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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 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
“Care lives with all; no rules, no precepts save
“The wise from woe, no fortitude the brave;
“Grief is to man as certain as the grave:
“Tempests and storms in life's whole progress rise,
“And hope shines dimly through o'erclouded skies;
“Some drops of comfort on the favour'd fall,
“But showers of sorrow are the lot of all:
“Partial to talents, then, shall Heav'n withdraw
“Th' afflicting rod, or break the general law?
“Shall he who soars, inspired by loftier views,
“Life's little cares and little pains refuse?
“Shall he not rather feel a double share
“Of mortal woe, when doubly arm'd to bear?
“The wise from woe, no fortitude the brave;
“Grief is to man as certain as the grave:
“Tempests and storms in life's whole progress rise,
“And hope shines dimly through o'erclouded skies;
66
“But showers of sorrow are the lot of all:
“Partial to talents, then, shall Heav'n withdraw
“Th' afflicting rod, or break the general law?
“Shall he who soars, inspired by loftier views,
“Life's little cares and little pains refuse?
“Shall he not rather feel a double share
“Of mortal woe, when doubly arm'd to bear?
“Hard is his fate who builds his peace of mind
“On the precarious mercy of mankind;
“Who hopes for wild and visionary things,
“And mounts o'er unknown seas with vent'rous wings:
“But as, of various evils that befal
“The human race, some portion goes to all;
“To him perhaps the milder lot's assign'd,
“Who feels his consolation in his mind;
“And, lock'd within his bosom, bears about
“A mental charm for every care without.
“E'en in the pangs of each domestic grief,
“Or health or vigorous hope affords relief;
“And every wound the tortured bosom feels,
“Or virtue bears, or some preserver heals;
“Some generous friend, of ample power possess'd;
“Some feeling heart, that bleeds for the distress'd;
“Some breast that glows with virtues all divine;
“Some noble RUTLAND, misery's friend and thine.
“On the precarious mercy of mankind;
“Who hopes for wild and visionary things,
“And mounts o'er unknown seas with vent'rous wings:
“But as, of various evils that befal
“The human race, some portion goes to all;
“To him perhaps the milder lot's assign'd,
“Who feels his consolation in his mind;
“And, lock'd within his bosom, bears about
“A mental charm for every care without.
67
“Or health or vigorous hope affords relief;
“And every wound the tortured bosom feels,
“Or virtue bears, or some preserver heals;
“Some generous friend, of ample power possess'd;
“Some feeling heart, that bleeds for the distress'd;
“Some breast that glows with virtues all divine;
“Some noble RUTLAND, misery's friend and thine.
68
“Nor say, the Muse's song, the Poet's pen,
“Merit the scorn they meet from little men.
“With cautious freedom if the numbers flow,
“Not wildly high, nor pitifully low;
“If vice alone their honest aims oppose,
“Why so ashamed their friends, so loud their foes?
“Happy for men in every age and clime,
“If all the sons of vision dealt in rhyme.
“Go on, then, Son of Vision! still pursue
“Thy airy dreams; the world is dreaming too
“Ambition's lofty views, the pomp of state,
“The pride of wealth, the splendour of the great,
“Stripp'd of their mask, their cares and troubles known,
“Are visions far less happy than thy own:
“Go on! and, while the sons of care complain,
“Be wisely gay and innocently vain;
“While serious souls are by their fears undone,
“Blow sportive bladders in the beamy sun,
“And call them worlds! and bid the greatest show
“More radiant colours in their worlds below:
“Then, as they break, the slaves of care reprove,
“And tell them, Such are all the toys they love.”
“Merit the scorn they meet from little men.
“With cautious freedom if the numbers flow,
“Not wildly high, nor pitifully low;
“If vice alone their honest aims oppose,
“Why so ashamed their friends, so loud their foes?
“Happy for men in every age and clime,
“If all the sons of vision dealt in rhyme.
“Go on, then, Son of Vision! still pursue
“Thy airy dreams; the world is dreaming too
“Ambition's lofty views, the pomp of state,
“The pride of wealth, the splendour of the great,
“Stripp'd of their mask, their cares and troubles known,
“Are visions far less happy than thy own:
“Go on! and, while the sons of care complain,
“Be wisely gay and innocently vain;
“While serious souls are by their fears undone,
“Blow sportive bladders in the beamy sun,
69
“More radiant colours in their worlds below:
“Then, as they break, the slaves of care reprove,
“And tell them, Such are all the toys they love.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |