 | New Poems by George Crabbe |  |
“Where is my Father?”, said the fearful Maid.
“Master is safe”, was said as Nature bade,
Nor Reason knew what better to reply.
Master was safe, but 'twas a dreadful Night!
In it the River & the Ocean met!
Not like the Thames & Medway! in their Pomp
And Pride of Lawful Wedlock! but in force,
Tumult & Wrath! & with a Voice that said:
“To meet is to distroy!” But they did meet!
And parted! as a Pair who should not meet,
Save in that Place where they can part no more.
The Season chang'd, & our young Heroine
Had view'd the Waters in their various forms,
The Calm & Storm, the Day & Moonlight make!
Summer & Winter! she had seen the Fleets,
Warlike, or fraught with Merchandise! had seen
Men in distress, & in distress had seen them
Crowd on the deck, & clinging to ye Shrouds
For momentary Safety, & then part,
Never to meet Again! Strong Pity seized
The gentle Breast, & she would Millions give
That she might save a Sailor—
“Master is safe”, was said as Nature bade,
Nor Reason knew what better to reply.
Master was safe, but 'twas a dreadful Night!
In it the River & the Ocean met!
Not like the Thames & Medway! in their Pomp
And Pride of Lawful Wedlock! but in force,
Tumult & Wrath! & with a Voice that said:
“To meet is to distroy!” But they did meet!
And parted! as a Pair who should not meet,
Save in that Place where they can part no more.
64
Had view'd the Waters in their various forms,
The Calm & Storm, the Day & Moonlight make!
Summer & Winter! she had seen the Fleets,
Warlike, or fraught with Merchandise! had seen
Men in distress, & in distress had seen them
Crowd on the deck, & clinging to ye Shrouds
For momentary Safety, & then part,
Never to meet Again! Strong Pity seized
The gentle Breast, & she would Millions give
That she might save a Sailor—
To the House
At Morn or night a rude amphibious Crew
Would come, her Father's Visitors, not hers,
For she was then permitted to retire,
But not compelled! for they were coarse & loud,
Their Subjects puzzled & disgusted her!
Fairly they bought, they said, & fairly sold,
And yet they dealt in darkness, & they fled
When none persued! & they were sore afraid
Of Law, & poor Elizabeth of them.
Save this, the Farm had little to offend,
But, to be just, yet less to Edify,
And nothing to amuse, as said the Maid,
When she had picked her pebbles from ye beach,
And, sighing, ask'd!: “What is the Worth of these?
“Comes there no Being to my Father's House
“But those who, being come, I wish Away?
“I've dreamt of Men who cd have made this Seat,
“Where strive the Bittern & the Cormorant,
“Which should describe it in the vilest tone,
“As one where Patience might abide, & Joy
“Make frequent Stay! but O! the bitter fate,
“Ev'n Patience sickens here, & Hope must die.”
At Morn or night a rude amphibious Crew
Would come, her Father's Visitors, not hers,
For she was then permitted to retire,
But not compelled! for they were coarse & loud,
Their Subjects puzzled & disgusted her!
Fairly they bought, they said, & fairly sold,
And yet they dealt in darkness, & they fled
When none persued! & they were sore afraid
Of Law, & poor Elizabeth of them.
Save this, the Farm had little to offend,
But, to be just, yet less to Edify,
And nothing to amuse, as said the Maid,
When she had picked her pebbles from ye beach,
And, sighing, ask'd!: “What is the Worth of these?
“Comes there no Being to my Father's House
“But those who, being come, I wish Away?
“I've dreamt of Men who cd have made this Seat,
“Where strive the Bittern & the Cormorant,
“Which should describe it in the vilest tone,
“As one where Patience might abide, & Joy
“Make frequent Stay! but O! the bitter fate,
“Ev'n Patience sickens here, & Hope must die.”
| New Poems by George Crabbe | |