The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
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 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
His spell prepared, in form an ancient dame,
A fiend in spirit, to the cot he came;
There gain'd admittance, and the infant press'd
(Muttering his wicked magic) to his breast;
And thus he said:—“Of all the powers, who wait
“On Jove's decrees, and do the work of fate,
“Was I, alone, despised or worthless, found,
“Weak to protect, or impotent to wound?
“See then thy foe, regret the friendship lost,
“And learn my skill, but learn it at your cost.
A fiend in spirit, to the cot he came;
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(Muttering his wicked magic) to his breast;
And thus he said:—“Of all the powers, who wait
“On Jove's decrees, and do the work of fate,
“Was I, alone, despised or worthless, found,
“Weak to protect, or impotent to wound?
“See then thy foe, regret the friendship lost,
“And learn my skill, but learn it at your cost.
“Know, then, O child! devote to fates severe
“The good shall hate thy name, the wise shall fear;
“Wit shall deride, and no protecting friend
“Thy shame shall cover, or thy name defend.
“Thy gentle sex, who, more than ours, should spare
“A humble foe, will greater scorn declare;
“The base alone thy advocates shall be,
“Or boast alliance with a wretch like thee.”
“The good shall hate thy name, the wise shall fear;
“Wit shall deride, and no protecting friend
“Thy shame shall cover, or thy name defend.
“Thy gentle sex, who, more than ours, should spare
“A humble foe, will greater scorn declare;
“The base alone thy advocates shall be,
“Or boast alliance with a wretch like thee.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |