The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe with his letters and journals, and his life, by his son. In eight volumes |
 | I. |
| I. |
[“Sweet was the morning's breath, the inland tide] |
 | II. |
| III. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| II. |
| III, IV, V. |
| VI, VII. |
| VIII. |
 | [CHAPTER I.]
The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe |  |
13
[“Sweet was the morning's breath, the inland tide]
“Sweet was the morning's breath, the inland tide,
And our boat gliding, where alone could glide
Small craft—and they oft touch'd on either side.
It was my first-born joy—I heard them say,
‘Let the child go; he will enjoy the day;
For children ever feel delighted when
They take their portion and enjoy with men.’
“The linnet chirp'd upon the furze as well,
To my young sense, as sings the nightingale.
Without was Paradise—because within
Was a keen relish, without taint of sin.”
And our boat gliding, where alone could glide
Small craft—and they oft touch'd on either side.
It was my first-born joy—I heard them say,
‘Let the child go; he will enjoy the day;
For children ever feel delighted when
They take their portion and enjoy with men.’
14
To my young sense, as sings the nightingale.
Without was Paradise—because within
Was a keen relish, without taint of sin.”
—“As the sun declined,
The good found early I no more could find.
The men drank much to whet the appetite,
And, growing heavy, drank to make them light;
Then drank to relish joy, then further to excite.
The lads play'd idly with the helm and oar,
And nervous women would be set on shore,
And ‘civil dudgeon’ grew, and peace would smile no more,
Till on the colder water faintly shone
The sloping light—the cheerful day was gone.
In life's advance, events like this I knew,—
So they advanced, and so they ended too.
The promised joy, that like this morning rose,
Broke on the view—then clouded at its close.”
The good found early I no more could find.
The men drank much to whet the appetite,
And, growing heavy, drank to make them light;
Then drank to relish joy, then further to excite.
The lads play'd idly with the helm and oar,
And nervous women would be set on shore,
And ‘civil dudgeon’ grew, and peace would smile no more,
Till on the colder water faintly shone
The sloping light—the cheerful day was gone.
In life's advance, events like this I knew,—
So they advanced, and so they ended too.
The promised joy, that like this morning rose,
Broke on the view—then clouded at its close.”
| [CHAPTER I.]
The Poetical Works of the Rev. George Crabbe | |