The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
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 | III, IV, V. |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
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| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
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| VI, VII. |
| VIII. |
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
“And then she moved my pity; for she wept,
“And told her miseries till resentment slept;
“For when she saw she could not reason blind,
“She pour'd her heart's whole sorrows on my mind,
“With features graven on my soul, with sighs
“Seen but not heard, with soft imploring eyes,
“And voice that needed not, but had the aid
“Of powerful words to soften and persuade.
“And told her miseries till resentment slept;
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“She pour'd her heart's whole sorrows on my mind,
“With features graven on my soul, with sighs
“Seen but not heard, with soft imploring eyes,
“And voice that needed not, but had the aid
“Of powerful words to soften and persuade.
“‘O! I repent me of the past; and sure
“‘Grief and repentance make the bosom pure;
“‘Yet meet thee not with clean and single heart,
“‘As on the day we met!—and but to part,
“‘Ere I had drank the cup that to my lip
“‘Was held, and press'd till I was forced to sip:
“‘I drank indeed, but never ceased to hate,—
“‘It poison'd, but could not intoxicate.
“‘T' excuse my fall I plead not love's excess,
“‘But a weak orphan's need and loneliness.
“‘I had no parent upon earth—no door
“‘Was oped to me—young, innocent, and poor,
“‘Vain, tender, and resentful—and my friend
“‘Jealous of one who must on her depend,
“‘Making life misery—You could witness then
“‘That I was precious in the eyes of men;
“‘So, made by them a goddess, and denied
“‘Respect and notice by the women's pride;
“‘Here scorn'd, there worshipp'd—will it strange appear,
“‘Allured and driven, that I settled here?
“‘Yet loved it not; and never have I pass'd
“‘One day, and wish'd another like the last.
“‘Grief and repentance make the bosom pure;
“‘Yet meet thee not with clean and single heart,
“‘As on the day we met!—and but to part,
“‘Ere I had drank the cup that to my lip
“‘Was held, and press'd till I was forced to sip:
“‘I drank indeed, but never ceased to hate,—
“‘It poison'd, but could not intoxicate.
“‘T' excuse my fall I plead not love's excess,
“‘But a weak orphan's need and loneliness.
“‘I had no parent upon earth—no door
“‘Was oped to me—young, innocent, and poor,
“‘Vain, tender, and resentful—and my friend
“‘Jealous of one who must on her depend,
“‘Making life misery—You could witness then
“‘That I was precious in the eyes of men;
“‘So, made by them a goddess, and denied
“‘Respect and notice by the women's pride;
“‘Here scorn'd, there worshipp'd—will it strange appear,
“‘Allured and driven, that I settled here?
“‘Yet loved it not; and never have I pass'd
“‘One day, and wish'd another like the last.
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“‘There was a fallen angel, I have read,
“‘For whom their tears the sister-angels shed,
“‘Because, although she ventured to rebel,
“‘She was not minded like a child of hell.—
“‘Such is my lot! and will it not be given
“‘To grief like mine, that I may think of heaven?
“‘Behold how there the glorious creatures shine,
“‘And all my soul to grief and hope resign?’
“‘For whom their tears the sister-angels shed,
“‘Because, although she ventured to rebel,
“‘She was not minded like a child of hell.—
“‘Such is my lot! and will it not be given
“‘To grief like mine, that I may think of heaven?
“‘Behold how there the glorious creatures shine,
“‘And all my soul to grief and hope resign?’
“I wonder'd, doubting—and is this a fact,
“I thought; or part thou art disposed to act?
“I thought; or part thou art disposed to act?
“‘Is it not written, He, who came to save
“‘Sinners, the sins of deepest dye forgave?
“‘That he his mercy to the sufferers dealt,
“‘And pardon'd error when the ill was felt?
“‘Yes! I would hope, there is an eye that reads
“‘What is within, and sees the heart that bleeds—
“‘But who on earth will one so lost deplore,
“‘And who will help that lost one to restore?
“‘Who will on trust the sigh of grief receive;
“‘And—all things warring with belief—believe?’
“‘Sinners, the sins of deepest dye forgave?
“‘That he his mercy to the sufferers dealt,
“‘And pardon'd error when the ill was felt?
“‘Yes! I would hope, there is an eye that reads
“‘What is within, and sees the heart that bleeds—
“‘But who on earth will one so lost deplore,
“‘And who will help that lost one to restore?
“‘Who will on trust the sigh of grief receive;
“‘And—all things warring with belief—believe?’
“Soften'd, I said—‘Be mine the hand and heart,
“‘If with your world you will consent to part.’
“She would—she tried—Alas! she did not know
“How deeply rooted evil habits grow:
“She felt the truth upon her spirits press,
“But wanted ease, indulgence, show, excess,
“Voluptuous banquets, pleasures—not refined,
“But such as soothe to sleep th' opposing mind—
“She look'd for idle vice, the time to kill,
“And subtle, strong apologies for ill:
“And thus her yielding, unresisting soul
“Sank, and let sin confuse her and control:
“Pleasures that brought disgust yet brought relief,
“And minds she hated help'd to war with grief.”
“‘If with your world you will consent to part.’
“She would—she tried—Alas! she did not know
“How deeply rooted evil habits grow:
“She felt the truth upon her spirits press,
“But wanted ease, indulgence, show, excess,
“Voluptuous banquets, pleasures—not refined,
“But such as soothe to sleep th' opposing mind—
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“And subtle, strong apologies for ill:
“And thus her yielding, unresisting soul
“Sank, and let sin confuse her and control:
“Pleasures that brought disgust yet brought relief,
“And minds she hated help'd to war with grief.”
“Thus then she perish'd?”—
“Nay—but thus she proved
“Slave to the vices that she never loved:
“But while she thus her better thoughts opposed,
“And woo'd the world, the world's deceptions closed:—
“I had long lost her; but I sought in vain
“To banish pity:—still she gave me pain,
“Still I desired to aid her—to direct,
“And wished the world, that won her, to reject:
“Nor wish'd in vain—there came, at length, request
“That I would see a wretch with grief opprest,
“By guilt affrighted—and I went to trace
“Once more the vice-worn features of that face,
“That sin-wreck'd being! and I saw her laid
“Where never worldly joy a visit paid:
“That world receding fast! the world to come
“Conceal'd in terror, ignorance, and gloom;
“Sins, sorrow, and neglect: with not a spark
“Of vital hope,—all horrible and dark—
“It frighten'd me!—I thought, and shall not I
“Thus feel? thus fear?—this danger can I fly?
“Do I so wisely live that I can calmly die?
“Slave to the vices that she never loved:
“But while she thus her better thoughts opposed,
“And woo'd the world, the world's deceptions closed:—
“I had long lost her; but I sought in vain
“To banish pity:—still she gave me pain,
“Still I desired to aid her—to direct,
“And wished the world, that won her, to reject:
“Nor wish'd in vain—there came, at length, request
“That I would see a wretch with grief opprest,
“By guilt affrighted—and I went to trace
“Once more the vice-worn features of that face,
“That sin-wreck'd being! and I saw her laid
“Where never worldly joy a visit paid:
“That world receding fast! the world to come
“Conceal'd in terror, ignorance, and gloom;
“Sins, sorrow, and neglect: with not a spark
“Of vital hope,—all horrible and dark—
“It frighten'd me!—I thought, and shall not I
“Thus feel? thus fear?—this danger can I fly?
“Do I so wisely live that I can calmly die?
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“The wants I saw I could supply with ease,
“But there were wants of other kind than these;
“Th' awakening thought, the hope-inspiring view—
“The doctrines awful, grand, alarming, true—
“Most painful to the soul, and yet most healing too:
“Still I could something offer, and could send
“For other aid—a more important friend,
“Whose duty call'd him, and his love no less,
“To help the grieving spirit in distress;
“To save in that sad hour the drooping prey,
“And from its victim drive despair away.
“But there were wants of other kind than these;
“Th' awakening thought, the hope-inspiring view—
“The doctrines awful, grand, alarming, true—
“Most painful to the soul, and yet most healing too:
“Still I could something offer, and could send
“For other aid—a more important friend,
“Whose duty call'd him, and his love no less,
“To help the grieving spirit in distress;
“To save in that sad hour the drooping prey,
“And from its victim drive despair away.
“All decent comfort round the sick were seen:
“The female helpers quiet, sober, clean;
“Her kind physician with a smile appear'd,
“And zealous love the pious friend endear'd:
“While I, with mix'd sensations, could inquire,
“Hast thou one wish, one unfulfill'd desire?
“Speak every thought, nor unindulged depart,
“If I can make thee happier than thou art.
“The female helpers quiet, sober, clean;
“Her kind physician with a smile appear'd,
“And zealous love the pious friend endear'd:
“While I, with mix'd sensations, could inquire,
“Hast thou one wish, one unfulfill'd desire?
“Speak every thought, nor unindulged depart,
“If I can make thee happier than thou art.
“Yes! there was yet a female friend, an old
“And grieving nurse! to whom it should be told—
“If I would tell—that she, her child, had fail'd,
“And turn'd from truth! yet truth at length prevail'd.
“And grieving nurse! to whom it should be told—
“If I would tell—that she, her child, had fail'd,
“And turn'd from truth! yet truth at length prevail'd.
“'Twas in that chamber, Richard, I began
“To think more deeply of the end of man:
“Was it to jostle all his fellows by,
“To run before them, and say, ‘Here am I,
“Fall down, and worship?’—Was it, life throughout,
“With circumspection keen to hunt about
“As spaniels for their game, where might be found
“Abundance more for coffers that abound?
“Or was it life's enjoyments to prefer,
“Like this poor girl, and then to die like her?
“No! He, who gave the faculties, design'd
“Another use for the immortal mind:
“There is a state in which it will appear
“With all the good and ill contracted here;
“With gain and loss, improvement and defect;
“And then, my soul! what hast thou to expect
“For talents laid aside, life's waste, and time's neglect?
“To think more deeply of the end of man:
“Was it to jostle all his fellows by,
“To run before them, and say, ‘Here am I,
“Fall down, and worship?’—Was it, life throughout,
“With circumspection keen to hunt about
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“Abundance more for coffers that abound?
“Or was it life's enjoyments to prefer,
“Like this poor girl, and then to die like her?
“No! He, who gave the faculties, design'd
“Another use for the immortal mind:
“There is a state in which it will appear
“With all the good and ill contracted here;
“With gain and loss, improvement and defect;
“And then, my soul! what hast thou to expect
“For talents laid aside, life's waste, and time's neglect?
“Still as I went came other change—the frame
“And features wasted, and yet slowly came
“The end; and so inaudible the breath,
“And still the breathing, we exclaim'd—'tis death!
“But death it was not: when, indeed, she died,
“I sat and his last gentle stroke espied:
“When—as it came—or did my fancy trace
“That lively, lovely flushing o'er the face?
“Bringing back all that my young heart impress'd!
“It came—and went!—She sigh'd, and was at rest!
“And features wasted, and yet slowly came
“The end; and so inaudible the breath,
“And still the breathing, we exclaim'd—'tis death!
“But death it was not: when, indeed, she died,
“I sat and his last gentle stroke espied:
“When—as it came—or did my fancy trace
“That lively, lovely flushing o'er the face?
“Bringing back all that my young heart impress'd!
“It came—and went!—She sigh'd, and was at rest!
“Adieu, I said, fair Frailty! dearly cost
“The love I bore thee!—time and treasure lost;
“And I have suffer'd many years in vain;
“Now let me something in my sorrows gain:
“Heaven would not all this woe for man intend
“If man's existence with his woe should end;
“Heaven would not pain, and grief, and anguish give,
“If man was not by discipline to live;
“And for that brighter, better world prepare,
“That souls with souls, when purified, shall share,
“Those stains all done away that must not enter there.
