Infancy, or the management of children a didactic poem, in six books. The sixth edition. To which are added poems not before published. By Hugh Downman |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
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To INDEPENDENCE. |
 | Infancy, or the management of children |  |
219
To INDEPENDENCE.
1787.
Hail Independence! on thy sacred altar
I heap devoutest offerings.—If misled
By phantoms of imaginary good,
From thy rough path sublime, from the keen air
Thy mountains breathe, my steps have turn'd aside
Tho but an instant, or a thought escaped
Toward the low vale, or thick o'ershading grove,
If thus my soul e'er felt a transient wound,
The flaw of weak mortality forgive!
And let me, strenuous task, forgive myself!
While smoothed the scar, and re-inspired by thee,
Doubly enamour'd of thy form august,
Erect I move, and with unblushing face
Claim thy alliance; and in solemn strain
Swear never more from thy bright track to cast
A devious look; or injure, what no wealth
Can ever recompence, no fame obtain'd
From the rank vulgar, ever can repay,
That conscious honour, that nice sense of worth,
O'er which the firm, and unsequacious mind
In secret broods, exulting as she tastes
The true, luxurious pleasure.—That I first
Beheld the light, free-born, on Albion's coast,
Nor yet among the meanest of her sons,
Necessitous, to penury exposed,
My grateful thanks to Heaven are due. Oh shame!
These blessings to degrade, confine my limbs
With golden shackles, and descend beneath,
In voluntary abjectness of soul,
Not only the poor hind who guides the plough,
But the pied-coated beggar. Have I drank
At the clear stream of science? Have I read
The stoic lesson? and in groveling wise
Shall I so stoop, and call myself a man,
In flattery to my equals, my inferiors,
However with the gifts of fortune cramm'd,
That e'en my dog, if granted words and sense,
Would cry, how I despise thee!—Not from this,
From this alone, O Goddess of my prayers!
Defend thy votary; but inspire me still
With that unyielding spirit, which resists
Pride's domination, and with fix'd contempt
Eyes the malicious scorner. While in vain
The many-acred blockhead thinks to find
Me on his nod attendant, at his smile
Cringing, and with officious haste his will
Anticipating, e'er his tongue command,
Haply when he despairs of life, and craves
Art's sage assistance, to receive the few
Vile counters, by necessity extorted,
Which he so dearly estimates; to me,
Which are but glittering nothings.—Yes, pursue
Such modes of action, call them politic,
And thrive by them, who list. I know mankind
As well as they, and know base humours please
The base, that feign'd respect appears as real,
That few, from self-complacence, can escape
The flatterer's bait, and twenty saws, to prove
That men, like callow birds, are oft the prey
Of reptile sharpers.—But I know myself,
And will not, cannot pay the price for goods
I deem of sordid grain. The price not paid,
In the world's ware-house let them rot for me,
Or clothe the backs of fools, and prodigals.
Fools, who on gew-gaws set a value, far
Beyond their worth intrinsic; prodigals,
Who in exchange, give what exceeds all price,
Sincerity, integrity, and honour.
I heap devoutest offerings.—If misled
By phantoms of imaginary good,
From thy rough path sublime, from the keen air
Thy mountains breathe, my steps have turn'd aside
Tho but an instant, or a thought escaped
Toward the low vale, or thick o'ershading grove,
If thus my soul e'er felt a transient wound,
The flaw of weak mortality forgive!
And let me, strenuous task, forgive myself!
While smoothed the scar, and re-inspired by thee,
Doubly enamour'd of thy form august,
Erect I move, and with unblushing face
Claim thy alliance; and in solemn strain
Swear never more from thy bright track to cast
A devious look; or injure, what no wealth
220
From the rank vulgar, ever can repay,
That conscious honour, that nice sense of worth,
O'er which the firm, and unsequacious mind
In secret broods, exulting as she tastes
The true, luxurious pleasure.—That I first
Beheld the light, free-born, on Albion's coast,
Nor yet among the meanest of her sons,
Necessitous, to penury exposed,
My grateful thanks to Heaven are due. Oh shame!
These blessings to degrade, confine my limbs
With golden shackles, and descend beneath,
In voluntary abjectness of soul,
Not only the poor hind who guides the plough,
But the pied-coated beggar. Have I drank
At the clear stream of science? Have I read
The stoic lesson? and in groveling wise
Shall I so stoop, and call myself a man,
In flattery to my equals, my inferiors,
However with the gifts of fortune cramm'd,
That e'en my dog, if granted words and sense,
Would cry, how I despise thee!—Not from this,
From this alone, O Goddess of my prayers!
221
With that unyielding spirit, which resists
Pride's domination, and with fix'd contempt
Eyes the malicious scorner. While in vain
The many-acred blockhead thinks to find
Me on his nod attendant, at his smile
Cringing, and with officious haste his will
Anticipating, e'er his tongue command,
Haply when he despairs of life, and craves
Art's sage assistance, to receive the few
Vile counters, by necessity extorted,
Which he so dearly estimates; to me,
Which are but glittering nothings.—Yes, pursue
Such modes of action, call them politic,
And thrive by them, who list. I know mankind
As well as they, and know base humours please
The base, that feign'd respect appears as real,
That few, from self-complacence, can escape
The flatterer's bait, and twenty saws, to prove
That men, like callow birds, are oft the prey
Of reptile sharpers.—But I know myself,
And will not, cannot pay the price for goods
I deem of sordid grain. The price not paid,
222
Or clothe the backs of fools, and prodigals.
Fools, who on gew-gaws set a value, far
Beyond their worth intrinsic; prodigals,
Who in exchange, give what exceeds all price,
Sincerity, integrity, and honour.
Yet Goddess! would I not austerely dwell,
A solitary Being. While I trample
Malice, and spleen, and pride, beneath my feet,
The good, the just, nay, e'en the rich, and great,
If rich in virtue, and if great of soul,
Claim, and shall have my reverence. They are form'd
For all mankind, I own them form'd for me,
Nor would I boast of independence here.
A solitary Being. While I trample
Malice, and spleen, and pride, beneath my feet,
The good, the just, nay, e'en the rich, and great,
If rich in virtue, and if great of soul,
Claim, and shall have my reverence. They are form'd
For all mankind, I own them form'd for me,
Nor would I boast of independence here.
Neither the ties of nature would I loose,
Stifle the fond affections, quit the duties
Mild, relative, reciprocal, nor fail
To bend with anxious care to those beneath me.
The high-o'eruling, independent, one,
Essence of essences, supremely blest,
His creatures, tho so infinitely low,
Sustains, preserves, with mercy and with kindness
Shrouding from human view his aweful sway,
And stern-eyed justice.—Pride is madly-fierce,
Wresting from all alike insulted homage,
But triumphs most o'er the depress'd, and weak.
True Independence fears not to be humble;
Hating servility, she renders light
The weight of obligation; bids the wretched
With confidence uplift the timid eye;
Bids them approximate, and joins herself.
Stifle the fond affections, quit the duties
Mild, relative, reciprocal, nor fail
To bend with anxious care to those beneath me.
The high-o'eruling, independent, one,
Essence of essences, supremely blest,
His creatures, tho so infinitely low,
223
Shrouding from human view his aweful sway,
And stern-eyed justice.—Pride is madly-fierce,
Wresting from all alike insulted homage,
But triumphs most o'er the depress'd, and weak.
True Independence fears not to be humble;
Hating servility, she renders light
The weight of obligation; bids the wretched
With confidence uplift the timid eye;
Bids them approximate, and joins herself.
| Infancy, or the management of children | |