The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
| II. |
| III, IV, V. |
| VI, VII. |
 | VIII. |
|
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
201
The letters Richard in a morning read
To quiet and domestic comforts led;
And George, who thought the world could not supply
Comfort so pure, reflected with a sigh;
Then would pursue the subject, half in play,
Half earnest, till the sadness wore away.
To quiet and domestic comforts led;
And George, who thought the world could not supply
Comfort so pure, reflected with a sigh;
Then would pursue the subject, half in play,
Half earnest, till the sadness wore away.
They spoke of Passion's errors, Love's disease,
His pains, afflictions, wrongs, and jealousies;
Of Herod's vile commandment—that his wife
Should live no more, when he no more had life;
He could not bear that royal Herod's spouse
Should, as a widow, make her second vows;
Or that a mortal with his queen should wed,
Or be the rival of the mighty dead.
His pains, afflictions, wrongs, and jealousies;
Of Herod's vile commandment—that his wife
Should live no more, when he no more had life;
He could not bear that royal Herod's spouse
Should, as a widow, make her second vows;
Or that a mortal with his queen should wed,
Or be the rival of the mighty dead.
202
“Herods,” said Richard, “doubtless may be found,
“But haply do not in the world abound;
“Ladies, indeed, a dreadful lot would have,
“If jealousy could act beyond the grave:
“No doubt Othellos every place supply,
“Though every Desdemona does not die;
“But there are lovers in the world, who live
“Slaves to the sex, and every fault forgive.”
“But haply do not in the world abound;
“Ladies, indeed, a dreadful lot would have,
“If jealousy could act beyond the grave:
“No doubt Othellos every place supply,
“Though every Desdemona does not die;
“But there are lovers in the world, who live
“Slaves to the sex, and every fault forgive.”
“I know,” said George, “a happy man and kind,
“Who finds his wife is all he wish'd to find,—
“A mild, good man, who, if he nothing sees,
“Will suffer nothing to disturb his ease;
“Who, ever yielding both to smiles and sighs,
“Admits no story that a wife denies,—
“She guides his mind, and she directs his eyes.
“Who finds his wife is all he wish'd to find,—
“A mild, good man, who, if he nothing sees,
“Will suffer nothing to disturb his ease;
“Who, ever yielding both to smiles and sighs,
“Admits no story that a wife denies,—
“She guides his mind, and she directs his eyes.
“Richard, there dwells within a mile a pair
“Of good examples,—I will guide you there:
“Such man is William Bailey,—but his spouse
“Is virtue's self since she had made her vows:
“I speak of ancient stories, long worn out,
“That honest William would not talk about;
“But he will sometimes check her starting tear,
“And call her self-correction too severe.
“In their own inn the gentle pair are placed,
“Where you behold the marks of William's taste.
“They dwell in plenty, in respect, and peace,
“Landlord and lady of the Golden Fleece:
“Public indeed their calling,—but there come
“No brawl, no revel to that decent room;
“All there is still, and comely to behold,
“Mild as the fleece, and pleasant as the gold;
“But mild and pleasant as they now appear,
“They first experienced many a troubled year;
“And that, if known, might not command our praise,
“Like the smooth tenor of their present days.
“Of good examples,—I will guide you there:
“Such man is William Bailey,—but his spouse
“Is virtue's self since she had made her vows:
“I speak of ancient stories, long worn out,
“That honest William would not talk about;
“But he will sometimes check her starting tear,
“And call her self-correction too severe.
“In their own inn the gentle pair are placed,
“Where you behold the marks of William's taste.
“They dwell in plenty, in respect, and peace,
“Landlord and lady of the Golden Fleece:
“Public indeed their calling,—but there come
“No brawl, no revel to that decent room;
203
“Mild as the fleece, and pleasant as the gold;
“But mild and pleasant as they now appear,
“They first experienced many a troubled year;
“And that, if known, might not command our praise,
“Like the smooth tenor of their present days.
“Our hostess, now so grave and steady grown,
“Has had some awkward trials of her own:
“She was not always so resign'd and meek,—
“Yet can I little of her failings speak;
“Those she herself will her misfortunes deem,
“And slides discreetly from the dubious theme;
“But you shall hear the tale that I will tell,
“When we have seen the mansion where they dwell.”
“Has had some awkward trials of her own:
“She was not always so resign'd and meek,—
“Yet can I little of her failings speak;
“Those she herself will her misfortunes deem,
“And slides discreetly from the dubious theme;
“But you shall hear the tale that I will tell,
“When we have seen the mansion where they dwell.”
They saw the mansion,—and the couple made
Obeisance due, and not without parade:
“His honour, still obliging, took delight
“To make them pleasant in each other's sight;
“It was their duty—they were very sure
“It was their pleasure.”
Obeisance due, and not without parade:
“His honour, still obliging, took delight
“To make them pleasant in each other's sight;
“It was their duty—they were very sure
“It was their pleasure.”
This they could endure,
Nor turn'd impatient—In the room around
Were care and neatness: instruments were found
For sacred music, books with prints and notes
By learned men and good, whom William quotes
In mode familiar—Beveridge, Doddridge, Hall,
Pyle, Whitby, Hammond—he refers to all.
Nor turn'd impatient—In the room around
Were care and neatness: instruments were found
For sacred music, books with prints and notes
By learned men and good, whom William quotes
In mode familiar—Beveridge, Doddridge, Hall,
Pyle, Whitby, Hammond—he refers to all.
204
Next they beheld his garden, fruitful, nice,
And, as he said, his little paradise.
And, as he said, his little paradise.
In man and wife appear'd some signs of pride,
Which they perceived not, or they would not hide,—
“Their honest saving, their good name, their skill,
“His honour's land, which they had grace to till;
“And more his favour shown, with all their friends' good will.”
Which they perceived not, or they would not hide,—
“Their honest saving, their good name, their skill,
“His honour's land, which they had grace to till;
“And more his favour shown, with all their friends' good will.”
This past, the visit was with kindness closed,
And George was ask'd to do as he proposed.
And George was ask'd to do as he proposed.
“Richard,” said he, “though I myself explore
“With no distaste the annals of the poor,
“And may with safety to a brother show
“What of my humble friends I chance to know,
“Richard, there are who call the subjects low.
“With no distaste the annals of the poor,
“And may with safety to a brother show
“What of my humble friends I chance to know,
“Richard, there are who call the subjects low.
“The host and hostess of the Fleece—'t is base—
“Would I could cast some glory round the place!
“Would I could cast some glory round the place!
“The lively heroine once adorn'd a farm,—
“And William's virtue has a kind of charm:
“Nor shall we, in our apprehension, need
“Riches or rank—I think I may proceed:
“Virtue and worth there are who will not see
“In humble dress, but low they cannot be.”
“And William's virtue has a kind of charm:
“Nor shall we, in our apprehension, need
“Riches or rank—I think I may proceed:
“Virtue and worth there are who will not see
“In humble dress, but low they cannot be.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |