 | New Poems by George Crabbe |  |
“So lived the Man, his Days moved slowly on,
“Although his Years seemed swift when they were gone.
“Still was he poor, and found his Efforts vain
“An higher Station by his Care to gain.
“Another gained it, though he laboured less;
“Interest, not Merit, there insured Success.
“So David spoke, and from the Time began
“To loose the Glory of a moral Man;
“He grew Remiss, His duties were declined,
“Indulged his Senses, & debased his Mind.
“He saw how Gain was made, and owned no Law
“That bad him shun the Evil Acts he saw;
“Then, overcome, he took a bolder View
“Of what he could, as others round him, do;
“If Conscience murmured, and his Spirits failed,
“These Wine inflamed, & over that prevailed.
“He now desired Support, & Men were found,
“With whom the Troubles of his Life were drowned.
“For self-approval of an happier time
“Came Self-Indulgence, Cause & Nurse of Crime.
“He to his Mother wrote, for Money prest,
“A small Assistance to a Son distressed,
“But her stern Husband, who the Letter read,
“Returned it, thereon Writing: ‘She is dead.’
“This griev'd not David; when his Virtue leaves
“The Heart, it rarely for a Mother grieves;
“The kind Affections from the Man depart,
“And Vice, that first corrupts, makes hard the heart.
“Him Fear and Want possessed, & with them came
“The Dread of Justice, now an aweful Name,
“And if his Crime had not the deepest Stain,
“He never could his former Peace regain.
“There was a Way, but he had learn'd to treat
“The Sinner's Hope, Religion, as a Cheat
“Imposed on Man—And though forbad to write,
“A Father's feelings he would now excite;
“His Mother dead, he placed in that his Trust
“Some Sparks of Love would kindle from her Dust.
“Alas! in vain, & when such Hope was fled,
“Wrath and resentment kindled there instead.
“Again he tried, to certain Misery doomed;
“He now a bold & thret'ning Style assumed,
“Insanely Angry, for he thought to Awe
“Th' unyielding Peer! without a Fear of Law,
“For who would pierce him with a deeper Wound,
“Whom Want had made distressed, & Grief unsound?
“But Others, too, had Craft, an unknown Hand
“Gave in few words a Threat & a Command:
“‘Be warned, be wise, & dare no more Offend,
“‘Or loose your All, your Office & your Friend.’
“Although his Years seemed swift when they were gone.
“Still was he poor, and found his Efforts vain
“An higher Station by his Care to gain.
“Another gained it, though he laboured less;
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“So David spoke, and from the Time began
“To loose the Glory of a moral Man;
“He grew Remiss, His duties were declined,
“Indulged his Senses, & debased his Mind.
“He saw how Gain was made, and owned no Law
“That bad him shun the Evil Acts he saw;
“Then, overcome, he took a bolder View
“Of what he could, as others round him, do;
“If Conscience murmured, and his Spirits failed,
“These Wine inflamed, & over that prevailed.
“He now desired Support, & Men were found,
“With whom the Troubles of his Life were drowned.
“For self-approval of an happier time
“Came Self-Indulgence, Cause & Nurse of Crime.
“He to his Mother wrote, for Money prest,
“A small Assistance to a Son distressed,
“But her stern Husband, who the Letter read,
“Returned it, thereon Writing: ‘She is dead.’
“This griev'd not David; when his Virtue leaves
“The Heart, it rarely for a Mother grieves;
“The kind Affections from the Man depart,
“And Vice, that first corrupts, makes hard the heart.
“Him Fear and Want possessed, & with them came
“The Dread of Justice, now an aweful Name,
“And if his Crime had not the deepest Stain,
“He never could his former Peace regain.
“There was a Way, but he had learn'd to treat
“The Sinner's Hope, Religion, as a Cheat
“Imposed on Man—And though forbad to write,
“A Father's feelings he would now excite;
“His Mother dead, he placed in that his Trust
“Some Sparks of Love would kindle from her Dust.
“Alas! in vain, & when such Hope was fled,
“Wrath and resentment kindled there instead.
“Again he tried, to certain Misery doomed;
“He now a bold & thret'ning Style assumed,
“Insanely Angry, for he thought to Awe
“Th' unyielding Peer! without a Fear of Law,
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“Whom Want had made distressed, & Grief unsound?
“But Others, too, had Craft, an unknown Hand
“Gave in few words a Threat & a Command:
“‘Be warned, be wise, & dare no more Offend,
“‘Or loose your All, your Office & your Friend.’
“Hope now forsook him, Hope of happier Time,
“That was some Check, a moral Check on Crime;
“His Walks abridged, he now but little read,
“Drank when he could, & sleepless groaned in Bed;
“His Dress, his Person showed exteme Neglect,
“A want of Self-Esteem & Self-Respect;
“He for his Office had not time to spare,
“And pleaded Want of Health for Want of Care.
“The Books he read were of injurious Sort
“That make of Man's great Duties, themes for Sport,
“Or such as told him he had nought to fear
“And nought to hope! Existence ended here;
“Or such as painted Scenes of guilty Bliss
“As the sole Good in such a World as this,
“And, calling Vice by Pleasure's softer Name,
“Inflamed the Passions, & forgot the Shame.
“That was some Check, a moral Check on Crime;
“His Walks abridged, he now but little read,
“Drank when he could, & sleepless groaned in Bed;
“His Dress, his Person showed exteme Neglect,
“A want of Self-Esteem & Self-Respect;
“He for his Office had not time to spare,
“And pleaded Want of Health for Want of Care.
“The Books he read were of injurious Sort
“That make of Man's great Duties, themes for Sport,
“Or such as told him he had nought to fear
“And nought to hope! Existence ended here;
“Or such as painted Scenes of guilty Bliss
“As the sole Good in such a World as this,
“And, calling Vice by Pleasure's softer Name,
“Inflamed the Passions, & forgot the Shame.
“Still such Dilusions lost their power to charm,
“The Sting of Guilt & Want of Grief disarm,
“They had no Power the racking thoughts t'expell,
“And to the wounded Spirit say: ‘Be well.’—
“The Sting of Guilt & Want of Grief disarm,
“They had no Power the racking thoughts t'expell,
“And to the wounded Spirit say: ‘Be well.’—
“'Twas at this Time my Knowledge of the Man
“And my Compassion for his State began.
“This I related with my Wish to raise
“His fallen Mind by Views of brighter Days;
“To me the Symptoms of his Case were known,
“Signs of Disease that Once had been my own.
“I strove to soothe him, Chose him Books, and read,
“But his Desire and Love of Truth were fled.
“He neither granted nor denied the Proof
“Of Man's true State! but would reply: ‘Enough!
“‘It may be so! but all is dark to me.
“‘I've neither Power to argue, nor t'agree.’
“Yet he could sometimes speak in cheerful Style,
“And small Events would cause a transcient Smile,
“But an attempt his wayward Mind to guide
“Disturbed his Temper and provoked his Pride.
“He talked of Death, but, as it then appear'd,
“There were in him no Symptoms to be feared.
“‘Temperance & Care’, I said, ‘will Health restore.’
“‘For what?’, said he, ‘My comforts live no more,
“‘And when our Dwelling we no longer love,
“‘What Law on Earth forbids us to remove?’
“To this I answer'd from my common Place:
“‘Who quits his Post is sure to meet Disgrace.’
“‘Disgrace with Whom?’ said David, ‘shall the Dread
“‘Of babling Malice pain the happy Dead?
“‘Will Spencer sang, ‘When weary Mortals die,
“‘Let none ask How, or whence, or where, or Why.’’
“Smiling he spoke, and earnest I replied:
“‘The Poet's Verse is not the Sinner's Guide.’
“And thus we parted—‘Think not I forget’,
“He said, ‘your Kindness, 'tis One pleasing Debt,
“‘And proves there's Love in Man.’—My Leave I took,
“And left poor David to his Bed and Book.
“And my Compassion for his State began.
“This I related with my Wish to raise
“His fallen Mind by Views of brighter Days;
“To me the Symptoms of his Case were known,
“Signs of Disease that Once had been my own.
“I strove to soothe him, Chose him Books, and read,
“But his Desire and Love of Truth were fled.
“He neither granted nor denied the Proof
“Of Man's true State! but would reply: ‘Enough!
“‘It may be so! but all is dark to me.
“‘I've neither Power to argue, nor t'agree.’
“Yet he could sometimes speak in cheerful Style,
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“But an attempt his wayward Mind to guide
“Disturbed his Temper and provoked his Pride.
“He talked of Death, but, as it then appear'd,
“There were in him no Symptoms to be feared.
“‘Temperance & Care’, I said, ‘will Health restore.’
“‘For what?’, said he, ‘My comforts live no more,
“‘And when our Dwelling we no longer love,
“‘What Law on Earth forbids us to remove?’
“To this I answer'd from my common Place:
“‘Who quits his Post is sure to meet Disgrace.’
“‘Disgrace with Whom?’ said David, ‘shall the Dread
“‘Of babling Malice pain the happy Dead?
“‘Will Spencer sang, ‘When weary Mortals die,
“‘Let none ask How, or whence, or where, or Why.’’
“Smiling he spoke, and earnest I replied:
“‘The Poet's Verse is not the Sinner's Guide.’
“And thus we parted—‘Think not I forget’,
“He said, ‘your Kindness, 'tis One pleasing Debt,
“‘And proves there's Love in Man.’—My Leave I took,
“And left poor David to his Bed and Book.
“Yet thought I much, for I before had grieved
“For what I doubted, nay, for what believed,
“For my Belief was clouded, and my Doubt
“Made cold, Belief, Devotion undevout,
“And kept me with perturbed & anxious Mind,
“Seeking for Rest, but not with Hope to find,
“Till One dear Friend, the Friend of all his Race,
“Led me to see the Truth, & to embrace.
“‘Him will I seek, & he will soon impart
“‘Light to this Mind & Comfort to this Heart.
“‘He knows the Doubter's Reasoning, knows the Way
“‘Their Doubts to solve, their Troubles to allay,
“‘He will this Darkness from the Soul dispel,
“‘And frustrate all the Powers of Sin & Hell.
“‘Him will poor David for his Guide receive,
“‘Will first oppose, then feel his force, & grieve
“‘For his past Life, then tremble, then believe.’
“For what I doubted, nay, for what believed,
“For my Belief was clouded, and my Doubt
“Made cold, Belief, Devotion undevout,
“And kept me with perturbed & anxious Mind,
“Seeking for Rest, but not with Hope to find,
“Till One dear Friend, the Friend of all his Race,
“Led me to see the Truth, & to embrace.
“‘Him will I seek, & he will soon impart
“‘Light to this Mind & Comfort to this Heart.
“‘He knows the Doubter's Reasoning, knows the Way
“‘Their Doubts to solve, their Troubles to allay,
“‘He will this Darkness from the Soul dispel,
“‘And frustrate all the Powers of Sin & Hell.
“‘Him will poor David for his Guide receive,
“‘Will first oppose, then feel his force, & grieve
“‘For his past Life, then tremble, then believe.’
“Thoughtful, in Hope, & pleased with Our Intent,
“I and my Friend to that poor Dwelling went,
“And there we found him, stretched upon his Bed,
“Dying, and, e'er we could approach him, dead.
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“And there we found him, stretched upon his Bed,
“Dying, and, e'er we could approach him, dead.
“Th' accursed Julep had its purpose wrought,
“But O what Drug could give the Peace he sought?
“Th' eternal Peace—Can ought that Souls depress,
“The Body's Sufferings & the Mind's Distress,
“That Want of Self-respect that Sinners loose,
“And every Grief that Poverty persues,
“Can those persuade impatient Man to fly
“From all he knows An unknown State to try,
“And in disdain of Life, resolve uncalled to die?
“He long had felt the cruel World's Disdain,
“Long had familiar grown with Grief and Pain,
“And he could bear them: Time might these amend,
“With Hope his Comforter & God his Friend,
“But could he know, or could his Mind conceive,
“What Sinners dread! and, while they dread, believe?
“That there is Suffering in a State to come,
“Where none can alter, nought avert the Doom?
“Then would th' affrightened Spirit humbly wait,
“Nor dare th' appointed Hour anticipate,
“Would bear all Ills that he could not prevent,
“Nor dare the Deed which no Man can repent.
“But O what Drug could give the Peace he sought?
“Th' eternal Peace—Can ought that Souls depress,
“The Body's Sufferings & the Mind's Distress,
“That Want of Self-respect that Sinners loose,
“And every Grief that Poverty persues,
“Can those persuade impatient Man to fly
“From all he knows An unknown State to try,
“And in disdain of Life, resolve uncalled to die?
“He long had felt the cruel World's Disdain,
“Long had familiar grown with Grief and Pain,
“And he could bear them: Time might these amend,
“With Hope his Comforter & God his Friend,
“But could he know, or could his Mind conceive,
“What Sinners dread! and, while they dread, believe?
“That there is Suffering in a State to come,
“Where none can alter, nought avert the Doom?
“Then would th' affrightened Spirit humbly wait,
“Nor dare th' appointed Hour anticipate,
“Would bear all Ills that he could not prevent,
“Nor dare the Deed which no Man can repent.
“Behold the Christian Suffering, feels not he
“In his Distress a Longing to be free,
“Has he not Nerves that tremble, Limbs that shake,
“And Grief for those who suffer for his Sake,
“Is there not Sorrow in that feeling heart,
“That blends with Comfort, when Believers part?
“Patient, he waits for the appointed Time,
“His Soul submissive, & his Views sublime;
“In the dark Hour, if Pain, nay, Fears increase,
“And break tumultuous on the Bosom's peace,
“He looks to him, who in this mortal Strife
“With Pain and Anguish gave for Man his Life,
“To him he looks, that pure and spotless One,
“Patient, by Faith prepared his Race to run,
“And in his Saviour's Words exclaims: ‘Thy Will be done.’”
“In his Distress a Longing to be free,
“Has he not Nerves that tremble, Limbs that shake,
“And Grief for those who suffer for his Sake,
“Is there not Sorrow in that feeling heart,
“That blends with Comfort, when Believers part?
“Patient, he waits for the appointed Time,
“His Soul submissive, & his Views sublime;
“In the dark Hour, if Pain, nay, Fears increase,
“And break tumultuous on the Bosom's peace,
“He looks to him, who in this mortal Strife
“With Pain and Anguish gave for Man his Life,
“To him he looks, that pure and spotless One,
“Patient, by Faith prepared his Race to run,
“And in his Saviour's Words exclaims: ‘Thy Will be done.’”
| New Poems by George Crabbe | |