--


s: And I am waiting here to help and bless.


s: You are so weary, child, you are so weak.


s: This torturing fear that tosses you about.


s: Thou shouldest, in the high and heavenly


s: Pass over my affairs as things of nought.


s: There are so many houses just like mine.


s: And I so earth-bound, and Thyself Divine.


s: Have you forgotten then, My child, that I,


s: (Those days you toiled to get their meat


s: And made their clothes, and tried to under-


s: Their little ailments)--did you think your


s: Your feeble hand, was keeping them from ill?


s: I gave them life, and life is more than meat;


s: Those little limbs, so comely and so sweet.


s: You can make raiment for them, and are glad,


s: One cubit to their stature? Yet they grow!


s: And, oh, the rest it is, dear God, to know


s: That Thou wilt give me grace to live, not


s: And not to nag, nor fret because the blind


s: 'T'will take at least a month to get them


s: And all the milk has boiled away to waste!


s: About the saucepans, nor about the sink.


s: These light afflictions are but temporal


s: Then I shall smile when Jane, with towzled


s: (And lumpy gruel!), clatters up the stair.


s: Was lyin' underneath the elms, a-tryin' for


s: An' where the stream was tricklin' by, half


s: Heaped over thick with buttercups, I saw


s: Then through the sixteen-acre on I went,


s: Right to the bridge, where all our sheep


s: A-droppin' o' their fragrance on the clover


s: My lad was workin' with his team, as only


s: "COME BACK!" was what the tricklin' brook


s: An' they're lookin' through the papers for


s: An' steam comes out the wash-house door;


s: An' stockings, too--six, seven, eight, nine!


s: And all the music of the heavenly train.


s: Possessing all things, what hadst Thou to


s: It is, to seek Thee daily, unafraid . . .


s: Back in the dear old country 'tis Christ-


s: "Don't seem like Christmas time no more,


s: Will say her never tasted such, no, not in


s: "Why shouldest Thou be as a wayfaring man, that


s: turneth aside to tarry for a night?"--Jer. xiv. 8.


s: Some bread and cheese, 'tis truly whole-


s: We have to-morrow's dinner still to find;


s: The little attic room will do; 'tis bare,


s: But he'll be gone before to-morrow's light;


s: I shall not speak with him. Oh, no, not I,


s: 'Tis much to take him in a night like this.


s: "I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they


s: be of the same mind in the Lord"--Phil. iv. 2,


s: For His sake I'll consent to let her lead.


s: "I am a boxer, who does not inflict blows on the air,


s: but I hit hard and straight at my own body."--1 Cor.


s: And on the bridge, in dim December light,


s: The Picture News was suddenly pushed in.


s: By that slim winner. Then, he looked at me


s: "Your mother is a boxer, rightly styled.


s: She hits the air sometimes, though," and


s: I beat the air, because a neighbour's cow


s: And how I vexed myself that day, when he


s: And not a single piece of cake remained.


s: It uses lots of strength to beat the air!


s: For grace to hit the self-life every day.


s: And the old temper rises sharp and sore,


s: I shall hit hard and straight, O Tender-


s: To that wide casement, where I always see


s: Bright love-lamps leaning out to welcome


s: You rise to haunt me at the year's Spring-


s: Nor yet were you of gold or silver molten;


s: Your lid is chipped, your chubby side is


s: Is with unhandsome rivets held together--


s: And will the dust-heap, with its cabbage


s: Put off the old love, and put on the new.


s: Into her dreams, and over-ride her will?


s: Did her eyes shine, or her heart ever leap


s: There are Infinities of Knowledge, dear.


s: To you, the Uninitiate. . . . Life's book


s: The language written in your infant face.


s: And none but she interpreted your chatter.


s: Who else felt interest in such pitter-patter?


s: Or, weary, joined in all your games with


s: When, no more brave, nor sure, nor strong,


s: But still, my lady's mouth do smile, and


s: As Master John and Miss Elaine is coming


s: Then down to Farmer Westacott's, there's


s: 'Tis coming home the laddie is, to Somer-


s: And so her's baking spicy cakes, and stir-


s: And Ned is very nigh six foot, and Joe is


s: And all the vi'lets seem to know, and all


s: I never see sich gert blue eyes, I never


s: Not one could hold a candle light, 'long-


s: She's asking me for sups of tea, and bites


s: She's climbing into grandma's bed, she's


s: She's tore my paper into bits and strawed


s: "If all the weans in all the world," says


s: For Fanny's little Fanny--oh, she's took


s: 'Tis childern's childern is the CROWN of


s: Thus you went out--alone and uncaressed;


s: I never held you in my arms, nor pressed


s: In those dark days, when sorrowful, alone,


s: I knelt with tears, and prayed Him for a


s: Set my heart singing all in sweet accord;


s: Because of this, I love--I love the Lord!


s: In holy leisure, lifting hands of prayer,


s: To catch the first dear wonder of His Face!


s: It would be sweet, if even then, these eyes


s: All simply, to Him: "Come! And if to-day,


s: With puzzled forehead patching some one's


s: Guiding small footsteps, swift to hear, and


s: From early dawn till setting of the sun."


s: And whensoe'er He comes, I'll rise and go,


s: Yes, all the gladlier that He found me so.


s: "'Tis mine," cried he, "to bring her joy!"


s: Rang through the woodlands till it cleft


s: Blaze out . . . and with his old-time vow


s: I can feel the swift wind rushing by me,


s: For the Voice of the Lord fills the air!


s: And forth through the hollow I go, where


s: And here the frail windflowers will cluster,


s: "For through the moist leaves, brown and


s: Stood the township, where my errand lay.


s: So to the shops I go. What's that you're


s: I haste to purchase silks and satins fair.


s: Up yonder, in the little coppice there.)


s: Each celandine has donned a silken gown;


s: The violets are lifting shy sweet faces.


s: (And there's a chiff-chaff, soft, and slim, and


s: Sunbeams flecked their gorgeous dresses.


s: And nought to eat . . . so, DO 'ee, John."


s: To-night . . . ? and so the tale goes on,


s: 'Tis, "Sure you will, now DO 'ee, John."


s: Oh, is there any heartsease left, or any


s: And I sit and sing of the joyous spring,


s: 'Neath the hazel spray, where the catkins


s: For the Little Folk are busy in the bushes


s: They are packing up their treasures, every


s: Where the buttercups have flourished and


s: They left the Robin's carol out, to make


s: They packed the fragrance of the flowers,


s: On the stream the starlight shimmered, o'er


s: Music filtered through the forest--and the


s: The motor-bus swirled past with rush and


s: The bloaters in her basket, and the cheese


s: And then, athwart the noises of the street,


s: The shop-girl's look of pitying insolence


s: Because she paused to count the dwindling


s: That woman faced life's worries unafraid.


s: But things more costly still, too rare to


s: And, over chimney-pots, so bare and tall,


s: Hold once more their shattered fragrance


s: Dear dead loves, I wait and listen. Tell


s: With faint but ever-strength'ning flame,


s: They strayed, fair ghosts of other days,


s: Up blazed the fire, and, dazzling clear,


s: GOD SAVE THE KING. (But, sweetheart, you


s: Forgive us, thou--great England's kingly


s: To my son Tertius this book is dedicated


s: Daughter of Psyche, pledge of that last night


s: When, pierced with pain and bitter-sweet delight,


s: She knew her Love and saw her Lord depart,


s: Then breathed her wonder and her woe forlorn


s: Thou flower of rapture and thou fruit of grief;


s: A heavenly tone that keeps it undefiled,--


s: Thou flower-folded, golden-girdled, star-crowned Queen,


s: Whose bridal beauty mortal eyes have never seen!


s: Thou art the Angel of the pool that sleeps,


s: While peace and joy lie hidden in its deeps,


s: Waiting thy touch to make the waters roll


s: In healing murmurs round the weary soul.


s: My lonely heart has listened for thee long;


s: Across the crowded market-place of life,


s: Thy measured foot-fall, ringing light and clear


s: Above the unmeaning noises and the unruly strife;


s: Ah, turn this way, come close and speak to me!


s: From this dull bed of languor set my spirit free,


s: And bid me rise, and let me walk awhile with thee


s: That breathes familiar scent of many a flower,


s: Take the low path that leads thro' pastures green;


s: By tranquil love and simple joy beguiled,


s: Sing to my soul, as mother to her child.


s: The waves of light ebb slowly down the west:


s: Along the edge of dark some stars are burning


s: To guide thy spirit safely to an isle of rest.


s: Now let thy heart beat time to their slow measure


s: That swells, and sinks, and faints, and falls, till all is still.


s: Thy soul in calm content shall fall asleep,


s: Let go the thoughts that bind thee to thy grief:


s: Lie still, and watch the singing angels, reaping


s: The golden harvest of thy sorrow, sheaf by sheaf;


s: Or count thy joys like flocks of snow-white sheep


s: One secret of the world thro' which thou goest


s: To work with morning song, to rest with evening bells:


s: Thou still canst lay thee down in peace and sleep,


s: Out of the garden of playtime, out of the bower of rest,


s: Fain would I follow at daytime, music that calls to a quest.


s: With the long clear note of the hunting-horn


s: Drink of the magical potion music has mixed with her wine,


s: Full of the madness of motion, joyful, exultant, divine!


s: With the long, clear note of the hunting-horn,


s: In the long, clear note of the hunting-horn,


s: Now let the sleep-tune blend with the play-tune,


s: Weaving the mystical spell of the dance;


s: Lighten the deep tune, soften the gay tune,


s: Smoothly it swings, with a triplicate beat;


s: Wooing the heart and bewitching the feet.


s: Till the chord dissolves, and the dancers stay,


s: Turn with the tune again,--clarinets clear


s: Answer their pleading,--harps full of pleasure


s: Sprinkle their silver like light on the mere.


s: Till the fuller stream of the might of the tune,


s: Gliding like a dream in the light of the moon,


s: Bears them all away, and away, and away,


s: Music, they do thee wrong who say thine art


s: To bear the chain of the imperfect word,


s: By spirit winds that come we know not whence


s: Beating about the depths of pain or bliss,


s: That seeks its nest but knows not where it is,


s: And every dream that haunts, with dim delight,


s: The drowsy hour between the day and night,


s: The wakeful hour between the night and day,--


s: The queen who comes to set the captive free


s: Thou lendest wings to grief to fly away,


s: And wings to joy to reach a heavenly height;


s: Thou leadest forth to sob or sing itself to rest.


s: All these are thine, and therefore love is thine.


s: And trembling doubt, and certain-sure belief,


s: And fear, and hope, and longing unexpressed,


s: In pain most human, and in rapture brief


s: Love would possess, yet deepens when denied;


s: And love would give, yet hungers to receive;


s: Love like a prince his triumph would achieve;


s: And like a miser in the dark his joys would hide.


s: He leads his dreams like armed men in line;


s: Yet when the siege is set, and he must speak,


s: Less with his faltering lips than with his eyes


s: Love fain would tell it all, yet leaves the best untold.


s: But thou shalt speak for love.  Yea, thou shalt teach


s: For on thy head the cloven tongues of fire,--


s: Diminished chords that quiver with desire,


s: And major chords that glow with perfect peace,--


s: Sound with the 'cellos' pleading, passionate strain


s: The yearning theme, and let the flute reply


s: In placid melody, while violins complain,


s: Of bliss that trembles on the verge of pain,


s: With throbbing notes delayed, that would impart


s: To every urgent tone the beating of the heart.


s: The hopes and fears of love without a word.


s: Then comes the adagio, with a yielding theme


s: Through which the violas flow soft as in a dream,


s: Where every instrument is sounding free,


s: And harps like wedding-chimes are rung, and trumpets blown


s: Into the happy harbour of the perfect chord.


s: Light to the eye and Music to the ear,--


s: These are the builders of the bridge that springs


s: From earths's dim shore of half-remembered things


s: To reach the spirit's home, the heavenly sphere


s: Where nothing silent is and nothing dark.


s: Spanning the showery sky, far-off I hear


s: And while the symphony builds up its round


s: Above the tide of Time, far, far away I see


s: Imperial purple from the trombone flows,


s: The mellow horn melts into evening rose.


s: With threads of quivering light shot through and through.


s: Green as the mantle that the summer flings


s: Around the world, the pastoral reeds in time


s: And purer than the treasures of the mine,


s: Along the arch in choral song are rolled.


s: Across the bridge, so full, so strong, so sweet,


s: Within the arch of tones and colours seven


s: Is sunset-peace of earth, or sunrise-joy of Heaven.


s: Bathe me in pure delight and make me strong;


s: And draw the waves of passion into tides of peace.


s: While blending voices gently swing and sway


s: And sweeter still across the starlit gulf of night.


s: Of self in thy celestial-ordered strain,


s: Break on the coast of light in endless hymns of praise.


s: And far, and clear,--where advent of the night


s: Means only glorious nearness of the stars,


s: And dawn, unhindered, breaks above the bars


s: That long the lower world in twilight keep.


s: Thou sleepest not, and hast no need of sleep,


s: For all thy cares and fears have dropped away;


s: The night's fatigue, the fever-fret of day,


s: Are far below thee; and earth's weary wars,


s: Before thy sight like visions in a glass,


s: Or like the wrinkles of the storm that creep


s: So brief appear the conflicts, and so slight


s: The wounds men give, the things for which they fight.


s: Here hangs a fortress on the distant steep,--


s: Of snow-winged gulls: and yonder, in the plain,


s: The rolling clouds new shores and peaks are seen,


s: All day, in tranquil wisdom, looking down


s: On distant scenes of human toil and strife,


s: All night, with eyes aware of loftier life,


s: Uplooking to the sky, where stars are sown,


s: Dost watch the everlasting fields grow white


s: And welcome to thy dwelling-place sublime


s: The slippery crags and find thee on the height.


s: But in the depth thou hast another home,


s: To find thee in thy green and still retreat.


s: Of all-embracing knowledge.  Here, instead,


s: Across the meadows, and along the brook,--


s: Of the great sea towards which it gladly flows,--


s: A little field that bears a little wheat


s: To make a portion of earth's daily bread.


s: Whence the storm comes nor where it goes.


s: Nor dost thou greatly care, since all is well;


s: In patience till its slow reward is won.


s: Not far thou lookest, but thy sight is clear;


s: Not much thou knowest, but thy faith is dear;


s: For life is love, and love is always near.


s: Here friendship lights the fire, and every heart,


s: Sure of itself and sure of all the rest,


s: Dares to be true, and gladly takes its part


s: In open converse, bringing forth its best:


s: Here is Sweet music, melting every chain


s: And here, at last, is sleep, the gift of gifts,


s: The soul grown weary of the waking world,


s: And lays it, with its thoughts all furled,


s: Its fears forgotten, and its passions still,


s: Passionate, sensitive, proud, and strong,


s: Quick to throb with her hopes and fears,


s: Fierce to flame with her sense of wrong!


s: You, who turned when the dream grew cold,


s: Dimmed the face of the land with shame,--


s: Point to the blood on his robe of state,


s: As you faced the sea from your island home,


s: Now to your heart a thousand times more dear,--


s: Prayed for her, sung to her, fought for her,


s: High in the heavens the star of France stood clear!


s: Life worth living for great and small,--


s: And warrior-priest of world-wide charity!


s: Floating far in the light that never fails you,


s: Over the turmoil of mortal hopes and fears


s: Victor, forever victor, the whole world hails you!


s: With flowers beneath, above with starry lights,


s: And on the curving capes of every stream:


s: Thou who hast taken to thyself the wings


s: To thee I turn, to thee I make my prayer,


s: Was breathed within him, and his soul was born;


s: There all day long in Paradise he walked,


s: And in the cool of evening with thee talked.


s: Lost, long ago, that garden bright and pure,


s: Lost, that calm day too perfect to endure,


s: And lost the childlike love that worshipped and was sure!


s: For men have dulled their eyes with sin,


s: And dimmed the light of heaven with doubt,


s: And built their temple walls to shut thee in,


s: And framed their iron creeds to shut thee out.


s: But not for thee the closing of the door,


s: And thou hast wooed thy children, to restore


s: In peace of soul and simpleness of mind.


s: Joyful the heart that, when the flood rolled by,


s: Leaped up to see the rainbow in the sky;


s: And glad the pilgrim, in the lonely night,


s: For whom the hills of Haran, tier on tier,


s: Built up a secret stairway to the height


s: Where stars like angel eyes were shining clear.


s: From mountain-peaks, in many a land and age,


s: Have hailed the rising sun and worshipped thee;


s: And wayworn followers of the Indian sage


s: Have found the peace of God beneath a spreading tree.


s: Reading their beauty with a tranquil eye.


s: Where he could feed and comfort many a guest.


s: The vital joy that breathes itself in bloom;


s: And every bird that sang beside the nest


s: Told of the love that broods o'er every living thing.


s: His flock at sundown to the welcome fold,


s: His net across the waters gray and cold,


s: And all day long the patient reaper swing


s: His curving sickle through the harvest-gold.


s: So through the world the foot-path way he trod,


s: Drawing the air of heaven in every breath;


s: Beneath the open sky he gave his soul to God.


s: Him will I trust, and for my Master take;


s: Him will I follow; and for his dear sake,


s: From the prison of anxious thought that greed has builded,


s: From the fetters that envy has wrought and pride has gilded,


s: From the noise of the crowded ways and the fierce confusion,


s: From the folly that wastes its days in a world of illusion,


s: (Ah, but the life is lost that frets and languishes there!)


s: I would escape and be free in the joy of the open air.


s: By the breadth of the blue that shines in silence o'er me,


s: By the length of the mountain-lines that stretch before me,


s: By the height of the cloud that sails, with rest in motion,


s: Over the plains and the vales to the measureless ocean,


s: While the tremulous leafy haze on the woodland is spreading,


s: And the bloom on the meadow betrays where May has been treading;


s: (Lo, in the marvel of Springtime, dreams are changed into truth!)


s: By the faith that the flowers show when they bloom unbidden,


s: By the calm of the river's flow to a goal that is hidden,


s: By the trust of the tree that clings to its deep foundation,


s: By the courage of wild birds' wings on the long migration,


s: (Wonderful secret of peace that abides in Nature's breast!)


s: Teach me how to confide, and live my life, and rest.


s: For the comforting warmth of the sun that my body embraces,


s: For the cool of the waters that run through the shadowy places,


s: For the long breath, the deep breath, the breath


s: I will give thanks and adore thee, God of the open air!


s: Good cheer to help me bear the traveller's load,


s: And, for the hours of rest that come between,


s: An inward joy in all things heard and seen.


s: On all the brightness of the common day.


s: Shelter of forests, comfort of the grass,


s: And best of all, along the way, friendship and mirth.


s: In true possession, owning them by love;


s: From the green fields and from the waters clear,


s: From all that makes the world so bright and dear;


s: Of the deep sky and the far-smiling land,--


s: And breathe my body back to Nature's care,


s: My spirit out to thee, God of the open air.


s: In field or forest, at the desk or loom,


s: In roaring market-place or tranquil room;


s: "This is my work; my blessing, not my doom;


s: "This work can best be done in the right way."


s: Then shall I see it not too great, nor small,


s: To suit my spirit and to prove my powers;


s: Then shall I cheerful greet the labouring hours,


s: And cheerful turn, when the long shadows fall


s: Let me but live my life from year to year,


s: Not hurrying to, nor turning from, the goal;


s: Not mourning for the things that disappear


s: In the dim past, nor holding back in fear


s: From what the future veils; but with a whole


s: To Youth and Age, and travels on with cheer.


s: So let the way wind up the hill or down,


s: O'er rough or smooth, the journey will be joy:


s: Still seeking what I sought when but a boy,


s: New friendship, high adventure, and a crown,


s: My heart will keep the courage of the quest,


s: And hope the road's last turn will be the best.


s: Let me but love my love without disguise,


s: Nor wait to speak till I can hear a clue,


s: Nor play a part to shine in others' eyes,


s: Nor bow my knees to what my heart denies;


s: And let me worship where my love is due,


s: And so through love and worship let me rise.


s: For love is but the heart's immortal thirst


s: To be completely known and all forgiven,


s: So take me, dear, and understand my worst,


s: And freely pardon it, because confessed,


s: And let me find in loving thee, my best.


s: When to the garden of untroubled thought


s: The sweet, wild ways with stainless bloom inwrought,


s: And bowers of innocence with beauty fraught,


s: It seemed some purer voice must speak before


s: I dared to tread that garden loved of yore,


s: That Eden lost unknown and found unsought.


s: Then just within the gate I saw a child,--


s: A stranger-child, yet to my heart most dear;


s: He held his hands to me, and softly smiled


s: With eyes that knew no shade of sin or fear:


s: "Come in," he said, "and play awhile with me;


s: For that thy face is fair I love thee not;


s: Nor yet because the light of thy brown eyes


s: Hath gleams of wonder and of glad surprise,


s: Like woodland streams that cross a sunlit spot:


s: Nor for thy beauty, born without a blot,


s: Most perfect when it shines through no disguise


s: For all these outward things I love thee not:


s: But for a something in thy form and face,


s: And makes me feel the warmth of Nature's breast,


s: When in her arms, and thine, I sink to rest.


s: I see thee still the same, by night or day;


s: Crossing the crowded street, or moving bright


s: 'Mid festal throngs, or reading by the light


s: Of shaded lamp some friendly poet's lay,


s: Or shepherding the children at their play,--


s: The same sweet self, and my unchanged delight.


s: Through many moods with infinite surprise,--


s: Never the same, and sweeter with each change.


s: The fire of love was burning, yet so low


s: That in the dark we scarce could see its rays,


s: Nothing but smouldering embers dull and slow.


s: Vainly, for love's delight, we sought to throw


s: New pleasures on the pyre to make it blaze:


s: In life's calm air and tranquil-prosperous ways


s: Then in the night, a night of sad alarms,


s: Bitter with pain and black with fog of fears,


s: That drove us trembling to each other's arms--


s: Across the gulf of darkness and salt tears,


s: Into life's calm the wind of sorrow came,


s: And fanned the fire of love to clearest flame.


s: As thee, my country, had I felt the spell


s: The charm of France, or England's mighty sway.


s: As once to dream, or fashion words to tell,


s: What land could hold my love from thee away.


s: I feel thy sweet and secret sovereignty,


s: And woven through my soul thy vital sign.


s: My life is but a wave, and thou the flood;


s: Nor should I be at all, were I not thine.


s: It pleased the Lord of Angels (praise His name!)


s: To hear, one day, report from those who came


s: For some were sorry when they saw how slow


s: The stream of heavenly love on earth must flow;


s: And some were glad because their eyes had seen,


s: Along its banks, fresh flowers and living green.


s: So, at a certain hour, before the throne


s: The youngest angel, Asmiel, stood alone;


s: Nor glad, nor sad, but full of earnest thought,


s: And thus his tidings to the Master brought:


s: "Three servants of thy holy name, renowned


s: "Above their fellows.  One is very wise,


s: "With thoughts that ever range above the skies;


s: "And one is gifted with the golden speech


s: "That makes men glad to hear when he will teach;


s: "And one, with no rare gift or grace endued,


s: "Has won the people's love by doing good.


s: "With three such saints Lupon is trebly blest;


s: "But, Lord, I fain would know, which loves Thee best?"


s: Then spake the Lord of Angels, to whose look


s: The hearts of all are like an open book:


s: "In every soul the secret thought I read,


s: "And well I know who loves me best indeed.


s: "Whereon a man may write the thing he will;


s: "Therefore I read in silence, day by day,


s: "And wait for hearts untaught to learn my way.


s: "But thou shalt go to Lupon, to the three


s: "Who serve me there, and take this word from me:


s: "Tell each of them his Master bids him go


s: "Alone to Spiran's huts, across the snow;


s: "There he shall find a certain task for me:


s: "But what, I do not tell to them nor thee.


s: "Give thou the message, make my word the test,


s: "And crown for me the one who answers best."


s: Silent the angel stood, with folded hands,


s: To take the imprint of his Lord's commands;


s: Then drew one breath, obedient and elate,


s: And passed, the self-same hour, through Lupon's gate.


s: First to the Temple door he made his way;


s: He saw the folk by thousands thronging, stirred


s: By ardent thirst to hear the preacher's word.


s: Then, while the echoes murmured Bernol's name,


s: Through aisles that hushed behind him, Bernol came;


s: Strung to the keenest pitch of conscious might,


s: With lips prepared and firm, and eyes alight.


s: In silent prayer, and on his shoulder felt


s: The angel's hand:--"The Master bids thee go


s: "Alone to Spiran's huts, across the snow,


s: "To serve Him there."  Then Bernol's hidden face


s: Went white as death, and for about the space


s: Of ten slow heart-beats there was no reply;


s: Till Bernol looked around and whispered, "WHY?"


s: But answer to his question came there none;


s: The angel sighed, and with a sigh was gone.


s: Within the humble house where Malvin spent


s: His studious years, on holy things intent,


s: Sweet stillness reigned; and there the angel found


s: The saintly sage immersed in thought profound,


s: Weaving with patient toil and willing care


s: A seamless robe for Truth's great bridal meet,


s: And needing but one thread to be complete.


s: Then Asmiel touched his hand, and broke the thread


s: Of fine-spun thought, and very gently said,


s: "The One of whom thou thinkest bids thee go


s: "Alone to Spiran's huts, across the snow,


s: "To serve Him there."  With sorrow and surprise


s: Malvin looked up, reluctance in his eyes.


s: The broken thought, the strangeness of the call,


s: The perilous passage of the mountain-wall,


s: Of ways unknown, too great for his frail strength,


s: He scanned the doubtful task, and muttered "HOW?"


s: But Asmiel answered, as he turned to go,


s: With cold, disheartened voice, "I do not know."


s: Now as he went, with fading hope, to seek


s: The third and last to whom God bade him speak,


s: Scarce twenty steps away whom should he meet


s: But Fermor, hurrying cheerful down the street,


s: With ready heart that faced his work like play,


s: The angel stopped him with uplifted hand,


s: And gave without delay his Lord's command:


s: "He whom thou servest here would have thee go


s: "Alone to Spiran's huts, across the snow,


s: "To serve Him there."  Ere Asmiel breathed again


s: The eager answer leaped to meet him, "WHEN?"


s: The angel's face with inward joy grew bright,


s: And all his figure glowed with heavenly light;


s: He took the golden circlet from his brow


s: And gave the crown to Fermor, answering, "Now!


s: "For thou hast met the Master's bidden test,


s: "And I have found the man who loves Him best.


s: "Not thine, nor mine, to question or reply


s: "When He commands us, asking 'how?' or 'why?'


s: "He knows the cause; His ways are wise and just;


s: "Who serves the King must serve with perfect trust."


s: In robes of Tyrian blue the King was drest,


s: Lord of rich lands and many a splendid town.


s: Of sober kings, who ruled by right divine,


s: The people looked for leadership and law.


s: Ten thousand knights, the safeguard of the land,


s: Lay like a single sword within his hand;


s: A hundred courts, with power of life and death,


s: Proclaimed decrees of justice by his breath;


s: And all the sacred growths that men had known


s: Proud was the King: yet not with such a heart


s: Not his the pride that honours as a trust


s: The monarch's yoke, the master's load of care,


s: And labours like the peasant at his gate,


s: To serve the people and protect the State.


s: To him the crown and sceptre were but toys,


s: With which he played at glory's idle game,


s: To please himself and win the wreaths of fame.


s: The throne his fathers held from age to age,


s: Built for King Martin to display at will,


s: His mighty strength and universal skill.


s: No conscious child, that, spoiled with praising, tries


s: No favourite mountebank, whose acting draws


s: From gaping crowds loud thunder of applause,


s: Was vainer than the King: his only thirst


s: Was to be hailed, in every race, the first.


s: When tournament was held, in knightly guise


s: The King would ride the lists and win the prize;


s: When music charmed the court, with golden lyre


s: The King would take the stage and lead the choir;


s: In hunting, his the lance to slay the boar;


s: In hawking, see his falcon highest soar;


s: In painting, he would wield the master's brush;


s: In high debate,--"the King is speaking! Hush!"


s: Thus, with a restless heart, in every field


s: He sought renown, and found his subjects yield


s: But while he played the petty games of life


s: His kingdom fell a prey to inward strife;


s: Corruption through the court unheeded crept,


s: And on the seat of honour justice slept.


s: The strong trod down the weak; the helpless poor


s: Groaned under burdens grievous to endure.


s: The nation's wealth was spent in vain display,


s: And weakness wore the nation's heart away.


s: Yet think not Earth is blind to human woes--


s: Man has more friends and helpers than he knows;


s: And when a patient people are oppressed,


s: The land that bore them feels it in her breast.


s: Spirits of field and flood, of heath and hill,


s: Are grieved and angry at the spreading ill;


s: The trees complain together in the night,


s: Voices of wrath are heard along the height,


s: And secret vows are sworn, by stream and strand,


s: To bring the tyrant low and liberate the land.


s: But little recked the pampered King of these;


s: He heard no voice but such as praise and please.


s: Flattered and fooled, victor in every sport,


s: New ways to show his skill to wondering eyes.


s: There in the stream a patient fisher stood,


s: And cast his line across the rippling flood.


s: His silver spoil lay near him on the green:


s: "Such fish," the courtiers cried, "were never seen!


s: "Three salmon longer than a cloth-yard shaft--


s: "This man must be the master of his craft!"


s: "An easy art!" the jealous King replied:


s: "Myself could learn it better, if I tried,


s: "And catch a hundred larger fish a week--


s: "Wilt thou accept the challenge, fellow? Speak!"


s: The fisher turned, came near, and bent his knee:


s: "'T is not for kings to strive with such as me;


s: "But one condition of the strife I pray:


s: "The fisherman who brings the least to land


s: "Shall do whate'er the other may command."


s: Loud laughed the King: "A foolish fisher thou!


s: "For I shall win and rule thee then as now."


s: And slow, King Martin left the helm of state,


s: He all his time and all his powers addrest.


s: Sure such a sight was never seen before!


s: For robed and crowned the monarch trod the shore;


s: His golden hooks were decked with feathers fine,


s: With kingly strokes he flogged the crystal stream,


s: Far-off the salmon saw his tackle gleam;


s: Careless of kings, they eyed with calm disdain


s: The gaudy lure, and Martin fished in vain.


s: On Friday, when the week was almost spent,


s: He scanned his empty creel with discontent,


s: Called for a net, and cast it far and wide,


s: And drew--a thousand minnows from the tide!


s: Then came the fisher to conclude the match,


s: And at the monarch's feet spread out his catch--


s: "I win!" he cried: "the King must pay the score."


s: Then Martin, angry, threw his tackle down:


s: "Rather than lose this game I'd lose my crown!"


s: Nay, thou hast lost them both," the fisher said;


s: And as he spoke a wondrous light was shed


s: Around his form; he dropped his garments mean,


s: And in his place the River-god was seen.


s: "Thy vanity hast brought thee in my power,


s: "And thou shalt pay the forfeit at this hour:


s: "For thou hast shown thyself a royal fool,


s: "Too proud to angle, and too vain to rule.


s: "Eager to win in every trivial strife,--


s: "Go! Thou shalt fish for minnows all thy life!"


s: Wrathful, the King the scornful sentence heard;


s: He strove to answer, but he only CHIRR-R-ED:


s: His Tyrian robe was changed to wings of blue,


s: His crown became a crest,--away he flew!


s: And still, along the reaches of the stream,


s: The vain King-fisher flits, an azure gleam,--


s: You see his ruby crest, you hear his jealous scream.


s: Like a happy child, through the flowers gay


s: The stars shine out o'er the darkening lea,


s: And the quiet rest at the end o' the day,--


s: The brave, sweet words that cheer the way


s: And then?--Farewell, we shall meet again!


s: Now in the oak the sap of life is welling,


s: Now on the elm the misty buds are swelling,


s: See how the pine-wood grows alive with wings;


s: Blue-jays fluttering, yodeling and crying,


s: Meadow-larks sailing low above the faded grass,


s: Red-birds whistling clear, silent robins flying,--


s: Who has waked the birds up?  What has come to pass?


s: Last year's cotton-plants, desolately bowing,


s: Tremble in the March-wind, ragged and forlorn;


s: Red are the hill-sides of the early ploughing,


s: Gray are the lowlands, waiting for the corn.


s: Earth seems asleep still, but she's only feigning;


s: Deep in her bosom thrills a sweet unrest.


s: Look where the jasmine lavishly is raining


s: Jove's golden shower into Danae's breast!


s: Now on the plum the snowy bloom is sifted,


s: Over the hills a tender haze is drifted,


s: Full to the brim the yellow river flows.


s: Greener than emeralds shining in the sun.


s: Who has wrought the magic?  Listen, sweetheart, listen!


s: The mocking-bird is singing Spring has begun.


s: Hark, in his song no tremor of misgiving!


s: All of his heart he pours into his lay,--


s: "Love, love, love, and pure delight of living:


s: Winter is forgotten: here's a happy day!"


s: Fair in your face I read the flowery presage,


s: Snowy on your brow and rosy on your mouth:


s: Sweet in your voice I hear the season's message,--


s: Love, love, love, and Spring in the South!


s: I think of thee, when golden sunbeams shimmer


s: And when the waves reflect the moon's pale glimmer,


s: I see thy form, when down the distant highway


s: In deepest night, above the mountain by-way,


s: I hear thee when the ocean-tides returning


s: And on the lonely moor, in stillness yearning,


s: I dwell with thee: though thou art far removed,


s: The sun goes down, the stars shine out,--


s: "The rule was false, and the prize was pain,


s: In the fields, where wild flowers spring,


s: The answer came with a laugh and a song,--


s: Mother most dear I make this birthday prayer.


s: The deepening glow of Life that comes from Thee.


s: Feel fears depart and troubles fade away.


s: A comfort bring such as kind mothers use.


s: Life's winding way, lead her in peace divine.


s: Her due reward,--bless her in earth and heaven.


s: The worlds in which we live at heart are one,


s: The world "I am," the fruit of "I have done";


s: And underneath these worlds of flower and fruit,


s: The world "I love,"--the only living root.


s: All the trees are sleeping, all the winds are still,


s: All the flocks of fleecy clouds have wandered past the hill;


s: Through the noonday silence, down the woods of June,


s: Hark, a little hunter's voice comes running with a tune.


s: Now I hear his footsteps, rustling through the grass:


s: Hidden in my leafy nook, shall I let him pass?


s: Just a low, soft whistle,--quick the hunter turns,


s: Leaps upon me laughing, rolls me in the ferns.


s: Now I wander through the world and seek him high and low;


s: Hidden safe and happy, in some pleasant place,--


s: Ah, if I could hear his voice, I soon should find his face.


s: Birds that in the spring-time thrilled his heart with joy,


s: Flowers he loved to pick for me, mind me of my boy.


s: Surely he is waiting till my steps come nigh;


s: Love may hide itself awhile, but love can never die.


s: That far into my heart it found the way:


s: And still, in silent hours, I'm often hearing


s: The small, sweet song that does not die away.


s: So fair of face and fragrant for an hour,


s: That something dear to me it seemed to say:


s: A thought of joy that blossomed into being


s: Without a word; and now I'm often seeing


s: The friendly flower that does not fade away.


s: Into his mother's eyes and mine he smiled


s: Unconscious love; warm in our arms he lay.


s: An angel called! Dear heart, we could not hold him;


s: Yet secretly your arms and mine infold him--


s: Long, long ago?  Ah, memory, make it clear--


s: Let not the song be lost, the flower decay!


s: His voice, his waking eyes, his gentle sleeping:


s: The smallest things are safest in thy keeping.


s: Sweet memory, keep our child with us alway.


s: When the frosty kiss of Autumn in the dark


s: On the flowers, and the misty morning grieves


s: Then my olden garden, where the golden soil


s: Of a hundred years is mellow, rich, and deep,


s: 'Mid the crumpled beds of marigold and phlox,


s: Borders with its glossy green the ancient walks,


s: Of the human hopes that bloomed and withered here


s: Dreams of joy, that brightened all the labouring hours,


s: Yet the whispered story does not deepen grief;


s: For the loneliness of sorrow seems to flow


s: When I think of other lives that learned, like mine,


s: And remember that the sadness of the fall


s: What regrets, what longings for the lost were theirs!


s: For the silent strength that nerves us to endure


s: Pacing up and down the garden where they paced,


s: All their well-worn paths of patience, till I find


s: Faint and far away their ancient griefs appear:


s: Is the tender voice, the careworn, kindly face,


s: Let us walk together in the garden, dearest heart,


s: They who know the sorrows other lives have known


s: Not from my heart, life's crystal stream,


s: Yours is a garden of old-fashioned flowers;


s: Watching the lingering light of day there.


s: Old-time tunes and young love's laughter


s: These you learned in the Forest of Arden:


s: Friendly flowers with hearts all golden--


s: This is the reason why all men love you;


s: And fame well-earned, and friendship true,


s: And faith that fights the battle through,


s: And all your wit, and all your health,--


s: Our college rhymes,--how light they seem,


s: Like little ghosts of love's young dream


s: In mirth he mocks the other birds at noon,


s: But when the day departs he sings of love,--


s: His own wild song beneath the listening moon.


s: Look, turn it up or down, 't is perfect still,--


s: But holds no drop of life's heart-warming wine.


s: Though rains descend and loud winds call,


s: The lintel low enough to keep out pomp and pride:


s: The threshold high enough to turn deceit aside:


s: The doorband strong enough from robbers to defend:


s: This door will open at a touch to welcome every friend.


s: This is the soldier brave enough to tell


s: The glory-dazzled world that 'war is hell':


s: Lover of peace, he looks beyond the strife,


s: And rides through hell to save his country's life.


s: Chronology of Goldsmith's Life and Poems


s: On a Beautiful Youth struck Blind with Lightning


s: On seeing Mrs. *** perform in the Character of ****


s: An Epigram.  Addressed to the Gentlemen reflected on


s: Song ('Ah, me!  when shall I marry me?')


s: Translation ('Chaste are their instincts')


s: Epilogue written for 'She Stoops to Conquer' (1)


s: Epilogue written for 'She Stoops to Conquer' (2)


s: Song intended for 'She Stoops to Conquer'


s: Descriptions of Newell's Views of Lissoy, &c


s: Fragments of Translations, &c., by Goldsmith


s: Goldsmith on Poetry under Anne and George the First


s: Nesbit for Bulmer's 'Poems of Goldsmith and


s: engraved on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer's


s: by Charlton Nesbit for Bulmer's 'Poems of


s: by John Bewick for Bulmer's 'Poems of Goldsmith and


s: on wood by Thomas Bewick for Bulmer's 'Poems of


s: made by Thomas Stothard, R.A., for Aikin's


s: an etching by James Basire on the title-page


s: writing and signature, from Prior's 'Life of


s: a sketch by R. H. Newell ('Goldsmith's Poetical


s: and etched by James Bretherton.  From the


s: of a sketch by R. H. Newell ('Goldsmith's


s: assisting the rector of the neighbouring parish of Kilkenny West,


s: See 'Aesop' dancing, and his 'monkey' playing,--


s: afterwards steal out in the twilight to hear them sung to the


s: indiscriminate but applauding audience of the Dublin streets.


s: long-suffering uncle, he started for, and succeeded in reaching,


s: deliberately to make the tour of Europe on foot. 'Haud inexpertus


s: Goldsmith's name, but that of James Willington, one of his old


s: The publication of Marteilhe's 'Memoirs' had no influence upon


s: By this time Goldsmith had moved into those historic but now


s: landlady--has not yet been satisfactorily suggested. Possibly the


s: About Christmas in the same year Goldsmith moved into lodgings at


s: feelings. Upon his return he had to fall again to the old


s: Family remove to Lissoy, in the county of Westmeath.


s: Under Mr. Thomas Byrne of the village school.


s: June 11.          Admitted a sizar of Trinity College, Dublin,


s: Death of his father, the Rev. Charles Goldsmith.


s: May.              Takes part in a college riot.


s: June 15.          Obtains a Smythe exhibition.


s: February 27.      Takes his degree as Bachelor of Arts.


s: Rejected for orders by the Bishop of Elphin.


s: Sets out for America (via Cork), but returns.


s: Starts as a law student, but loses his all at play.


s: Goes to Edinburgh to become a medical student.


s: Takes degree of Bachelor of Medicine at Louvain (?).


s: Low comedian; usher (?); apothecary's journeyman;


s: Press corrector to Samuel Richardson, printer and


s: novelist; assistant at Peckham Academy (Dr. Milner's).


s: April.            Bound over to Griffiths the bookseller.


s: December 27.      Letter to his brother-in-law, Daniel Hodson.


s: condemned to the Galleys of France for his Religion'.


s: Gives up literature and returns to Peckham.


s: Appointed surgeon and physician to a factory


s: Moves into 12 Green Arbour Court, Old Bailey.


s: Coromandel appointment comes to nothing.


s: December 21.      Rejected at Surgeons' Hall as 'not qualified'


s: January  1.      'The British Magazine' commenced.


s: "   12.      'The Public Ledger' commenced.


s: Editing 'Lady's Magazine'.  Compiling Prefaces.


s: Moves into 6 Wine Office Court, Fleet Street.


s: February 23.      Pamphlet on Cock Lane Ghost published.


s: "    26.     'History of Mecklenburgh' published.


s: May 1.           'Citizen of the World' published.


s: May 1 to Nov. 1. 'Plutarch's Lives', vol. i to vii, published.


s: October 14.      'Life of Richard Nash' published.


s: "   28.       Sells third share of 'Vicar of Wakefield'


s: March 31.         Agrees with James Dodsley to write a


s: Persons of Great Britain and Ireland'. (Never done.)


s: 'The Club,' afterwards the Literary Club, founded.


s: June 26.          'History of England, in a series of Letters


s: June 4.          'Essays by Mr. Goldsmith' published.


s: March 27.        'Vicar of Wakefield' published.


s: May 31.          'Vicar of Wakefield', 2nd edition.


s: June.             Translation of Formey's 'Concise History of


s: August 29.       'Vicar of Wakefield', 3rd edition.


s: December 15.     'Poems for Young Ladies' published.


s: December 28.     'English Grammar' written.


s: April.           'Beauties of English Poesy' published.


s: "   25.          Letter to the 'St. James's Chronicle'.


s: February 5.       Publishes 'The Good Natur'd Man', a Comedy,


s: February 18.     'Epilogue to Mrs. Lenox's 'Sister'.'


s: May 18.          'Roman History' published


s: April 24-May 26.   Portrait by Reynolds exhibited.


s: May 26.           'The Deserted Village' published.


s: July 13.          'Life of Thomas Parnell' published.


s: July.              On the Continent with the Hornecks.


s: September 15.      Agreement for abridgement of 'Roman History'.


s: August 6.         'History of England' published.


s: December 11.      'Prologue to Cradock's 'Zobeide'.'


s: February 20.      'Threnodia Augustalis' published.


s: Watson's Engraving of 'Resignation' published.


s: December.          Abridgement of 'Roman History' published.


s: March 24.         Kenrick's libel in the 'London Packet'.


s: May 8.            'The Grumbler' produced.


s: April 19.        'Retaliation' published.


s: April.           'Vicar of Wakefield', 5th edition (dated 1773).


s: 'Two Songs from 'The Captivity' ('Haunch of Venison').


s: Monument with medallion by Nollekens erected in the


s: 'Miscellaneous Works', Percy's edition, published.


s: 'Epilogues (unspoken) to 'She Stoops to Conquer''


s: 'Miscellaneous Works', 'trade' edition, published.


s: 'Miscellaneous Works', Prior's edition, published.


s: 'Goldsmith's Works', Cunningham's edition, published.


s: January 5.        J. H. Foley's statue placed in front of


s: Or by the lazy Scheldt, or wandering Po;


s: Or onward, where the rude Carinthian boor


s: Against the houseless stranger shuts the door;


s: Or where Campania's plain forsaken lies,


s: Where'er I roam, whatever realms to see,


s: My heart untravell'd fondly turns to thee;


s: Still to my brother turns with ceaseless pain,


s: And drags at each remove a lengthening chain.


s: Eternal blessings crown my earliest friend,


s: And round his dwelling guardian saints attend:


s: Bless'd be that spot, where cheerful guests retire


s: To pause from toil, and trim their ev'ning fire;


s: Bless'd that abode, where want and pain repair,


s: Bless'd be those feasts with simple plenty crown'd,


s: Laugh at the jests or pranks that never fail,


s: Or sigh with pity at some mournful tale,


s: Or press the bashful stranger to his food,


s: But me, not destin'd such delights to share,


s: My prime of life in wand'ring spent and care,


s: Impell'd, with steps unceasing, to pursue


s: Some fleeting good, that mocks me with the view;


s: That, like the circle bounding earth and skies,


s: Allures from far, yet, as I follow, flies;


s: My fortune leads to traverse realms alone,


s: And find no spot of all the world my own.


s: E'en now, where Alpine solitudes ascend,


s: And, plac'd on high above the storm's career,


s: Look downward where a hundred realms appear;


s: Lakes, forests, cities, plains, extending wide,


s: The pomp of kings, the shepherd's humbler pride.


s: When thus Creation's charms around combine,


s: Amidst the store, should thankless pride repine?


s: Say, should the philosophic mind disdain


s: That good, which makes each humbler bosom vain?


s: Let school-taught pride dissemble all it can,


s: These little things are great to little man;


s: Ye glitt'ring towns, with wealth and splendour crown'd,


s: Ye fields, where summer spreads profusion round,


s: Ye lakes, whose vessels catch the busy gale,


s: Ye bending swains, that dress the flow'ry vale,


s: Creation's heir, the world, the world is mine!


s: Bends at his treasure, counts, re-counts it o'er;


s: Hoards after hoards his rising raptures fill,


s: Yet still he sighs, for hoards are wanting still:


s: Thus to my breast alternate passions rise,


s: Pleas'd with each good that heaven to man supplies:


s: Yet oft a sigh prevails, and sorrows fall,


s: To see the hoard of human bliss so small;


s: And oft I wish, amidst the scene, to find


s: Where my worn soul, each wand'ring hope at rest,


s: May gather bliss to see my fellows bless'd.


s: But where to find that happiest spot below,


s: Who can direct, when all pretend to know?


s: The shudd'ring tenant of the frigid zone


s: Boldly proclaims that happiest spot his own,


s: Extols the treasures of his stormy seas,


s: And his long nights of revelry and ease;


s: Boasts of his golden sands and palmy wine,


s: Basks in the glare, or stems the tepid wave,


s: And thanks his gods for all the good they gave.


s: Such is the patriot's boast, where'er we roam,


s: His first, best country ever is, at home.


s: And yet, perhaps, if countries we compare,


s: And estimate the blessings which they share,


s: Though patriots flatter, still shall wisdom find


s: As different good, by Art or Nature given,


s: To different nations makes their blessings even.


s: Still grants her bliss at Labour's earnest call;


s: With food as well the peasant is supplied


s: And though the rocky-crested summits frown,


s: These rocks, by custom, turn to beds of down.


s: From Art more various are the blessings sent;


s: Wealth commerce, honour, liberty, content.


s: Yet these each other's power so strong contest,


s: That either seems destructive of the rest.


s: Where wealth and freedom reign, contentment fails,


s: And honour sinks where commerce long prevails.


s: Hence every state to one lov'd blessing prone,


s: Each to the favourite happiness attends,


s: And spurns the plan that aims at other ends;


s: This favourite good begets peculiar pain.


s: But let us try these truths with closer eyes,


s: And trace them through the prospect as it lies:


s: Here for a while my proper cares resign'd,


s: Like yon neglected shrub at random cast,


s: That shades the steep, and sighs at every blast.


s: Far to the right where Apennine ascends,


s: Its uplands sloping deck the mountain's side,


s: While oft some temple's mould'ring tops between


s: Could Nature's bounty satisfy the breast,


s: Whatever fruits in different climes were found,


s: That proudly rise, or humbly court the ground;


s: Whatever blooms in torrid tracts appear,


s: Whose bright succession decks the varied year;


s: With vernal lives that blossom but to die;


s: These here disporting own the kindred soil,


s: Nor ask luxuriance from the planter's toil;


s: While sea-born gales their gelid wings expand


s: To winnow fragrance round the smiling land.


s: But small the bliss that sense alone bestows,


s: And sensual bliss is all the nation knows.


s: In florid beauty groves and fields appear,


s: Man seems the only growth that dwindles here.


s: Contrasted faults through all his manner reign;


s: Though poor, luxurious; though submissive, vain;


s: Though grave, yet trifling; zealous, yet untrue;


s: For wealth was theirs, not far remov'd the date,


s: When commerce proudly flourish'd through the state;


s: At her command the palace learn'd to rise,


s: Again the long-fall'n column sought the skies;


s: The canvas glow'd beyond e'en Nature warm,


s: The pregnant quarry teem'd with human form;


s: Till, more unsteady than the southern gale,


s: Commerce on other shores display'd her sail;


s: While nought remain'd of all that riches gave,


s: But towns unmann'd, and lords without a slave;


s: And late the nation found, with fruitless skill,


s: Its former strength was but plethoric ill.


s: Yet still the loss of wealth is here supplied


s: By arts, the splendid wrecks of former pride;


s: From these the feeble heart and long-fall'n mind


s: Here may be seen, in bloodless pomp array'd,


s: The paste-board triumph and the cavalcade;


s: By sports like these are all their cares beguil'd,


s: The sports of children satisfy the child;


s: Each nobler aim, repress'd by long control,


s: Now sinks at last, or feebly mans the soul;


s: While low delights, succeeding fast behind,


s: As in those domes, where Caesars once bore sway,


s: There in the ruin, heedless of the dead,


s: The shelter-seeking peasant builds his shed,


s: And, wond'ring man could want the larger pile,


s: Exults, and owns his cottage with a smile.


s: My soul, turn from them; turn we to survey


s: Where rougher climes a nobler race display,


s: Where the bleak Swiss their stormy mansions tread,


s: And force a churlish soil for scanty bread;


s: No product here the barren hills afford,


s: But man and steel, the soldier and his sword;


s: No vernal blooms their torpid rocks array,


s: But winter ling'ring chills the lap of May;


s: No Zephyr fondly sues the mountain's breast,


s: But meteors glare, and stormy glooms invest.


s: Yet still, e'en here, content can spread a charm,


s: Redress the clime, and all its rage disarm.


s: Though poor the peasant's hut, his feasts though small,


s: To shame the meanness of his humble shed;


s: No costly lord the sumptuous banquet deal


s: But calm, and bred in ignorance and toil,


s: Each wish contracting, fits him to the soil.


s: Cheerful at morn he wakes from short repose,


s: Breasts the keen air, and carols as he goes;


s: With patient angle trolls the finny deep,


s: Or drives his vent'rous plough-share to the steep;


s: Or seeks the den where snow-tracks mark the way,


s: And drags the struggling savage into day.


s: Smiles by his cheerful fire, and round surveys


s: His children's looks, that brighten at the blaze;


s: While his lov'd partner, boastful of her hoard,


s: Displays her cleanly platter on the board:


s: And haply too some pilgrim, thither led,


s: With many a tale repays the nightly bed.


s: Thus every good his native wilds impart,


s: Imprints the patriot passion on his heart,


s: And e'en those ills, that round his mansion rise,


s: Enhance the bliss his scanty fund supplies.


s: Dear is that shed to which his soul conforms,


s: And dear that hill which lifts him to the storms;


s: And as a child, when scaring sounds molest,


s: Clings close and closer to the mother's breast,


s: So the loud torrent, and the whirlwind's roar,


s: But bind him to his native mountains more.


s: Such are the charms to barren states assign'd;


s: Their wants but few, their wishes all confin'd.


s: Yet let them only share the praises due,


s: If few their wants, their pleasures are but few;


s: For every want that stimulates the breast,


s: Becomes a source of pleasure when redrest.


s: Whence from such lands each pleasing science flies,


s: That first excites desire, and then supplies;


s: Unknown to them, when sensual pleasures cloy,


s: To fill the languid pause with finer joy;


s: Unknown those powers that raise the soul to flame,


s: Catch every nerve, and vibrate through the frame.


s: Their level life is but a smould'ring fire,


s: Unquench'd by want, unfann'd by strong desire;


s: Unfit for raptures, or, if raptures cheer


s: In wild excess the vulgar breast takes fire,


s: Till, buried in debauch, the bliss expire.


s: But not their joys alone thus coarsely flow:


s: Their morals, like their pleasures, are but low;


s: For, as refinement stops, from sire to son


s: And love's and friendship's finely pointed dart


s: Some sterner virtues o'er the mountain's breast


s: May sit, like falcons cow'ring on the nest;


s: But all the gentler morals, such as play


s: Through life's more cultur'd walks, and charm the way,


s: These far dispers'd, on timorous pinions fly,


s: To kinder skies, where gentler manners reign,


s: I turn; and France displays her bright domain.


s: Gay sprightly land of mirth and social ease,


s: Pleas'd with thyself, whom all the world can please,


s: How often have I led thy sportive choir,


s: With tuneless pipe, beside the murmuring Loire!


s: Where shading elms along the margin grew,


s: And freshen'd from the wave the Zephyr flew;


s: And haply, though my harsh touch falt'ring still,


s: But mock'd all tune, and marr'd the dancer's skill;


s: Yet would the village praise my wondrous power,


s: And dance, forgetful of the noon-tide hour.


s: Have led their children through the mirthful maze,


s: And the gay grandsire, skill'd in gestic lore,


s: Has frisk'd beneath the burthen of threescore.


s: So bless'd a life these thoughtless realms display,


s: Theirs are those arts that mind to mind endear,


s: For honour forms the social temper here:


s: Honour, that praise which real merit gains,


s: Here passes current; paid from hand to hand,


s: It shifts in splendid traffic round the land:


s: From courts, to camps, to cottages it strays,


s: And all are taught an avarice of praise;


s: They please, are pleas'd, they give to get esteem,


s: Till, seeming bless'd, they grow to what they seem.


s: But while this softer art their bliss supplies,


s: It gives their follies also room to rise;


s: For praise too dearly lov'd, or warmly sought,


s: Enfeebles all internal strength of thought;


s: And the weak soul, within itself unblest,


s: Leans for all pleasure on another's breast.


s: Hence ostentation here, with tawdry art,


s: Pants for the vulgar praise which fools impart;


s: And trims her robes of frieze with copper lace;


s: Here beggar pride defrauds her daily cheer,


s: To boast one splendid banquet once a year;


s: The mind still turns where shifting fashion draws,


s: Nor weighs the solid worth of self-applause.


s: Embosom'd in the deep where Holland lies.


