 | Poems (1905) |  |
489
THE FUNERAL OF THE SQUIRE.
I left my Friend, and at the Closing day
Took to the Church-Yard walk my evening way.
'Twas there, invited by th' unusual Sound,
The Good old Sexton in the Church I found;
He from a Vault had thrown the Earth aside—
Proof that some Person of Respect had died;
And now was coming to that vaulted Home
To which—but not in Churches—we must come.
There the old Sexton, on the Heap he made,
Looked at his Work and leaned upon his Spade;
As if with some Complacency he dwelt
Upon his Task and its Importance felt.
Took to the Church-Yard walk my evening way.
'Twas there, invited by th' unusual Sound,
The Good old Sexton in the Church I found;
He from a Vault had thrown the Earth aside—
Proof that some Person of Respect had died;
And now was coming to that vaulted Home
To which—but not in Churches—we must come.
There the old Sexton, on the Heap he made,
Looked at his Work and leaned upon his Spade;
As if with some Complacency he dwelt
Upon his Task and its Importance felt.
“Stranger,” said Good-man Sexton—I was strange
To my old Neighbour—“here's an awful change!”
This provoked Question; Question to such Man
Provoked Reply; and thus his Tale began.
To my old Neighbour—“here's an awful change!”
This provoked Question; Question to such Man
Provoked Reply; and thus his Tale began.
“In yonder Place—for so our People call
“That large new House; the other is the Hall;
“'Tis the more Antient—yet, for many a Year,
“The Squire and his Forefathers flourished here.
“Long had the last with his good Lady kept
“Their Wedding-vow, together walked and slept,
“And were a loving, grave, Church-going Pair;
“Howbeit, Heaven vouchsafed them not an Heir.
“That large new House; the other is the Hall;
“'Tis the more Antient—yet, for many a Year,
“The Squire and his Forefathers flourished here.
“Long had the last with his good Lady kept
“Their Wedding-vow, together walked and slept,
“And were a loving, grave, Church-going Pair;
“Howbeit, Heaven vouchsafed them not an Heir.
“But Oh! the sad Events of Mortal Life!
“The Squire in ripe old age forgot his Wife;
“Forgot the Sayings of the Law divine,
“And took an Harlot for his Concubine.
“From thence, O stranger! we may date his Fall;
“In fact it was the Ruin of them all.
“For my good Lady grieved to think how Sin
“His Heart, by Prayer unguarded, entered in;
“For, though the Squire observed the Sabbath Day,
“It was forsooth to shew the Poor the Way.
“'Twas not to have his Conscience clean and swept;
“For, though he listened for a while, he slept.—
“But, not to tarry in the tale I tell,
“He sought not Grace to stand; and so he fell.
“The Squire in ripe old age forgot his Wife;
“Forgot the Sayings of the Law divine,
“And took an Harlot for his Concubine.
“From thence, O stranger! we may date his Fall;
“In fact it was the Ruin of them all.
“For my good Lady grieved to think how Sin
“His Heart, by Prayer unguarded, entered in;
“For, though the Squire observed the Sabbath Day,
“It was forsooth to shew the Poor the Way.
“'Twas not to have his Conscience clean and swept;
“For, though he listened for a while, he slept.—
“But, not to tarry in the tale I tell,
“He sought not Grace to stand; and so he fell.
“Some two Years since, he walked his Fields to see;
“Saw them at Distance, and his Mind was free;
“Approaching near, a bounden slave was he.
“Like the rich Boaz, he his People saw
“In his own Land, and where his Word was Law;
“And he, poor Mortal, was rejoicing then
“Among his laughing Maids and labouring Men.
“Saw them at Distance, and his Mind was free;
“Approaching near, a bounden slave was he.
“Like the rich Boaz, he his People saw
“In his own Land, and where his Word was Law;
“And he, poor Mortal, was rejoicing then
“Among his laughing Maids and labouring Men.
“So the great King of Babylon was glad
“In his proud Heart, and in a Moment mad.
“In his proud Heart, and in a Moment mad.
“For there the Squire beheld a dangerous Face,
“Alluring, lovely, but with Lack of Grace,
“And not of Craft; for then the Squire, betray'd
“By lawless Love, his wild Behests obeyed.
“The artful Damsel could her Way discern,
“And had not much of this bad World to learn
“Or its Deceits, but made her Will her Way;
“Could look as pure as on her Wedding-day
“The Maiden-Bride, and be in Heart as gay.
490
“And not of Craft; for then the Squire, betray'd
“By lawless Love, his wild Behests obeyed.
“The artful Damsel could her Way discern,
“And had not much of this bad World to learn
“Or its Deceits, but made her Will her Way;
“Could look as pure as on her Wedding-day
“The Maiden-Bride, and be in Heart as gay.
“Then, as a simple Child, whene'er he spoke,
“She laughed, delighted at his Honour's Joke;
“And thus the Frailty in his Heart began—
“Frailty the same that bound the wisest man;
“And far into that foul Reproach was gone,
“Although our Squire was not a Solomon.
“I knew the Damsel; she was not a Ruth,
“And had been wild and wanton all her Youth.
“She from her Bible no Instruction took,
“But studied like a Dalilah to look;
“Till Grace forsook her, left to the Controul
“Of Evil Things that War against the Soul.—
“She laughed, delighted at his Honour's Joke;
“And thus the Frailty in his Heart began—
“Frailty the same that bound the wisest man;
“And far into that foul Reproach was gone,
“Although our Squire was not a Solomon.
“I knew the Damsel; she was not a Ruth,
“And had been wild and wanton all her Youth.
“She from her Bible no Instruction took,
“But studied like a Dalilah to look;
“Till Grace forsook her, left to the Controul
“Of Evil Things that War against the Soul.—
“But I am wandering. When a Man is old,
“His Words come slowly, for his Blood is cold;
“And, the less time he has his Tale to tell,
“The longer he on every part will dwell.
“Alas! I'm like an old and crippled Steed,
“Slow but not sure—yet now I will proceed.
“His Words come slowly, for his Blood is cold;
“And, the less time he has his Tale to tell,
“The longer he on every part will dwell.
“Alas! I'm like an old and crippled Steed,
“Slow but not sure—yet now I will proceed.
“The tempted Man was Mad and deaf and blind,
“And sold his Peace to make an Harlot kind.
“He bought what he called Virtue at a Price
“She dared not ask, and then he found it Vice.
“Her purchased Smiles were as the changeful Ray
“Of April Suns—a Glimmer, and away!
“And sold his Peace to make an Harlot kind.
“He bought what he called Virtue at a Price
“She dared not ask, and then he found it Vice.
“Her purchased Smiles were as the changeful Ray
“Of April Suns—a Glimmer, and away!
“He who loved Gold, and all that Gold could win,
“Gave all a Costly Sacrifice to Sin;
“Wife, Friends and his good Name were but as Dust
“In his Mind's Ballance, that was now unjust.
“His Lady wept, but was no longer dear;
“His Friends admonished, Friends he would not hear;
“His Preacher threaten'd, he despised the Threat;
“Told of his Sin, he grew more sinful yet.
“Warnings were sent, at first the slight and slow,
“Then more Awakening; and then came the Blow.
“Fever and Pain confined him to his Bed,
“And Hope smiled faintly; but she quickly fled.
“Lost and bewildered, he repeats the Name
“That none can hear without Disgust or Shame.
“‘Bring her,’ he cried, ‘and place her on a Throne;
“‘For she is worthy, and shall reign alone!’
“Alas! his Queen was, like himself, attacked
“By that same Fever and with Terror racked;
“And now a Message to the Vicar sent,
“[Told that] his dying Honour would repent.
“Gave all a Costly Sacrifice to Sin;
“Wife, Friends and his good Name were but as Dust
“In his Mind's Ballance, that was now unjust.
“His Lady wept, but was no longer dear;
“His Friends admonished, Friends he would not hear;
“His Preacher threaten'd, he despised the Threat;
“Told of his Sin, he grew more sinful yet.
“Warnings were sent, at first the slight and slow,
“Then more Awakening; and then came the Blow.
“Fever and Pain confined him to his Bed,
“And Hope smiled faintly; but she quickly fled.
“Lost and bewildered, he repeats the Name
“That none can hear without Disgust or Shame.
“‘Bring her,’ he cried, ‘and place her on a Throne;
“‘For she is worthy, and shall reign alone!’
“Alas! his Queen was, like himself, attacked
“By that same Fever and with Terror racked;
“And now a Message to the Vicar sent,
“[Told that] his dying Honour would repent.
“The Vicar came [at once, with] Christian speed;
“The Doctor bade him, if he dared, proceed;
“For he was watching how his drugs would back
“The struggling Nature in this strong Attack:
“Such Thoughts at best would Nature's force impair
“And stop his Progress; 'twas not fighting fair.
“‘If I succeed, there's nothing more to do;
“‘And, if I fail, you'll have a Day or two;
“‘When Hope is over, and a Man prepares
“‘Body and Soul to settle his Affairs.’
“The Doctor fought, no doubt, with all his Might,
“But Nature yielded in the Doctor's Spite;
“And the good Vicar had his leave to try
“All he could offer; for the Man must die.
“But there was no repose; the troubled Brain
“Could little bear and nothing could retain.
491
“For he was watching how his drugs would back
“The struggling Nature in this strong Attack:
“Such Thoughts at best would Nature's force impair
“And stop his Progress; 'twas not fighting fair.
“‘If I succeed, there's nothing more to do;
“‘And, if I fail, you'll have a Day or two;
“‘When Hope is over, and a Man prepares
“‘Body and Soul to settle his Affairs.’
“The Doctor fought, no doubt, with all his Might,
“But Nature yielded in the Doctor's Spite;
“And the good Vicar had his leave to try
“All he could offer; for the Man must die.
“But there was no repose; the troubled Brain
“Could little bear and nothing could retain.
“In the same Night his troubled Spirit past
“That object of his Frailty breathed her last.
“Her we have buried in an earlier Day,
“And laid her where our parish poor we lay;
“It took not long that Business to adjust—
“When common Folk are carried Dust to Dust.
“A few kind Neighbours, by the setting Sun,
“Bear the light Burden when their Work is done,
“And there's an End.—But, when the Wealthy sleep,
“We keep the Body long as we can keep,
“And seek for help of those who will contrive
“To make things seem as all were yet alive.
“He lies in state, his Visits duly paid,
“And is—or he appears to be—obeyed.
“An intermediate State, when stopt the Breath,
“We make a kind of Compromise with Death:
“His is the Body, that he needs must have;
“But all is Life on this side of the Grave—
“As if alive, with Care we tend his Bed
“And bear him off, as if he felt us tread.
“With sad slow Pomp the Crowd behold him come
“And laid discreetly in his vaulted Home,
“O'er which, his Worth inscribed, shall rise the stately Tomb.
“Thus, when a Town has yielded, 'tis agreed—
“So have I heard—some Favour shall succeed;
“For, though the conquered Army must obey
“The Conqueror's Will and sadly walk away,
“Yet 'tis allowed to valiant Men and stout
“With War's proud Honours to march proudly out. [OMITTED]
“That object of his Frailty breathed her last.
“Her we have buried in an earlier Day,
“And laid her where our parish poor we lay;
“It took not long that Business to adjust—
“When common Folk are carried Dust to Dust.
“A few kind Neighbours, by the setting Sun,
“Bear the light Burden when their Work is done,
“And there's an End.—But, when the Wealthy sleep,
“We keep the Body long as we can keep,
“And seek for help of those who will contrive
“To make things seem as all were yet alive.
“He lies in state, his Visits duly paid,
“And is—or he appears to be—obeyed.
“An intermediate State, when stopt the Breath,
“We make a kind of Compromise with Death:
“His is the Body, that he needs must have;
“But all is Life on this side of the Grave—
“As if alive, with Care we tend his Bed
“And bear him off, as if he felt us tread.
“With sad slow Pomp the Crowd behold him come
“And laid discreetly in his vaulted Home,
“O'er which, his Worth inscribed, shall rise the stately Tomb.
“Thus, when a Town has yielded, 'tis agreed—
“So have I heard—some Favour shall succeed;
“For, though the conquered Army must obey
“The Conqueror's Will and sadly walk away,
“Yet 'tis allowed to valiant Men and stout
“With War's proud Honours to march proudly out. [OMITTED]
| Poems (1905) | |