The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop ... To Which are Prefixed, Memoirs of the Life of the Author By the Rev. Thomas Clare |
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THE LEADING-STRING. |
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 | The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop |  |
111
THE LEADING-STRING.
Guide of my wayward steps, when young desire
Caught the first spark of Emulation's fire,
(Whose genial power, enkindling as it ran,
Rais'd Life, to Sense, to Reason, and to Man,)
Still, still my soul in memory's inmost cell,
Where images most dear, most sacred dwell,
With willing gratitude retains, reveres,
Thy faithful service to my weakest years!
Caught the first spark of Emulation's fire,
(Whose genial power, enkindling as it ran,
Rais'd Life, to Sense, to Reason, and to Man,)
Still, still my soul in memory's inmost cell,
Where images most dear, most sacred dwell,
With willing gratitude retains, reveres,
Thy faithful service to my weakest years!
Oft as my thoughts recall those early days,
Thy gentle aid demands my warmest praise;
By thee at once directed, and sustain'd,
Unhurt I rov'd, where countless dangers reign'd;
Where else, each petty pebble had o'erthrown
An helpless wanderer, in a world unknown.
Thy gentle aid demands my warmest praise;
By thee at once directed, and sustain'd,
Unhurt I rov'd, where countless dangers reign'd;
112
An helpless wanderer, in a world unknown.
Beneath a thousand forms reflection shows
Combining perils, hardships, pains, and woes:
O! baneful influence, every moment spread
In varied terrors o'er an infant's head;
Whom still, alike unconscious, unalarm'd,
The plain invited, and the desert charm'd;
Whose heedless foot, with equal haste had trod
The fatal precipice, and flowery road:
Who fondly rash, no other object knew,
Than what each changing trifle set to view;
Tir'd of the present, fond of that which flies;
Still prone to fall, and impotent to rise.
Combining perils, hardships, pains, and woes:
O! baneful influence, every moment spread
In varied terrors o'er an infant's head;
Whom still, alike unconscious, unalarm'd,
The plain invited, and the desert charm'd;
Whose heedless foot, with equal haste had trod
The fatal precipice, and flowery road:
Who fondly rash, no other object knew,
Than what each changing trifle set to view;
Tir'd of the present, fond of that which flies;
Still prone to fall, and impotent to rise.
Ev'n now I tremble at th' afflicting scene—
—Be firm my Soul!—What can this transport mean?
Hark! on mine ear some sound more awful breaks!
—'Tis no illusion!—'tis the Muse that speaks.
—Be firm my Soul!—What can this transport mean?
Hark! on mine ear some sound more awful breaks!
—'Tis no illusion!—'tis the Muse that speaks.
113
“My son!” she says, “if thus, thine heart, aghast,
“Starts at the little snares thy childhood past,
“Think, think, what dangers wait thee now!—for know
“Thou art still an Infant, in a world of woe:
“Still in thy way, Vice, Vanity, Disgrace,
“Spread the broad net, that will obstruct thy race;
“Conceal the rock, that tempts with specious show
“Thy foot, to plunge thee in th' abyss below;
“Haste thee; prepare thee, for th' unequal strife,
“And take from me, the Leading-strings of Life.
“Starts at the little snares thy childhood past,
“Think, think, what dangers wait thee now!—for know
“Thou art still an Infant, in a world of woe:
“Still in thy way, Vice, Vanity, Disgrace,
“Spread the broad net, that will obstruct thy race;
“Conceal the rock, that tempts with specious show
“Thy foot, to plunge thee in th' abyss below;
“Haste thee; prepare thee, for th' unequal strife,
“And take from me, the Leading-strings of Life.
“Be Virtue first thy care, thy wish, thine aim;
“Her rules thy standard, her applause thy fame:
“To her thy steps let fair Discretion lead;
“Let Truth inspire thy thought, and crown thy deed;
“Let sage Experience guide thy hand and voice;
“Be slow to choose; but constant in thy choice;
“To Mercy's dictates open all thy breast.—
“Be Good—and Heaven will teach thee to be Blest.”
“Her rules thy standard, her applause thy fame:
“To her thy steps let fair Discretion lead;
“Let Truth inspire thy thought, and crown thy deed;
“Let sage Experience guide thy hand and voice;
“Be slow to choose; but constant in thy choice;
“To Mercy's dictates open all thy breast.—
“Be Good—and Heaven will teach thee to be Blest.”
| The Poetical Works of The Rev. Samuel Bishop | |