The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| II. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| III, IV, V. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| XXIII. |
| XXIV. |
|
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
|
| VI, VII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
| XVI. |
| XVII. |
| XVIII. |
| XIX. |
| XX. |
| XXI. |
| XXII. |
| VIII. |
|
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| I. |
| II. |
| VII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| VIII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| IX. |
| I. |
| II. |
| X. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XI. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XII. |
| I. | I. |
| II. |
| XIII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XIV. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XV. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XVI. |
| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| XVII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XVIII. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XIX. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XX. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XXI. |
| I. |
| II. |
| XXII. |
| I. |
 | The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
177
I.
Two busy Brothers in our place reside,
And wealthy each, his party's boast and pride;
Sons of one father, of two mothers born,
They hold each other in true party-scorn.
And wealthy each, his party's boast and pride;
Sons of one father, of two mothers born,
They hold each other in true party-scorn.
James is the one who for the people fights,
The sturdy champion of their dubious rights;
Merchant and seaman rough, but not the less
Keen in pursuit of his own happiness;
And what his happiness?—To see his store
Of wealth increase, till Mammon groans, “No more!”
The sturdy champion of their dubious rights;
Merchant and seaman rough, but not the less
Keen in pursuit of his own happiness;
And what his happiness?—To see his store
Of wealth increase, till Mammon groans, “No more!”
James goes to church—because his father went,
But does not hide his leaning to dissent;
Reasons for this, whoe'er may frown, he'll speak—
Yet the old pew receives him once a week.
But does not hide his leaning to dissent;
Reasons for this, whoe'er may frown, he'll speak—
Yet the old pew receives him once a week.
Charles is a churchman, and has all the zeal
That a strong member of his church can feel;
A loyal subject is the name he seeks;
He of “his King and Country” proudly speaks:
He says, his brother and a rebel-crew,
Minded like him, the nation would undo,
If they had power, or were esteem'd enough
Of those who had, to bring their plans to proof.
That a strong member of his church can feel;
178
He of “his King and Country” proudly speaks:
He says, his brother and a rebel-crew,
Minded like him, the nation would undo,
If they had power, or were esteem'd enough
Of those who had, to bring their plans to proof.
James answers sharply—“I will never place
“My hopes upon a Lordship or a Grace!
“To some great man you bow, to greater he,
“Who to the greatest bends his supple knee,
“That so the manna from the head may drop,
“And at the lowest of the kneelers stop.
“Lords call you loyal, and on them you call
“To spare you something from our plunder'd all:
“If tricks like these to slaves can treasure bring,
“Slaves well may shout them hoarse for ‘Church and King!’”
“My hopes upon a Lordship or a Grace!
“To some great man you bow, to greater he,
“Who to the greatest bends his supple knee,
“That so the manna from the head may drop,
“And at the lowest of the kneelers stop.
“Lords call you loyal, and on them you call
“To spare you something from our plunder'd all:
“If tricks like these to slaves can treasure bring,
“Slaves well may shout them hoarse for ‘Church and King!’”
“Brother!” says Charles,—“yet brother is a name
“I own with pity, and I speak with shame,—
“One of these days you'll surely lead a mob,
“And then the hangman will conclude the job.”
“I own with pity, and I speak with shame,—
“One of these days you'll surely lead a mob,
“And then the hangman will conclude the job.”
“And would you, Charles, in that unlucky case.
“Beg for his life whose death would bring disgrace
“On you, and all the loyal of our race?
“Your worth would surely from the halter bring
“One neck, and I a patriot then might sing—
“A brother patriot I—God save our noble king.”
“Beg for his life whose death would bring disgrace
“On you, and all the loyal of our race?
“Your worth would surely from the halter bring
“One neck, and I a patriot then might sing—
“A brother patriot I—God save our noble king.”
179
“James!” said the graver man, in manner grave—
“Your neck I could not, I your soul would save;
“Oh! ere that day, alas, too likely! come,
“I would prepare your mind to meet your doom,
“That then the priest, who prays with that bad race
“Of men, may find you not devoid of grace.”
“Your neck I could not, I your soul would save;
“Oh! ere that day, alas, too likely! come,
“I would prepare your mind to meet your doom,
“That then the priest, who prays with that bad race
“Of men, may find you not devoid of grace.”
These are the men who, from their seats above,
Hear frequent sermons on fraternal love;
Nay, each approves, and answers—“Very true!
“Brother would heed it, were he not a Jew.”
Hear frequent sermons on fraternal love;
Nay, each approves, and answers—“Very true!
“Brother would heed it, were he not a Jew.”
| The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |