 | Poems on several occasions |  |
37
CHRISTMAS EVE.
Debarr'd of Sol's bright beams, the scene around
Winter proclaims, with cold benumbing crown'd,
Attended by dull Night; while keen-blast winds
The flaky snow from th'icy quarter brings.
See how the leafless trees dejected stand,
Behold the freezy train join hand in hand
To nip in haste the yet remaining bud,
And strait congeals the liquid silver-flood.
The grassy plain, so sprightly cloath'd in green,
And flow'ry mead, no longer can be seen:
All, all are gone, and stript of verdure gay,
Their silent gloom proclaims cold Winter's sway.
Winter proclaims, with cold benumbing crown'd,
Attended by dull Night; while keen-blast winds
The flaky snow from th'icy quarter brings.
See how the leafless trees dejected stand,
Behold the freezy train join hand in hand
To nip in haste the yet remaining bud,
And strait congeals the liquid silver-flood.
The grassy plain, so sprightly cloath'd in green,
And flow'ry mead, no longer can be seen:
All, all are gone, and stript of verdure gay,
Their silent gloom proclaims cold Winter's sway.
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Yet now the nervous hinds attempt renown,
Nor heed the rigour of the tyrant's frown;
But with agility to bandy hie,
Or swift as well-train'd steeds with football fly
Unto the goal, encircled with delight,
While shouts proclaim the ball has touch'd the white.
Oh happy clowns! how sweet the exercise
Which makes health's blooming charms with pleasure rise!
Nor heed the rigour of the tyrant's frown;
But with agility to bandy hie,
Or swift as well-train'd steeds with football fly
Unto the goal, encircled with delight,
While shouts proclaim the ball has touch'd the white.
Oh happy clowns! how sweet the exercise
Which makes health's blooming charms with pleasure rise!
But what a change, to view those call'd refin'd,
Because more dext'rous to torment the mind
With their feign'd bliss, by fraud and cunning gain'd
From games o'er which disease and vice e'er reign'd,
Not e'en Pandora's box more ills contain'd.
Because more dext'rous to torment the mind
With their feign'd bliss, by fraud and cunning gain'd
From games o'er which disease and vice e'er reign'd,
Not e'en Pandora's box more ills contain'd.
Yet let th'intemp'rate chief pursue his joys,
And bravoes roll in dissipated noise;
Let madness now assume bright honour's form,
And e'en like furies rage, blaspheme and storm,
Till foul revenge brings murder, tho' the breast,
Like ill-fraught Cain's, a stranger lives to rest;
While I my moments to retirement yields,
And unrefin'd sing pleasure found in fields.
And bravoes roll in dissipated noise;
Let madness now assume bright honour's form,
And e'en like furies rage, blaspheme and storm,
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Like ill-fraught Cain's, a stranger lives to rest;
While I my moments to retirement yields,
And unrefin'd sing pleasure found in fields.
Now gloomy night, with all her joyless train.
Display'd its horrors o'er the tim'rous brain;
No longer could the vig'rous swains pursue
Their active sports, but to the village drew;
Where in the mud-wall cot they calmly sit,
Around the blazing hearth, while clownish wit,
In merry jokes, or in sad tales appear,
The boist'rous laugh gives way to heart-sunk fear.
Display'd its horrors o'er the tim'rous brain;
No longer could the vig'rous swains pursue
Their active sports, but to the village drew;
Where in the mud-wall cot they calmly sit,
Around the blazing hearth, while clownish wit,
In merry jokes, or in sad tales appear,
The boist'rous laugh gives way to heart-sunk fear.
In fabled eloquence one deeply skill'd,
Lets loose at large what seas of blood were spill'd.
Then tells of witches, pranks of hag-rid mares,
And truth of neighbour's spewing pins declares.
Of fairies dancing in the circled rings,
And ghosts and demons to existence brings!
How privy murders were by them reveal'd,
What sums of money too had been conceal'd.
With utmost silence each at Tully stare,
Nor can one move without erected hair;
Till sound of tunesome bells their minds re-cheer,
And tell what joyful season's drawing near:
Pale fear then flew; but yet the converse stood
Some time aloft, when lo, it was renew'd
By neighbour Goodman, who that moment came
Home to attend old Wrongbred and his dame.
The chat commenc'd about the new-made stile,
Whether the alteration's worth the while
Of those whom they had chose with willing voice,
The times thus to confound when to rejoice;
Yet since 'twas done; our Goodman hop'd the state
Would reap advantage from the alter'd date.
Lets loose at large what seas of blood were spill'd.
Then tells of witches, pranks of hag-rid mares,
And truth of neighbour's spewing pins declares.
Of fairies dancing in the circled rings,
And ghosts and demons to existence brings!
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What sums of money too had been conceal'd.
With utmost silence each at Tully stare,
Nor can one move without erected hair;
Till sound of tunesome bells their minds re-cheer,
And tell what joyful season's drawing near:
Pale fear then flew; but yet the converse stood
Some time aloft, when lo, it was renew'd
By neighbour Goodman, who that moment came
Home to attend old Wrongbred and his dame.
The chat commenc'd about the new-made stile,
Whether the alteration's worth the while
Of those whom they had chose with willing voice,
The times thus to confound when to rejoice;
Yet since 'twas done; our Goodman hop'd the state
Would reap advantage from the alter'd date.
May it be so, Wrongbred in haste reply'd,
But (being near to bigotry ally'd)
Said he should ne'er with true devotion pray
Upon the morrow, call'd New Christmas-day.
Then tells of Glastenbury's holy thorn,
That buds and blossoms on the blessed morn;
Sets forth at large, when pleasing midnight peal,
On Christmas-eve, the welcom'd season hail,
Before the alter'd time, the flocks and kine
At sound thereof felt impulse near divine;
And on their bended knees did straightway fall,
E'er since the æra of the sacred stall.
But (being near to bigotry ally'd)
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Upon the morrow, call'd New Christmas-day.
Then tells of Glastenbury's holy thorn,
That buds and blossoms on the blessed morn;
Sets forth at large, when pleasing midnight peal,
On Christmas-eve, the welcom'd season hail,
Before the alter'd time, the flocks and kine
At sound thereof felt impulse near divine;
And on their bended knees did straightway fall,
E'er since the æra of the sacred stall.
His dame then tells, that her rosemary tree
Until th'old season is from blooming free;
But on that day is with new blossoms crown'd,
And sheds its fragrant odours all around.
Again the old man speaks his doubts and fears,
How since that time he was perplex'd with cares;
'Cause in those days, so lost, 'twas plainly seen
An holy sabbath-day must intervene.
Then talks it o'er how dear all sorts of food
Did daily grow; nor can he hold it good,
But finds all things are worse since th'alter'd time,
Therefore condemns it for a heinous crime;
Yea, do not all his betters now contrive
To ruin health, and luxury revive?
Until th'old season is from blooming free;
But on that day is with new blossoms crown'd,
And sheds its fragrant odours all around.
Again the old man speaks his doubts and fears,
How since that time he was perplex'd with cares;
'Cause in those days, so lost, 'twas plainly seen
An holy sabbath-day must intervene.
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Did daily grow; nor can he hold it good,
But finds all things are worse since th'alter'd time,
Therefore condemns it for a heinous crime;
Yea, do not all his betters now contrive
To ruin health, and luxury revive?
His speech thus clos'd, Goodman, to reason fit,
Remarks of luxury with flowing wit;
And then relates what fresh came in his mind,
What had been to his younger years assign'd:
How in the letter'd page, intent, he'd read,
Greeks, Persians, Romans, all in chains were led
By that curs'd fiend, who prov'd their overthrow,
That now nought but their empty names we know.
Remarks of luxury with flowing wit;
And then relates what fresh came in his mind,
What had been to his younger years assign'd:
How in the letter'd page, intent, he'd read,
Greeks, Persians, Romans, all in chains were led
By that curs'd fiend, who prov'd their overthrow,
That now nought but their empty names we know.
With tears he tells of that most fatal day,
When English freedom fell to Gauls a prey:
Recounts the cause, and to them plainly shews
Excess and ignorance the greatest foes;
Yea, ev'n in those that should by duty prove
Virtue and Liberty united move.
When English freedom fell to Gauls a prey:
Recounts the cause, and to them plainly shews
Excess and ignorance the greatest foes;
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Virtue and Liberty united move.
As sparks the tinder catch, the home-taught boor
Thus caught these words, and bellow'd out, encore:
For you must know (tho' member of the church)
The light of Fox did in his bosom lurch;
Not that he join'd in ought but paying tythes,
He thought 'twas feeding drones that robb'd the hives;
He said that many of the rev'rend gown
Would forfeit heaven for a mitred crown:
Nor would attend those courts if that pretence,
E'en filthy lucre, banish'd were from thence.
Then forth example brings of men like beasts,
Because too much regarding sumptuous feasts.
Thus caught these words, and bellow'd out, encore:
For you must know (tho' member of the church)
The light of Fox did in his bosom lurch;
Not that he join'd in ought but paying tythes,
He thought 'twas feeding drones that robb'd the hives;
He said that many of the rev'rend gown
Would forfeit heaven for a mitred crown:
Nor would attend those courts if that pretence,
E'en filthy lucre, banish'd were from thence.
Then forth example brings of men like beasts,
Because too much regarding sumptuous feasts.
Goodman reply'd, in these corrupted times
Can any live quite spotless from their crimes?
Art thou a champion in religion's cause,
And censure its defendants earth-born flaws:
Or dost thou think the rev'rend brotherhood
Are not frail beings, made of flesh and blood?
Were they to wear the gloomy sect'ry's brow,
Or on them take the cloister'd hermit's vow;
Would not these words break from the giddy crowd,
Humility is lost in churchmen proud:
Or would not otherwise their actions say,
They're much too good to mix with brother-clay?
Can any live quite spotless from their crimes?
Art thou a champion in religion's cause,
And censure its defendants earth-born flaws:
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Are not frail beings, made of flesh and blood?
Were they to wear the gloomy sect'ry's brow,
Or on them take the cloister'd hermit's vow;
Would not these words break from the giddy crowd,
Humility is lost in churchmen proud:
Or would not otherwise their actions say,
They're much too good to mix with brother-clay?
Almost confounded, Wrongbred stamm'ring cries,
Yet still they should acquit us of the tythes:
For we must pay whether we go to hear;
I think, my friend—they have above their share.
Yet still they should acquit us of the tythes:
For we must pay whether we go to hear;
I think, my friend—they have above their share.
Goodman again reply'd, is this your zeal,
T'embrace those very crimes at which you rail?
Have you not read the standard of our faith,
Which in the plainest terms on this wise saith;
That those who preach the Gospel should be free
And live thereon: does this and you agree?
Oh! was our pastor full of all that's ill,
Ne'er mind his charge, nay aid the very d---l;
And thou set free of tythes, all would be well,
Tho' daily sending untaught souls to h---ll.
Neighbour forbear, from prejudice abstain;
Look o'er their faults, their good deeds let remain.
T'embrace those very crimes at which you rail?
Have you not read the standard of our faith,
Which in the plainest terms on this wise saith;
That those who preach the Gospel should be free
And live thereon: does this and you agree?
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Ne'er mind his charge, nay aid the very d---l;
And thou set free of tythes, all would be well,
Tho' daily sending untaught souls to h---ll.
Neighbour forbear, from prejudice abstain;
Look o'er their faults, their good deeds let remain.
Wrongbred abash'd, to Goodman then resign'd
The disputation, and in candour join'd
This virtuous chief; acknowledging his love,
Who could with candour his base mind improve.
The disputation, and in candour join'd
This virtuous chief; acknowledging his love,
Who could with candour his base mind improve.
Th'attentive youths, who'd heard the long dispute,
And wish'd that Goodman might his friend confute;
Their chearful gratulations now repay,
While Truth and Goodman hail the festive day.
And wish'd that Goodman might his friend confute;
Their chearful gratulations now repay,
While Truth and Goodman hail the festive day.
The midnight hour then striking soon began,
The holy peal so full of joys to man;
To usher in that ever-blessed morn
Whereon the Saviour of the world was born.
The holy peal so full of joys to man;
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Whereon the Saviour of the world was born.
Goodman from this a just conclusion brings,
That talk of diff'rent styles are idle things;
But bids them all embrace the happy hour
Now set apart to the Omniscient Pow'r;
And to his courts with grateful minds repair,
To thank him for his all-wise gracious care
In thus redeeming man from his lost state;
And, with due praise, in solemn song repeat
The mercies of a God most truly Great
That talk of diff'rent styles are idle things;
But bids them all embrace the happy hour
Now set apart to the Omniscient Pow'r;
And to his courts with grateful minds repair,
To thank him for his all-wise gracious care
In thus redeeming man from his lost state;
And, with due praise, in solemn song repeat
The mercies of a God most truly Great
| Poems on several occasions | |