 | Camps and Firesides of the Revolution |  |
6. Making Fun of the Parson
BY JOSEPH GREEN (ABOUT 1750)[8]
IN David's Psalms an
oversight
Byles found one morning at his tea
Alas! that he should never write
A proper psalm to sing at sea.
Byles found one morning at his tea
Alas! that he should never write
A proper psalm to sing at sea.
Thus ruminating on his seat,
Ambitious thoughts at length prevail'd.
The bard determined to complete
The part wherein the prophet fail'd.
Ambitious thoughts at length prevail'd.
The bard determined to complete
The part wherein the prophet fail'd.
He sat awhile and stroked his muse,
Then taking up his tuneful pen,
Wrote a few stanzas for the use
Of his seafaring brethren.
Then taking up his tuneful pen,
Wrote a few stanzas for the use
Of his seafaring brethren.
The task perform'd, the bard content,
Well chosen was each flowing word;
On a short voyage himself he went,
To hear it read and sung on board.
Well chosen was each flowing word;
On a short voyage himself he went,
To hear it read and sung on board.
Most serious Christians do aver,
(Their credit sure we may rely on,)
In former times that after prayer,
They used to sing a song of Zion.
(Their credit sure we may rely on,)
In former times that after prayer,
They used to sing a song of Zion.
16
Our modern parson having pray'd,
Unless loud fame our faith beguiles,
Sat down, took out his book and said,
"Let's sing a psalm of Mather Byles
Unless loud fame our faith beguiles,
Sat down, took out his book and said,
"Let's sing a psalm of Mather Byles
At first, when he began to read,[9]
Their heads the assembly downward hung.
But he with boldness did proceed,
And thus he read, and thus they sung.
Their heads the assembly downward hung.
But he with boldness did proceed,
And thus he read, and thus they sung.
THE PSALM
With vast amazement we surveyThe wonders of the deep,
Where mackerel swim, and porpoise play,
And crabs and lobsters creep.
Fish of all kinds inhabit here,
And throng the dark abode.
Here haddock, hake, and flounders are,
And eels, and perch and cod.
And throng the dark abode.
Here haddock, hake, and flounders are,
And eels, and perch and cod.
From raging winds and tempests free,
So smoothly as we pass,
The shining surface seems to be
A piece of Bristol glass.
So smoothly as we pass,
The shining surface seems to be
A piece of Bristol glass.
But when the winds and tempests rise;
And foaming billows swell,
The vessel mounts above the skies,
And lower sinks than hell.
And foaming billows swell,
The vessel mounts above the skies,
And lower sinks than hell.
Our heads the tottering motion feel,
And quickly we become
Giddy as new-born calves, and reel
Like Indians drunk with rum.
And quickly we become
Giddy as new-born calves, and reel
Like Indians drunk with rum.
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What praises then are due that we
Thus far have safely got,
Amarescoggin tribe to see,[10]
And tribe of Penobscot.
Thus far have safely got,
Amarescoggin tribe to see,[10]
And tribe of Penobscot.
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