s: Methinks her patient sons before me stand,


s: Where the broad ocean leans against the land,


s: Lift the tall rampire's artificial pride.


s: The firm-connected bulwark seems to grow;


s: Spreads its long arms amidst the wat'ry roar,


s: Scoops out an empire, and usurps the shore;


s: While the pent ocean rising o'er the pile,


s: Sees an amphibious world beneath him smile;


s: The slow canal, the yellow-blossom'd vale,


s: The willow-tufted bank, the gliding sail,


s: Thus, while around the wave-subjected soil


s: Hence all the good from opulence that springs,


s: With all those ills superfluous treasure brings,


s: Are here displayed.  Their much-lov'd wealth imparts


s: Convenience, plenty, elegance, and arts;


s: But view them closer, craft and fraud appear,


s: At gold's superior charms all freedom flies,


s: The needy sell it, and the rich man buys;


s: Here wretches seek dishonourable graves,


s: Dull as their lakes that slumber in the storm.


s: Heavens!  how unlike their Belgic sires of old!


s: Rough, poor, content, ungovernably bold;


s: War in each breast, and freedom on each brow;


s: How much unlike the sons of Britain now!


s: Fir'd at the sound, my genius spreads her wing,


s: And flies where Britain courts the western spring;


s: Where lawns extend that scorn Arcadian pride,


s: And brighter streams than fam'd Hydaspes glide.


s: There all around the gentlest breezes stray,


s: There gentle music melts on ev'ry spray;


s: Creation's mildest charms are there combin'd,


s: Stern o'er each bosom reason holds her state,


s: Pride in their port, defiance in their eye,


s: Intent on high designs, a thoughtful band,


s: By forms unfashion'd, fresh from Nature's hand;


s: Fierce in their native hardiness of soul,


s: While e'en the peasant boasts these rights to scan,


s: Thine, Freedom, thine the blessings pictur'd here,


s: Thine are those charms that dazzle and endear;


s: Too bless'd, indeed, were such without alloy,


s: But foster'd e'en by Freedom, ills annoy:


s: That independence Britons prize too high,


s: Keeps man from man, and breaks the social tie;


s: The self-dependent lordlings stand alone,


s: All claims that bind and sweeten life unknown;


s: Here by the bonds of nature feebly held,


s: Minds combat minds, repelling and repell'd.


s: Ferments arise, imprison'd factions roar,


s: Repress'd ambition struggles round her shore,


s: Till over-wrought, the general system feels


s: Its motions stop, or frenzy fire the wheels.


s: Nor this the worst.  As nature's ties decay,


s: Fictitious bonds, the bonds of wealth and law,


s: Still gather strength, and force unwilling awe.


s: Hence all obedience bows to these alone,


s: And talent sinks, and merit weeps unknown;


s: Time may come, when stripp'd of all her charms,


s: The land of scholars, and the nurse of arms,


s: Where noble stems transmit the patriot flame,


s: Where kings have toil'd, and poets wrote for fame,


s: And scholars, soldiers, kings, unhonour'd die.


s: Yet think not, thus when Freedom's ills I state,


s: I mean to flatter kings, or court the great;


s: Ye powers of truth, that bid my soul aspire,


s: And thou, fair Freedom, taught alike to feel


s: The rabble's rage, and tyrant's angry steel;


s: By proud contempt, or favour's fostering sun,


s: Still may thy blooms the changeful clime endure,


s: For just experience tells, in every soil,


s: That those who think must govern those that toil;


s: And all that freedom's highest aims can reach,


s: Is but to lay proportion'd loads on each.


s: Hence, should one order disproportion'd grow,


s: O then how blind to all that truth requires,


s: Who think it freedom when a part aspires!


s: Calm is my soul, nor apt to rise in arms,


s: Except when fast-approaching danger warms:


s: But when contending chiefs blockade the throne,


s: Contracting regal power to stretch their own;


s: To call it freedom when themselves are free;


s: Each wanton judge new penal statutes draw,


s: Laws grind the poor, and rich men rule the law;


s: The wealth of climes, where savage nations roam,


s: Pillag'd from slaves to purchase slaves at home;


s: Tear off reserve, and bare my swelling heart;


s: Till half a patriot, half a coward grown,


s: Yes, brother, curse with me that baleful hour,


s: When first ambition struck at regal power;


s: And thus polluting honour in its source,


s: Gave wealth to sway the mind with double force.


s: Have we not seen, round Britain's peopled shore,


s: Her useful sons exchang'd for useless ore?


s: Seen all her triumphs but destruction haste,


s: Like flaring tapers bright'ning as they waste;


s: Seen opulence, her grandeur to maintain,


s: And over fields where scatter'd hamlets rose,


s: Have we not seen, at pleasure's lordly call,


s: The smiling long-frequented village fall?


s: Beheld the duteous son, the sire decay'd,


s: The modest matron, and the blushing maid,


s: Forc'd from their homes, a melancholy train,


s: To traverse climes beyond the western main;


s: Where wild Oswego spreads her swamps around,


s: And Niagara stuns with thund'ring sound?


s: E'en now, perhaps as there some pilgrim strays


s: Through tangled forests, and through dangerous ways;


s: Where beasts with man divided empire claim,


s: And the brown Indian marks with murd'rous aim;


s: There, while above the giddy tempest flies,


s: The pensive exile, bending with his woe,


s: To stop too fearful, and too faint to go,


s: Casts a long look where England's glories shine,


s: And bids his bosom sympathise with mine.


s: Vain, very vain, my weary search to find


s: That bliss which only centres in the mind:


s: Why have I stray'd from pleasure and repose,


s: In every government, though terrors reign,


s: Though tyrant kings, or tyrant laws restrain,


s: How small, of all that human hearts endure,


s: That part which laws or kings can cause or cure.


s: Still to ourselves in every place consign'd,


s: With secret course, which no loud storms annoy,


s: Glides the smooth current of domestic joy.


s: Luke's iron crown, and Damiens' bed of steel,


s: To men remote from power but rarely known,


s: Leave reason, faith, and conscience all our own.


s: Your sincere friend, and ardent admirer,


s: SWEET AUBURN! loveliest village of the plain,


s: Where health and plenty cheer'd the labouring swain,


s: Where smiling spring its earliest visit paid,


s: And parting summer's lingering blooms delay'd:


s: Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease,


s: Seats of my youth, when every sport could please,


s: How often have I loiter'd o'er thy green,


s: Where humble happiness endear'd each scene;


s: The decent church that topp'd the neighbouring hill,


s: The hawthorn bush, with seats beneath the shade,


s: For talking age and whisp'ring lovers made;


s: How often have I bless'd the coming day,


s: When toil remitting lent its turn to play,


s: And all the village train, from labour free,


s: Led up their sports beneath the spreading tree;


s: While many a pastime circled in the shade,


s: The young contending as the old survey'd;


s: And many a gambol frolick'd o'er the ground,


s: And sleights of art and feats of strength went round;


s: And still as each repeated pleasure tir'd,


s: Succeeding sports the mirthful band inspir'd;


s: The dancing pair that simply sought renown,


s: The swain mistrustless of his smutted face,


s: The bashful virgin's side-long looks of love,


s: The matron's glance that would those looks reprove:


s: These were thy charms, sweet village; sports like these,


s: With sweet succession, taught e'en toil to please;


s: These round thy bowers their cheerful influence shed,


s: These were thy charms--But all these charms are fled.


s: Sweet smiling village, loveliest of the lawn,


s: Thy sports are fled, and all thy charms withdrawn;


s: Amidst thy bowers the tyrant's hand is seen,


s: One only master grasps the whole domain,


s: And half a tillage stints thy smiling plain:


s: No more thy glassy brook reflects the day,


s: But chok'd with sedges, works its weedy way.


s: The hollow-sounding bittern guards its nest;


s: Amidst thy desert walks the lapwing flies,


s: And tires their echoes with unvaried cries.


s: Sunk are thy bowers in shapeless ruin all,


s: And the long grass o'ertops the mould'ring wall;


s: And trembling, shrinking from the spoiler's hand,


s: Far, far away, thy children leave the land.


s: Ill fares the land, to hast'ning ills a prey,


s: Where wealth accumulates, and men decay:


s: Princes and lords may flourish, or may fade;


s: A breath can make them, as a breath has made;


s: But a bold peasantry, their country's pride,


s: When once destroy'd, can never be supplied.


s: A time there was, ere England's griefs began,


s: When every rood of ground maintain'd its man;


s: For him light labour spread her wholesome store,


s: Just gave what life requir'd, but gave no more:


s: His best companions, innocence and health;


s: And his best riches, ignorance of wealth.


s: But times are alter'd; trade's unfeeling train


s: Usurp the land and dispossess the swain;


s: Along the lawn, where scatter'd hamlets rose,


s: Unwieldy wealth, and cumbrous pomp repose;


s: And every pang that folly pays to pride.


s: Those gentle hours that plenty bade to bloom,


s: Those calm desires that ask'd but little room,


s: Those healthful sports that grac'd the peaceful scene,


s: Liv'd in each look, and brighten'd all the green;


s: These, far departing, seek a kinder shore,


s: And rural mirth and manners are no more.


s: Sweet AUBURN!  parent of the blissful hour,


s: Thy glades forlorn confess the tyrant's power.


s: Amidst thy tangling walks, and ruin'd grounds,


s: And, many a year elaps'd, return to view


s: Where once the cottage stood, the hawthorn grew,


s: Remembrance wakes with all her busy train,


s: Swells at my breast, and turns the past to pain.


s: In all my wand'rings round this world of care,


s: In all my griefs--and GOD has given my share--


s: I still had hopes my latest hours to crown,


s: Amidst these humble bowers to lay me down;


s: To husband out life's taper at the close,


s: And keep the flame from wasting by repose.


s: I still had hopes, for pride attends us still,


s: Amidst the swains to show my book-learn'd skill,


s: Around my fire an evening group to draw,


s: And, as a hare, whom hounds and horns pursue,


s: Pants to the place from whence at first she flew,


s: I still had hopes, my long vexations pass'd,


s: Here to return--and die at home at last.


s: O blest retirement, friend to life's decline,


s: Retreats from care, that never must be mine,


s: How happy he who crowns in shades like these,


s: Who quits a world where strong temptations try


s: And, since 'tis hard to combat, learns to fly!


s: For him no wretches, born to work and weep,


s: Explore the mine, or tempt the dangerous deep;


s: To spurn imploring famine from the gate;


s: Angels around befriending Virtue's friend;


s: Bends to the grave with unperceiv'd decay,


s: While Resignation gently slopes the way;


s: And, all his prospects bright'ning to the last,


s: His Heaven commences ere the world be pass'd!


s: Sweet was the sound, when oft at evening's close


s: There, as I pass'd with careless steps and slow,


s: The mingling notes came soften'd from below;


s: The swain responsive as the milk-maid sung,


s: The sober herd that low'd to meet their young;


s: The noisy geese that gabbled o'er the pool,


s: The playful children just let loose from school;


s: The watchdog's voice that bay'd the whisp'ring wind,


s: And the loud laugh that spoke the vacant mind;


s: These all in sweet confusion sought the shade,


s: And fill'd each pause the nightingale had made.


s: No cheerful murmurs fluctuate in the gale,


s: No busy steps the grass-grown foot-way tread,


s: For all the bloomy flush of life is fled.


s: That feebly bends beside the plashy spring;


s: She, wretched matron, forc'd in age, for bread,


s: To strip the brook with mantling cresses spread,


s: To seek her nightly shed, and weep till morn;


s: She only left of all the harmless train,


s: Near yonder copse, where once the garden smil'd,


s: And still where many a garden flower grows wild;


s: There, where a few torn shrubs the place disclose,


s: The village preacher's modest mansion rose.


s: And passing rich with forty pounds a year;


s: Remote from towns he ran his godly race,


s: Nor e'er had chang'd, nor wished to change his place;


s: Unpractis'd he to fawn, or seek for power,


s: By doctrines fashion'd to the varying hour;


s: Far other aims his heart had learned to prize,


s: More skill'd to raise the wretched than to rise.


s: His house was known to all the vagrant train,


s: He chid their wand'rings, but reliev'd their pain;


s: The long-remember'd beggar was his guest,


s: Whose beard descending swept his aged breast;


s: The ruin'd spendthrift, now no longer proud,


s: Claim'd kindred there, and had his claims allow'd;


s: The broken soldier, kindly bade to stay,


s: Sat by his fire, and talk'd the night away;


s: Wept o'er his wounds, or tales of sorrow done,


s: Shoulder'd his crutch, and show'd how fields were won.


s: Pleas'd with his guests, the good man learn'd to glow,


s: And quite forgot their vices in their woe;


s: Careless their merits, or their faults to scan,


s: Thus to relieve the wretched was his pride,


s: And e'en his failings lean'd to Virtue's side;


s: He watch'd and wept, he pray'd and felt, for all.


s: And, as a bird each fond endearment tries


s: To tempt its new-fledg'd offspring to the skies,


s: He tried each art, reprov'd each dull delay,


s: Allur'd to brighter worlds, and led the way.


s: Beside the bed where parting life was laid,


s: And sorrow, guilt, and pain, by turns dismay'd,


s: The reverend champion stood.  At his control,


s: Despair and anguish fled the struggling soul;


s: Comfort came down the trembling wretch to raise,


s: And his last falt'ring accents whisper'd praise.


s: At church, with meek and unaffected grace,


s: Truth from his lips prevail'd with double sway,


s: And fools, who came to scoff, remain'd to pray.


s: The service pass'd, around the pious man,


s: With steady zeal, each honest rustic ran;


s: Even children follow'd with endearing wile,


s: And pluck'd his gown, to share the good man's smile.


s: His ready smile a parent's warmth express'd,


s: Their welfare pleas'd him, and their cares distress'd;


s: To them his heart, his love, his griefs were given,


s: But all his serious thoughts had rest in Heaven.


s: As some tall cliff, that lifts its awful form,


s: Swells from the vale, and midway leaves the storm,


s: Though round its breast the rolling clouds are spread,


s: Beside yon straggling fence that skirts the way,


s: There, in his noisy mansion, skill'd to rule,


s: The village master taught his little school;


s: Well had the boding tremblers learn'd to trace


s: The day's disasters in his morning face;


s: Full well they laugh'd, with counterfeited glee,


s: At all his jokes, for many a joke had he;


s: Full well the busy whisper, circling round,


s: Convey'd the dismal tidings when he frown'd;


s: The love he bore to learning was in fault;


s: The village all declar'd how much he knew;


s: 'Twas certain he could write, and cypher too;


s: Lands he could measure, terms and tides presage,


s: And e'en the story ran that he could gauge.


s: In arguing too, the parson own'd his skill,


s: For e'en though vanquish'd, he could argue still;


s: While words of learned length and thund'ring sound


s: Amazed the gazing rustics rang'd around,


s: And still they gaz'd, and still the wonder grew,


s: That one small head could carry all he knew.


s: But past is all his fame.  The very spot


s: Where many a time he triumph'd, is forgot.


s: Near yonder thorn, that lifts its head on high,


s: Where once the sign-post caught the passing eye,


s: Low lies that house where nut-brown draughts inspir'd,


s: Where grey-beard mirth and smiling toil retir'd,


s: Where village statesmen talk'd with looks profound,


s: And news much older than their ale went round.


s: The parlour splendours of that festive place;


s: The white-wash'd wall, the nicely sanded floor,


s: The varnish'd clock that click'd behind the door;


s: The chest contriv'd a double debt to pay,


s: A bed by night, a chest of drawers by day;


s: The pictures plac'd for ornament and use,


s: The twelve good rules, the royal game of goose;


s: The hearth, except when winter chill'd the day,


s: With aspen boughs, and flowers, and fennel gay;


s: While broken tea-cups, wisely kept for show,


s: Rang'd o'er the chimney, glisten'd in a row.


s: Vain, transitory splendours!  Could not all


s: Reprieve the tottering mansion from its fall!


s: Obscure it sinks, nor shall it more impart


s: An hour's importance to the poor man's heart;


s: Thither no more the peasant shall repair


s: No more the farmer's news, the barber's tale,


s: No more the wood-man's ballad shall prevail;


s: No more the smith his dusky brown shall clear,


s: Relax his pond'rous strength, and lean to hear;


s: The host himself no longer shall be found


s: Careful to see the mantling bliss go round;


s: Nor the coy maid, half willing to be press'd,


s: Shall kiss the cup to pass it to the rest.


s: Yes!  let the rich deride, the proud disdain,


s: These simple blessings of the lowly train;


s: One native charm, than all the gloss of art;


s: Spontaneous joys, where Nature has its play,


s: The soul adopts, and owns their first-born sway;


s: Lightly they frolic o'er the vacant mind,


s: But the long pomp, the midnight masquerade,


s: With all the freaks of wanton wealth array'd,


s: In these, ere triflers half their wish obtain,


s: And, e'en while fashion's brightest arts decoy,


s: The heart distrusting asks, if this be joy.


s: Ye friends to truth, ye statesmen, who survey


s: The rich man's joys increase, the poor's decay,


s: 'Tis yours to judge, how wide the limits stand


s: Proud swells the tide with loads of freighted ore,


s: And shouting Folly hails them from her shore;


s: Hoards, e'en beyond the miser's wish abound,


s: And rich men flock from all the world around.


s: Yet count our gains.  This wealth is but a name


s: That leaves our useful products still the same.


s: Nor so the loss.  The man of wealth and pride


s: Takes up a space that many poor supplied;


s: Space for his lake, his park's extended bounds,


s: Space for his horses, equipage, and hounds;


s: The robe that wraps his limbs in silken sloth


s: Has robb'd the neighbouring fields of half their growth,


s: His seat, where solitary sports are seen,


s: Indignant spurns the cottage from the green;


s: Around the world each needful product flies,


s: For all the luxuries the world supplies:


s: While thus the land adorn'd for pleasure, all


s: In barren splendour feebly waits the fall.


s: As some fair female unadorn'd and plain,


s: Secure to please while youth confirms her reign,


s: Slights every borrow'd charm that dress supplies,


s: Nor shares with art the triumph of her eyes:


s: But when those charms are pass'd, for charms are frail,


s: When time advances, and when lovers fail,


s: She then shines forth, solicitous to bless,


s: Thus fares the land, by luxury betray'd,


s: In nature's simplest charms at first array'd;


s: But verging to decline, its splendours rise,


s: Its vistas strike, its palaces surprise;


s: While scourg'd by famine from the smiling land,


s: The mournful peasant leads his humble band;


s: And while he sinks, without one arm to save,


s: The country blooms--a garden, and a grave.


s: Where then, ah!  where, shall poverty reside,


s: To 'scape the pressure of continuous pride?


s: If to some common's fenceless limits stray'd,


s: He drives his flock to pick the scanty blade,


s: Those fenceless fields the sons of wealth divide,


s: And e'en the bare-worn common is denied.


s: If to the city sped--What waits him there?


s: To see profusion that he must not share/


s: To see ten thousand baneful arts combin'd


s: To see those joys the sons of pleasure know


s: Extorted from his fellow creature's woe.


s: Here, while the courtier glitters in brocade,


s: There the pale artist plies the sickly trade;


s: Here, while the proud their long-drawn pomps display,


s: There the black gibbet glooms beside the way.


s: The dome where Pleasure holds her midnight reign


s: Here, richly deck'd, admits the gorgeous train;


s: Tumultuous grandeur crowds the blazing square,


s: The rattling chariots clash, the torches glare.


s: Sure scenes like these no troubles e'er annoy!


s: Are these thy serious thoughts?--Ah, turn thine eyes


s: Where the poor houseless shiv'ring female lies.


s: She once, perhaps, in village plenty bless'd,


s: Has wept at tales of innocence distress'd;


s: Her modest looks the cottage might adorn,


s: Sweet as the primrose peeps beneath the thorn;


s: Now lost to all; her friends, her virtue fled,


s: Near her betrayer's door she lays her head,


s: And, pinch'd with cold, and shrinking from the shower,


s: With heavy heart deplores that luckless hour,


s: She left her wheel and robes of country brown.


s: Do thine, sweet AUBURN, thine, the loveliest train,


s: Do thy fair tribes participate her pain?


s: E'en now, perhaps by cold and hunger led,


s: At proud men's doors they ask a little bread!


s: Ah, no.  To distant climes, a dreary scene,


s: Where half the convex world intrudes between,


s: Through torrid tracts with fainting steps they go,


s: Far different there from all that charm'd before,


s: The various terrors of that horrid shore;


s: Those blazing suns that dart a downward ray,


s: Those matted woods where birds forget to sing,


s: But silent bats in drowsy clusters cling;


s: Those pois'nous fields with rank luxuriance crown'd,


s: Where the dark scorpion gathers death around;


s: Where at each step the stranger fears to wake


s: The rattling terrors of the vengeful snake;


s: Where crouching tigers wait their hapless prey,


s: And savage men more murd'rous still than they;


s: While oft in whirls the mad tornado flies,


s: Mingling the ravag'd landscape with the skies.


s: Far different these from every former scene,


s: The cooling brook, the grassy-vested green,


s: The breezy covert of the warbling grove,


s: That only shelter'd thefts of harmless love.


s: Good heaven!  what sorrows gloom'd that parting day,


s: That call'd them from their native walks away;


s: When the poor exiles, every pleasure pass'd,


s: Hung round their bowers, and fondly look'd their last,


s: And took a long farewell, and wish'd in vain


s: For seats like these beyond the western main;


s: And shudd'ring still to face the distant deep,


s: Return'd and wept, and still return'd to weep.


s: The good old sire, the first prepar'd to go


s: To new-found worlds, and wept for others' woe;


s: But for himself, in conscious virtue brave,


s: He only wish'd for worlds beyond the grave.


s: His lovely daughter, lovlier in her tears,


s: The fond companion of his helpless years,


s: Silent went next, neglectful of her charms,


s: With louder plaints the mother spoke her woes,


s: And bless'd the cot where every pleasure rose


s: And kiss'd her thoughtless babes with many a tear,


s: And clasp'd them close, in sorrow doubly dear;


s: Whilst her fond husband strove to lend relief


s: O Luxury!  thou curs'd by Heaven's decree,


s: How ill exchang'd are things like these for thee!


s: Diffuse their pleasures only to destroy!


s: Kingdoms, by thee, to sickly greatness grown,


s: At every draught more large and large they grow,


s: Till sapp'd their strength, and every part unsound,


s: Down, down they sink, and spread a ruin round.


s: And half the business of destruction done;


s: E'en now, methinks, as pond'ring here I stand,


s: Down where yon anchoring vessel spreads the sail,


s: That idly waiting flaps with ev'ry gale,


s: Pass from the shore, and darken all the strand.


s: And kind connubial tenderness, are there;


s: And thou, sweet Poetry, thou loveliest maid,


s: Still first to fly where sensual joys invade;


s: Unfit in these degenerate times of shame,


s: To catch the heart, or strike for honest fame;


s: Dear charming nymph, neglected and decried,


s: Thou source of all my bliss, and all my woe,


s: That found'st me poor at first, and keep'st me so;


s: Thou guide by which the nobler arts excel,


s: Thou nurse of every virtue, fare thee well!


s: Farewell, and Oh!  where'er thy voice be tried,


s: On Torno's cliffs, or Pambamarca's side,


s: Whether where equinoctial fervours glow,


s: Or winter wraps the polar world in snow,


s: Still let thy voice, prevailing over time,


s: Redress the rigours of th' inclement clime;


s: Aid slighted truth; with thy persuasive strain


s: Teach erring man to spurn the rage of gain;


s: Teach him, that states of native strength possess'd,


s: Though very poor, may still be very bless'd;


s: That trade's proud empire hastes to swift decay,


s: While self-dependent power can time defy,


s: As rocks resist the billows and the sky.


s: WHAT!  no way left to shun th' inglorious stage,


s: Scarce half alive, oppress'd with many a year,


s: What in the name of dotage drives me here?


s: A time there was, when glory was my guide,


s: Nor force nor fraud could turn my steps aside;


s: Unaw'd by pow'r, and unappall'd by fear,


s: With honest thrift I held my honour dear;


s: But this vile hour disperses all my store,


s: For ah!  too partial to my life's decline,


s: Caesar persuades, submission must be mine;


s: Hopeless of pleasing, yet inclin'd to please.


s: Here then at once, I welcome every shame,


s: And cancel at threescore a life of fame;


s: No more my titles shall my children tell,


s: The old buffoon will fit my name as well;


s: This day beyond its term my fate extends,


s: Have strove to prove with great precision,


s: And that brute beasts are far before 'em,


s: Or friend beguile with lies and flattery?


s: They eat their meals, and take their sport,


s: At court, the porters, lacqueys, waiters,


s: Which triumph forces from the patriot heart,


s: Grief dares to mingle her soul-piercing voice,


s: And quells the raptures which from pleasures start.


s: O WOLFE!  to thee a streaming flood of woe,


s: Sighing we pay, and think e'en conquest dear;


s: QUEBEC in vain shall teach our breast to glow,


s: Whilst thy sad fate extorts the heart-wrung tear.


s: And saw thee fall with joy-pronouncing eyes:


s: Yet they shall know thou conquerest, though dead--


s: Since from thy tomb a thousand heroes rise!


s: That had she liv'd a twelve-month more,--


s: WHERE the Red Lion flaring o'er the way,


s: Invites each passing stranger that can pay;


s: Where Calvert's butt, and Parsons' black champagne,


s: Regale the drabs and bloods of Drury-lane;


s: There in a lonely room, from bailiffs snug,


s: The Muse found Scroggen stretch'd beneath a rug;


s: A window, patch'd with paper, lent a ray,


s: That dimly show'd the state in which he lay;


s: The sanded floor that grits beneath the tread;


s: The humid wall with paltry pictures spread:


s: The royal game of goose was there in view,


s: And the twelve rules the royal martyr drew;


s: The seasons, fram'd with listing, found a place,


s: And brave prince William show'd his lamp-black face:


s: The morn was cold, he views with keen desire


s: With beer and milk arrears the frieze was scor'd,


s: And five crack'd teacups dress'd the chimney board;


s: A nightcap deck'd his brows instead of bay,


s: FOR you, bright fair, the nine address their lays,


s: And tune my feeble voice to sing thy praise.


s: The heartfelt power of every charm divine,


s: Who can withstand their all-commanding shine?


s: See how she moves along with every grace,


s: While soul-brought tears steal down each shining face.


s: She speaks!  'tis rapture all, and nameless bliss,


s: Ye gods!  what transport e'er compared to this.


s: As when in Paphian groves the Queen of Love


s: With fond complaint addressed the listening Jove,


s: 'Twas joy, and endless blisses all around,


s: And rocks forgot their hardness at the sound.


s: Then first, at last even Jove was taken in,


s: And felt her charms, without disguise, within.


s: He still shall live, shall live as long!--


s: Worried with debts and past all hopes of bail,


s: LET not the 'hungry' Bavius' angry stroke


s: But pitying his distress, let virtue shine,


s: And giving each your bounty, 'let him dine';


s: For thus retain'd, as learned counsel can,


s: 'Twas no defect of yours, but 'pocket low',


s: That caused his 'putrid kennel' to o'erflow.


s: 'TWAS you, or I, or he, or all together,


s: 'Twas one, both, three of them, they know not whether;


s: This, I believe, between us great or small,


s: You, I, he, wrote it not--'twas Churchill's all.


s: He drank his glass and crack'd his joke,


s: Miss frown'd, and blush'd, and then was -- married.


s: The fifth was friendship mix'd with bliss:


s: Found half the charms that deck'd her face


s: 'Tis true she dress'd with modern grace,


s: In short, by night, 'twas fits or fretting;


s: The 'squire and captain took their stations,


s: While all their hours were pass'd between


s: And, though her fops are wond'rous civil,


s: The stress of all my proofs on him I lay,


s: Well!  what is it from thence we gather?


s: With wit that's flighty, learning light;


s: With this he drives men's souls to hell.


s: Well!  what of that?  out with it--stealing;


s: Are they but senseless stones and blocks?


s: 'For shame, fond youth, thy sorrows hush,


s: Around from all the neighbouring streets


s: As puffing quacks some caitiff wretch procure


s: To swear the pill, or drop, has wrought a cure;


s: Thus on the stage, our play-wrights still depend


s: For Epilogues and Prologues on some friend,


s: Who knows each art of coaxing up the town,


s: And make full many a bitter pill go down.


s: Conscious of this, our bard has gone about,


s: And teas'd each rhyming friend to help him out.


s: 'An Epilogue -- things can't go on without it;


s: It could not fail, would you but set about it.'


s: 'Young man,' cries one -- a bard laid up in clover --


s: 'Alas, young man, my writing days are over;


s: Let boys play tricks, and kick the straw; not I:


s: Your brother Doctor there, perhaps, may try.'


s: 'What I? dear Sir,' the Doctor interposes


s: 'What plant my thistle, Sir, among his roses!


s: No, no; I've other contests to maintain;


s: To-night I head our troops at Warwick Lane:


s: Go, ask your manager.'  'Who, me?  Your pardon;


s: Those things are not our forte at Covent Garden.'


s: Our Author's friends, thus plac'd at happy distance,


s: Give him good words indeed, but no assistance.


s: As some unhappy wight, at some new play,


s: While oft, with many a smile, and many a shrug,


s: He eyes the centre, where his friends sit snug;


s: His simp'ring friends, with pleasure in their eyes,


s: He nods, they nod; he cringes, they grimace;


s: But not a soul will budge to give him place.


s: Since then, unhelp'd, our bard must now conform


s: 'To 'bide the pelting of this pitiless storm' --


s: Blame where you must, be candid where you can;


s: And be each critic the 'Good Natur'd Man'.


s: WHAT! five long acts -- and all to make us wiser!


s: Our authoress sure has wanted an adviser.


s: Had she consulted 'me', she should have made


s: Warm'd up each bustling scene, and in her rage


s: Have emptied all the green-room on the stage.


s: My life on't, this had kept her play from sinking;


s: Have pleas'd our eyes, and sav'd the pain of thinking.


s: Well!  since she thus has shown her want of skill,


s: But how?  ay, there's the rub!  ('pausing') -- I've got my cue:


s: The world's a masquerade!  the maskers, you, you, you.


s: ____, what a group the motley scene discloses!


s: False wits, false wives, false virgins, and false spouses!


s: Statesmen with bridles on; and, close beside 'em,


s: Patriots, in party-coloured suits, that ride 'em.


s: There Hebes, turn'd of fifty, try once more


s: To raise a flame in Cupids of threescore.


s: These in their turn, with appetites as keen,


s: Miss, not yet full fifteen, with fire uncommon,


s: Flings down her sampler, and takes up the woman:


s: The little urchin smiles, and spreads her lure,


s: And tries to kill, ere she's got power to cure.


s: Thus 'tis with all -- their chief and constant care


s: Is to seem everything but what they are.


s: Yon broad, bold, angry spark, I fix my eye on,


s: Who seems to have robb'd his vizor from the lion;


s: Who frowns, and talks, and swears, with round parade,


s: Looking as who should say, D__ __! who's afraid?


s: Perhaps, to vulgar eyes, bestrides the state;


s: Yet, when he deigns his real shape t' assume,


s: He turns old woman, and bestrides a broom.


s: Yon patriot, too, who presses on your sight,


s: He bows, turns round, and whip -- the man's a black!


s: Yon critic, too -- but whither do I run?


s: Well then a truce, since she requests it too:


s: Do you spare her, and I'll for once spare you.


s: IN these bold times, when Learning's sons explore


s: The distant climate and the savage shore;


s: And quit for Venus, many a brighter here;


s: While Botanists, all cold to smiles and dimpling,


s: Forsake the fair, and patiently -- go simpling;


s: When every bosom swells with wond'rous scenes,


s: Priests, cannibals, and hoity-toity queens:


s: Our bard into the general spirit enters,


s: And fits his little frigate for adventures:


s: With Scythian stores, and trinkets deeply laden,


s: He this way steers his course, in hopes of trading --


s: Yet ere he lands he 'as ordered me before,


s: Where are we driven?  our reck'ning sure is lost!


s: This seems a barren and a dangerous coast.


s: Yon ill foreboding cloud seems big with thunder.


s: There Mangroves spread, and larger than I've seen 'em --


s: Here trees of stately size -- and turtles in 'em --


s: And apples ('takes up one and tastes it'),


s: I heard a hissing -- there are serpents here!


s: O there the natives are -- a dreadful race!


s: The men have tails, the women paint the face!


s: No doubt they're all barbarians. -- Yes, 'tis so,


s: I'll try to make palaver with them though;


s: 'Tis best, however, keeping at a distance.


s: Good Savages, our Captain craves assistance;


s: Our ship's well stor'd; -- in yonder creek we've laid her;


s: This is his first adventure; lend him aid,


s: Or you may chance to spoil a thriving trade.