The Works of the Late Aaron Hill ... In Four Volumes. Consisting of Letters on Various Subjects, And of Original Poems, Moral and Facetious. With An Essay on the Art of Acting |
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The Windfall.
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 | The Works of the Late Aaron Hill |  |
The Windfall.
I
A Preaching brother of that clan,Whose holiness is form,
Had gravely cloak'd his outward man,
His inward fear'd no storm.
II
With sanctify'd, and measur'd tread,And conscience-strutting stalk,
His rev'rence brimm'd his solid head,
And took a lonely walk.
III
As thro' a wood, he bent his way,A sister of his flock,
Accosted him, and beg'd his stay,
Her bosom to unlock.
298
IV
Sure, Sir, said she, from heav'n, you came,To this convenient place,
Where I, in private, with less shame,
May open you my case.
V
Oft have you, from the pulpit, told,That it should be our care,
To keep our flesh from growing bold,
By fasting, and by pray'r.
VI
Good god, he knows, what pains I take,To mortify, in vain;
Fasting, sometimes, makes sin's heart ake,
But eating sets all wrong again.
VII
Alas! reply'd the holy man,And turn'd up both his eyes!
We are to do, but what we can,
The rest heav'n's grace supplies!
299
VIII
So frail, dear lamb, our natures are,That, in things, most forbid,
We're apt to fancy joys most rare,
Most worth our taste, are hid!
IX
Thou, pretty worldling! I dare say,Art, yet, an untouch'd maid?
O dear, said she, I hope so, pray;
You think not, I'm afraid?
X
Why dost thou wrong me, answer'd he,And slyly look'd about;
To judge if any eye might see,
Ere, thus, he solv'd her doubt.
XI
Pure innocence! thy pray'rs are heard,The spirit swells within;
Means offer, how thou may'st be clear'd,
From this desire to sin.
300
XII
Inspir'd with sudden pow'r and will,In this alluring place;
I'll give thy erring wish its fill,
To prove 'tis frail and base.
XIII
When thou shalt taste this fancy'd joy,Which, now, thou dream'st so great;
Thou'lt find it but a transient toy,
And grace gain future weight.
XIV
Come closer, child! but hold, 'tis fit,That what's intended well,
Should have some form, to differ it,
From wishes, where sins dwell.
XV
I will not, therefore, throw thee down,Nor shalt thou, willing, fall:
Let's see—ay, thus, I'll blow thee down,
And, then, thou hast a call.
301
XVI
So done, so said, the brother blew,And down the sister fell:
Such bliss, unhop'd, and lawful, too!
She thought, 'twas mighty well!
XVII
But mark the chance—a wood-man, nigh,Had heard, and ponder'd all:
He saw the damsel, passive, lie,
And bless'd the well-tim'd fall.
XVIII
Old Reverence, not too well prepar'd,Stoop'd low, to seize his prey;
When out the wood-man jump'd, and star'd,
And push'd him, bluff, away,
XIX
Begone, said he, thou form-drest thief!All Wind-falls, here, are mine:
So, on he fell, and, to be brief,
Made good the holy man's design.
| The Works of the Late Aaron Hill | |