Poems on Several Occasions :: :: University of Virginia Library

'Tis Penury that whets the Human Mind
To painful Toil in Crafts of every Kind.
Care to subsist, still carking in his Breast,
Bars the poor Lab'rer of his needful Rest.
Works him by Day, and haunts him in the Night;
Stirs his old Stumps before the Morning Light:
And late and early prompts his hard Essay
To earn the scanty Pittance of the Day.

Two Fishermen, long season'd to the Trade,
Fast in their lonely Cot asleep were laid;
Their Cot, whose low Mud Walls with Osiers bound
Propt the thatch'd Roof from tumbling to the Ground;
Whilst Sea-Weed dry'd, and underneath them spread,
And Reeds and Rushes furbish'd up their Bed.

The Implements to catch their daily prize,
Nets, Lines, and Hooks of ev'ry Sort and Size;
Baskets and twisted Ropes were scatter'd round,
And the old Boat, hard by was haul'd aground.
This was their Wealth, and thus for Toil prepar'd,
They fed as coarsely as they labour'd hard:
Whilst roaring round their Cot on ev'ry Side
The Sea came daily with the flowing Tide;
Nor social Friends, nor Neighbourhood they knew,
Far from a Place so rueful, all withdrew.
The Moon advancing with her silver Light
Had past, and hardly past the Noon of Night,
When these two Comrades rose without Delay
To urge the toilsome Travel of the Day.
All in an Instant from sweet Sleep they broke,
And thus the one with deep Amasement spoke.

“Sure without Grounds is the receiv'd Report
That all our Nights in Summer must be short,

When the warm Sun enlarges his Career,
And Jove unfolds the Beauties of the Year.
What Scenes have I survey'd this live-long Night;
And yet, far distant is the dawning Light.
Canst thou, my Friend, the various Dreams explain
Which mimic Fancy forges in the Brain?
Fair fall th' Event, whatever mine may mean,
But sure, such Dreams as mine were never seen!
I know thee prudent, and the prudent Mind
Can best interpret what's by Fate design'd.
At least attend the pleasing Tale, and share
Thy Friend's Amusement as thou dost his Care.
Hear the Dream told.”

Second Fisherman.
“Relate then all that past,
The whole Adventure speak from first to last.”

First Fisherman.
“Our Meal dispatch'd, full easy to digest,
(Our Meals, Heav'n help us! seldom hurt our Rest)
Last Night I laid me down resign'd to Sleep;
And straight methought, to angle in the Deep:
On a Rock's Brow I took my silent Stand,
My Rod held out, and trembling in my Hand;
And still I eyed the dancing Cork, to know
If aught were nibbling at the Bait below;
When lo, at last my utmost Hopes to crown,
The Rod bent double, and the Cork sunk down;
Fast to my Hook I felt with glad Surprize
A Fish was floundering of enormous Size.
With my best Skill to seize the welcome Prey
I loos'd my Length of Line to let him Play;
Till tir'd and spent, and struggling now no more
I drew him fair and softly to the Shore;

Then stopt to view, and wond'rous to be told,
I found my Fish was form'd of beaten Gold.
Not Neptune's Self a richer Prize could show,
In all his azure Treasury below.
Gods! how I felt, of all this Wealth possest;
How my Heart leapt and bounded in my Breast!
In Pleasure now, thought I, I'll take my Swing
And live as free and happy as a King.
Safe and secure upon the Land, I swore
I'd fix my Fortune, and enjoy my Store,
And never ply my Trade of Fishing more.
And now advise, since Heav'n's just Wrath I dread,
And Vengeance pointed at the perjur'd Head,
Since all my Schemes of Wealth and Ease are vain,
And Want compels me out to Sea again,
What shall I do? or how shall I controul
The Oath I thus have bound upon my Soul?”

Second Fisherman.
“Alas! my Friend, in Fact thou didst not swear,
There's nothing real in the whole Affair.
Now to our Toil,—and fairly may we speed
In Heaven's good Bounty to supply our Need!
For Man, whate'er his foolish Hopes may say,
Must live from Hand to Mouth, from Day to Day.
Still 'tis the Fish that's earn'd by Labour past,
The real Fish must be our Food at last.
Else shall we soon lament the sad Extremes,
And dye for Want amidst our golden Dreams.