The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse (1735-1820): Edited by the Rev. R. I. Woodhouse |
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CHAPTER 12th.
The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse |  |
The moral Muse, thus deviating, long,
Discussing, warmly, maxims right and wrong;
Neglects the Object of her varied Lay,
Thro' Piety, and Politics to stray—
Leaves persecuted Crispin in the lurch,
To scan the State, and scrutinize the Church:
And, while she so survey'd Christ's Commonweal,
Wish'd Wit, and Pow'r were equal with her zeal,
That she might influence Freedom's common cause,
To fetter Tyrants, and reform their Laws;
And, with an ardour, like her sovereign Lord's,
Could cleanse His House with Her small scourge of cords.
Discussing, warmly, maxims right and wrong;
Neglects the Object of her varied Lay,
Thro' Piety, and Politics to stray—
Leaves persecuted Crispin in the lurch,
To scan the State, and scrutinize the Church:
And, while she so survey'd Christ's Commonweal,
Wish'd Wit, and Pow'r were equal with her zeal,
That she might influence Freedom's common cause,
To fetter Tyrants, and reform their Laws;
And, with an ardour, like her sovereign Lord's,
Could cleanse His House with Her small scourge of cords.
The Cause of Heav'n still strengthen'd Crispin's heart,
To fill, for Conscience-sake, his duteous part,
Made him submit to many a task, unkind,
Caprice express'd, and Jealousy enjoin'd;
With numerous arbitrary Whims beside,
Compell'd by Passion, when propos'd by Pride—
Well-knowing it was God's explicit Will,
That faithful Servants Masters' tasks fulfil,
Till He stretch forth His providential Hand,
To bring out Israel's Race from Egypt's Land—
But when the despot Dame's commands infring'd
The moral rules on which His honour hing'd,
His conscientious Mind would, meekly, dare
To speak his scruples, and his doubts declare,
And, rather than kind Heav'n's behests abuse
The Creature's fiat, for Christ's Faith, refuse.
To fill, for Conscience-sake, his duteous part,
Made him submit to many a task, unkind,
Caprice express'd, and Jealousy enjoin'd;
With numerous arbitrary Whims beside,
Compell'd by Passion, when propos'd by Pride—
Well-knowing it was God's explicit Will,
That faithful Servants Masters' tasks fulfil,
Till He stretch forth His providential Hand,
To bring out Israel's Race from Egypt's Land—
But when the despot Dame's commands infring'd
The moral rules on which His honour hing'd,
His conscientious Mind would, meekly, dare
To speak his scruples, and his doubts declare,
And, rather than kind Heav'n's behests abuse
The Creature's fiat, for Christ's Faith, refuse.
Thus did our Hero, when the Case was clear,
Withstand weak whim, or mandates more austere;
But, while he dared this duteous part perform
His Vessel was involv'd in many a storm.
A feeble skiff, in maddening Ocean moor'd,
With all his Friends, and Stock-in-Trade aboard—
His anchor and his cable, feeble hopes!
Made up of rusty iron, and rotten ropes;
Subject to snap with every squally breeze,
And forc'd, again, to try uncertain Seas;
Amidst wild waves, and secret rocks and sands,
Without a prospect of approaching lands;
With leaky bottom, and weak-boarded sides,
Unfit for conflicts with strong winds and tides;
And when the Pilot gain'd a prosperous gale
Still prone to urge too great a press of sail—
But Heav'n the rudder held, and show'd the rout,
Enabling him, each hour, to ride it out;
And thus, 'mid treacherous foes, and trying fears,
Kept the poor Crew at Sea, near sev'n long Years.
Withstand weak whim, or mandates more austere;
But, while he dared this duteous part perform
His Vessel was involv'd in many a storm.
A feeble skiff, in maddening Ocean moor'd,
With all his Friends, and Stock-in-Trade aboard—
His anchor and his cable, feeble hopes!
Made up of rusty iron, and rotten ropes;
Subject to snap with every squally breeze,
And forc'd, again, to try uncertain Seas;
Amidst wild waves, and secret rocks and sands,
Without a prospect of approaching lands;
With leaky bottom, and weak-boarded sides,
Unfit for conflicts with strong winds and tides;
And when the Pilot gain'd a prosperous gale
Still prone to urge too great a press of sail—
But Heav'n the rudder held, and show'd the rout,
Enabling him, each hour, to ride it out;
And thus, 'mid treacherous foes, and trying fears,
Kept the poor Crew at Sea, near sev'n long Years.
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CHAPTER 12th.
The Life and Poetical Works of James Woodhouse | |