“The love I bore thee!—time and treasure lost;
“And I have suffer'd many years in vain;
“Now let me something in my sorrows gain:
“Heaven would not all this woe for man intend
“If man's existence with his woe should end;
“Heaven would not pain, and grief, and anguish give,
“If man was not by discipline to live;
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“That souls with souls, when purified, shall share,
“Those stains all done away that must not enter there.
“Home I return'd, with spirits in that state
“Of vacant woe, I strive not to relate,
“Nor how, deprived of all her hope and strength,
“My soul turn'd feebly to the world at length.
“I travell'd then till health again resumed
“Its former seat—I must not say re-bloom'd;
“And then I fill'd, not loth, that favourite place
“That has enrich'd some seniors of our race;
“Patient and dull I grew; my uncle's praise
“Was largely dealt me on my better days;
“A love of money—other love at rest—
“Came creeping on, and settled in my breast;
“The force of habit held me to the oar,
“Till I could relish what I scorn'd before:
“I now could talk and scheme with men of sense,
“Who deal for millions, and who sigh for pence;
“And grew so like them, that I heard with joy
“Old Blueskin said I was a pretty boy;
“For I possess'd the caution with the zeal,
“That all true lovers of their interest feel:
“Exalted praise! and to the creature due,
“Who loves that interest solely to pursue.
“Of vacant woe, I strive not to relate,
“Nor how, deprived of all her hope and strength,
“My soul turn'd feebly to the world at length.
“I travell'd then till health again resumed
“Its former seat—I must not say re-bloom'd;
“And then I fill'd, not loth, that favourite place
“That has enrich'd some seniors of our race;
“Patient and dull I grew; my uncle's praise
“Was largely dealt me on my better days;
“A love of money—other love at rest—
“Came creeping on, and settled in my breast;
“The force of habit held me to the oar,
“Till I could relish what I scorn'd before:
“I now could talk and scheme with men of sense,
“Who deal for millions, and who sigh for pence;
“And grew so like them, that I heard with joy
“Old Blueskin said I was a pretty boy;
“For I possess'd the caution with the zeal,
“That all true lovers of their interest feel:
“Exalted praise! and to the creature due,
“Who loves that interest solely to pursue.
“But I was sick, and sickness brought disgust;
“My peace I could not to my profits trust:
“Again some views of brighter kind appear'd,
“My heart was humbled, and my mind was clear'd;
“I felt those helps that souls diseased restore,
“And that cold frenzy, Avarice, raged no more.
“From dreams of boundless wealth I then arose;
“This place, the scene of infant bliss, I chose,
“And here I find relief, and here I seek repose.
“My peace I could not to my profits trust:
“Again some views of brighter kind appear'd,
“My heart was humbled, and my mind was clear'd;
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“And that cold frenzy, Avarice, raged no more.
“From dreams of boundless wealth I then arose;
“This place, the scene of infant bliss, I chose,
“And here I find relief, and here I seek repose.
“Yet much is lost, and not yet much is found,
“But what remains, I would believe, is sound;
“That first wild passion, that last mean desire,
“Are felt no more; but holier hopes require
“A mind prepared and steady—my reform
“Has fears like his, who, suffering in a storm,
“Is on a rich but unknown country cast,
“The future fearing, while he feels the past;
“But whose more cheerful mind, with hope imbued,
“Sees through receding clouds the rising good.”
“But what remains, I would believe, is sound;
“That first wild passion, that last mean desire,
“Are felt no more; but holier hopes require
“A mind prepared and steady—my reform
“Has fears like his, who, suffering in a storm,
“Is on a rich but unknown country cast,
“The future fearing, while he feels the past;
“But whose more cheerful mind, with hope imbued,
“Sees through receding clouds the rising good.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |