The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
 | II. |
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| III, IV, V. |
| VI, VII. |
| VIII. |
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
“Oh! vaunt of worthless art,” the swain replied,
Scowling contempt, “how pitiful this pride!
“What are these specious gifts, these paltry gains,
“But base rewards for ignominious pains?
“With all thy tricking, still for bread we strive,
“Thine is, proud wretch! the care that cannot thrive;
“By all thy boasted skill and baffled hooks,
“Thou gain'st no more than students by their books
“No more than I for my poor deeds am paid,
“Whom none can blame, will help, or dare upbraid.
Scowling contempt, “how pitiful this pride!
“What are these specious gifts, these paltry gains,
“But base rewards for ignominious pains?
“With all thy tricking, still for bread we strive,
“Thine is, proud wretch! the care that cannot thrive;
“By all thy boasted skill and baffled hooks,
“Thou gain'st no more than students by their books
“No more than I for my poor deeds am paid,
“Whom none can blame, will help, or dare upbraid.
“Call this our need, a bog that all devours,—
“Then what thy petty arts, but summer-flowers,
“Gaudy and mean, and serving to betray
“The place they make unprofitably gay?
“Who know it not, some useless beauties see,—
“But ah! to prove it was reserved for me.”
“Then what thy petty arts, but summer-flowers,
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“The place they make unprofitably gay?
“Who know it not, some useless beauties see,—
“But ah! to prove it was reserved for me.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |