 | The poetical works of George Keate |  |
1
THE FAMILY MEETING;
A TALE.
3
It happen'd once, but when, or where,
It matters not a single hair,
The father of a numerous race
Dispers'd in many a distant place,
Unwilling that they more should roam,
Felt a desire to call them home:
Their situations were precarious,
Their notions, and pursuits too, various;
But this you'll see with half an eye,
If I describe the family;
The matter easily is done,
So take the children, son by son.—
It matters not a single hair,
The father of a numerous race
Dispers'd in many a distant place,
Unwilling that they more should roam,
Felt a desire to call them home:
Their situations were precarious,
Their notions, and pursuits too, various;
But this you'll see with half an eye,
If I describe the family;
4
So take the children, son by son.—
It chanc'd to be the Eldest's
doom
Early to fix himself at Rome,
Eager those boasted arts t'explore
Which flourish'd there in days of yore.—
The Second , an adventurous youth,
Fond of simplicity and truth,
Made wild Helvetia's scenes his choice,
Allur'd by Liberty's sweet voice.—
The Third , renouncing pleasure's calls,
In our fam'd Tower's ill-fated walls
Indulg'd his solitary way,
And wept thy worth, excelling Gray,
Lov'd fair-one! with each virtue born,
That could the human mind adorn!—
One , struck with nature's true sublime,
Resolv'd the rugged Alps to climb,
And there enraptur'd took his post
'Midst regions of eternal frost.—
A Fifth , recluse, and deep in thought,
The convent's lonely ruins sought;
Pleas'd with its gloom, he pass'd his hours
In Netley's antiquated tow'rs.—
The Sixth , more active, and more prudent,
Became a pert young Temple Student,
Pursu'd the law, resolv'd to try it,
But never got one guinea by it.—
The Next resign'd his youthful heart
A vot'ry to poetic art;
No serious toils could him engage,
He woo'd the muses, lov'd the stage,
And, warm'd by his theatric turn,
Hung a fond wreath on Cibber's urn.—
The Eighth , with equal ardour fir'd,
The drama's perfect laws admir'd,
And sought them in those shades rever'd
Which the Great Bard of Ferney rear'd;
There he ambitious wish'd to raise
A trophy to that poet's praise,
Whose genius and example taught
The heights to which they might be brought.—
The Last
that rov'd, was Fancy's child,
With each romantic notion wild;
In search of happiness he flies,
Seeks it beneath Arcadian skies,
But finds his visionary scheme
Was but a Monumental dream.—
Early to fix himself at Rome,
Eager those boasted arts t'explore
Which flourish'd there in days of yore.—
The Second , an adventurous youth,
Fond of simplicity and truth,
Made wild Helvetia's scenes his choice,
Allur'd by Liberty's sweet voice.—
The Third , renouncing pleasure's calls,
In our fam'd Tower's ill-fated walls
5
And wept thy worth, excelling Gray,
Lov'd fair-one! with each virtue born,
That could the human mind adorn!—
One , struck with nature's true sublime,
Resolv'd the rugged Alps to climb,
And there enraptur'd took his post
'Midst regions of eternal frost.—
A Fifth , recluse, and deep in thought,
The convent's lonely ruins sought;
Pleas'd with its gloom, he pass'd his hours
In Netley's antiquated tow'rs.—
The Sixth , more active, and more prudent,
Became a pert young Temple Student,
6
But never got one guinea by it.—
The Next resign'd his youthful heart
A vot'ry to poetic art;
No serious toils could him engage,
He woo'd the muses, lov'd the stage,
And, warm'd by his theatric turn,
Hung a fond wreath on Cibber's urn.—
The Eighth , with equal ardour fir'd,
The drama's perfect laws admir'd,
And sought them in those shades rever'd
Which the Great Bard of Ferney rear'd;
There he ambitious wish'd to raise
A trophy to that poet's praise,
Whose genius and example taught
The heights to which they might be brought.—
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With each romantic notion wild;
In search of happiness he flies,
Seeks it beneath Arcadian skies,
But finds his visionary scheme
Was but a Monumental dream.—
The father, as I said before,
Turning full oft' these matters o'er,
Resolv'd a spacious house to build,
And have it with his children fill'd,
That they, like birds of the same feather,
Might all return, and dwell together.
The size was fix'd, the plan was laid,
And Dodsley supervisor made;
For Dodsley long was us'd to be
Fac totum in the family:
Knew each child's merits to a tittle,
Had nurs'd them all when they were little,
Had brought them forward one by one,
Nay taught them too alone to run:
His heart accustom'd long to feel
Their int'rests with the warmest zeal,
He like a steady faithful servant,
Was in this bus'ness mighty fervent.
“What joy,” he cries, “from all disasters
“To see safe home my dear young masters!—
“I call them young, for twenty years
“When past, as yesterday appears!
“They'll find me older grown, no doubt,
“But Tully's Head will mark me out.—
“Would they were come!—I long to see
“You circled with your family!
“Then urge their haste, for in a trice
“Your house will be compleat, and nice:”—
Turning full oft' these matters o'er,
Resolv'd a spacious house to build,
And have it with his children fill'd,
That they, like birds of the same feather,
Might all return, and dwell together.
The size was fix'd, the plan was laid,
And Dodsley supervisor made;
For Dodsley long was us'd to be
Fac totum in the family:
8
Had nurs'd them all when they were little,
Had brought them forward one by one,
Nay taught them too alone to run:
His heart accustom'd long to feel
Their int'rests with the warmest zeal,
He like a steady faithful servant,
Was in this bus'ness mighty fervent.
“What joy,” he cries, “from all disasters
“To see safe home my dear young masters!—
“I call them young, for twenty years
“When past, as yesterday appears!
“They'll find me older grown, no doubt,
“But Tully's Head will mark me out.—
“Would they were come!—I long to see
“You circled with your family!
“Then urge their haste, for in a trice
“Your house will be compleat, and nice:”—
9
Th'advice was good; the father writes,
And all his family invites,
Each in the kindest terms intreating
To come and form a General Meeting.
“Children,” says he, “it moves my wonder,
“That you have liv'd so long asunder,
“Dispers'd in such far distant places,
“You scarcely know each other's faces!—
“By my own reck'ning it appears
“Some have been absent twice ten years,
“Which makes me with impatience burn
“To see, and welcome your return.
“Then cheerfully obey my call,
“I've room enough to lodge you all;
“And e'en should time more children bring,
“I may hereafter add a wing.
“Here you may live with one another,
“And each protect a younger brother,
“Who never yet from home have stray'd,
“And want your countenance and aid.
“You've seen the world enough, and know it,
“And to the little folks must show it.”—
And all his family invites,
Each in the kindest terms intreating
To come and form a General Meeting.
“Children,” says he, “it moves my wonder,
“That you have liv'd so long asunder,
“Dispers'd in such far distant places,
“You scarcely know each other's faces!—
“By my own reck'ning it appears
“Some have been absent twice ten years,
“Which makes me with impatience burn
“To see, and welcome your return.
“Then cheerfully obey my call,
“I've room enough to lodge you all;
“And e'en should time more children bring,
“I may hereafter add a wing.
“Here you may live with one another,
“And each protect a younger brother,
10
“And want your countenance and aid.
“You've seen the world enough, and know it,
“And to the little folks must show it.”—
Swift as the post the mandate flew,
And homeward soon all parties drew.
The house in nicest order drest,
They met—with joy each other prest,
And talking over their past dangers,
Vow'd they no more would live as strangers;
But whatsoever should betide,
Would fall, or prosper—side by side.—
Dodsley stept in with eager pace,
Presented them his well-known face,
And still his honest zeal expressing,
Gave each his welcome, and his blessing.
And homeward soon all parties drew.
The house in nicest order drest,
They met—with joy each other prest,
And talking over their past dangers,
Vow'd they no more would live as strangers;
But whatsoever should betide,
Would fall, or prosper—side by side.—
Dodsley stept in with eager pace,
Presented them his well-known face,
And still his honest zeal expressing,
Gave each his welcome, and his blessing.
11
Now, reader, sure you cannot fail
To mark the moral to our tale;
A hint from me might give offence
To your discernment, and your sense:
But if this family should share,
Hap'ly, your patronage and care;
Or of our house if more you'd see,
At Tully's Head you'll find the key.
To mark the moral to our tale;
A hint from me might give offence
To your discernment, and your sense:
But if this family should share,
Hap'ly, your patronage and care;
Or of our house if more you'd see,
At Tully's Head you'll find the key.
| The poetical works of George Keate | |