 | Miscellanies in Verse and Prose |  |
The Morning Apparition.
Written at Wallington-House, 1719.
All things were hush'd, as Noise itself were dead;No midnight Mice stirr'd round my silent Bed;
Not ev'n a Gnat disturb'd the Peace profound;
Dumb, o'er my Pillow, hung my Watch unwound;
No ticking Death-worm told a fancy'd Doom,
Nor hidden Cricket chirrupt in the Room.
No Breeze the Casement shook, or fann'd the Leaves,
Nor Drops of Rain fell soft from off the Eaves,
Nor noisy Splinter made the Candle weep,
But the dim Watch-Light seem'd itself asleep,
When tir'd I clos'd my Eyes—how long I lay
In Slumber wrapt, I list not now to say;
When hark, a sudden Noise!—See—open flies
The yielding Door—I, starting, rubb'd my Eyes,
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Full at my Feet a tall thin Form appear'd,
While thro' my parted Curtains rushing broke
A Light like Day, ere yet the Figure spoke.
Cold Sweats bedew'd my Limbs—nor did I dream;
(Hear, Mortals, hear! for real Truth's my Theme;)
And now more bold I rais'd my trembling Bones
To look—when lo! 'twas honest Master Jones,
Who wav'd his Hand, to banish Fears and Sorrow,
Well-charg'd with Toast and Sack, and cry'd Good-morrow.
| Miscellanies in Verse and Prose | |