Poems on Several Occasions By The Reverend John Langhorne |
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Written after being wak'd at Midnight
by the Ringing of the Parish-Bells.
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 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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Written after being wak'd at Midnight by the Ringing of the Parish-Bells.
Peace then ye loud-tongu'd Nuncios of the Grave!Whose brazen Breasts, cold as the Hand of Death,
Can feel no Sympathy, save from the Touch
Of surly Sexton—why, at this dead Hour,
Drive ye soft Slumbers from your Master's Eyes?
Peace with that Iron-Peal that rends mine Ear,
Tumultuosly sonorous—what! ring round
To the rude Roar of rustic Revelry—!
While I in vain am courting close-ey'd Sleep
To spread his dark Veil o'er my pensive Heart,
To chain each Passion, and, with magic Power,
Let loose Oblivion on the Dogs of Care.
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Thro' these still Shades, your heavy sounding Knell
Shall send the Tidings of Menalcas' Death.
Yet not in vain, if, chance, at Evening-Hour,
Some Villager, returning from his Toil,
Lean on his Spade, and think one moral Thought.
If, 'chance, Aurelia shed one tender Tear,
Or breathe one kind Wish—not so much in vain.
But, ah, shou'd She—which yet may Heav'n avert—
Shou'd She, the Victim of unfeeling Fate,
First fall—be dumb—one Sound wou'd rend my Heart.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |