New Poems by George Crabbe Edited with an introduction and notes by Arthur Pollard |
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Epitaph on the Lady Margaret North
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 | New Poems by George Crabbe |  |
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Epitaph on the Lady Margaret North
“Beneath this Stone the Mortal Frame
“Of Margaret North doth lie,
“Of Husbands four the faithful Spouse,
“Whose Fame shall never die.
“One Robert Francis was the first,
“The second Richard hight!
“Surnamed Chertsey, Alderman Sr Ed. [Br?]
“Was third, but he who did the rest surpass
“And was in Number fourth,
“And for his Virtue made a Lord,
“Was called Sr Edward North.
“Now grant them all in Heaven to meet, &c &c.
“Of Margaret North doth lie,
“Of Husbands four the faithful Spouse,
“Whose Fame shall never die.
“One Robert Francis was the first,
“The second Richard hight!
“Surnamed Chertsey, Alderman Sr Ed. [Br?]
“Was third, but he who did the rest surpass
“And was in Number fourth,
“And for his Virtue made a Lord,
“Was called Sr Edward North.
“Now grant them all in Heaven to meet, &c &c.
“The Lady Margaret North! forsooth!
“And had she so much Fame
“For such good Deeds? why, then, in truth!
“My Deeds demand the Same.
“What though enobled she might be,
“Not less to boast have I,
“And I'll have my Fame as well as she,
“Or I'll know the Reason why.
“And had she so much Fame
“For such good Deeds? why, then, in truth!
“My Deeds demand the Same.
“What though enobled she might be,
“Not less to boast have I,
“And I'll have my Fame as well as she,
“Or I'll know the Reason why.
“When I was 18 years of Age,
“Oh! Charming was I then,
“But my Mama was in a Rage,
“Whene'er I talked with Men!
“They talked to her, they gazed on me.
“She said with Frown severe:
“‘Child! seeing, you must nothing see,
“‘And, hearing, nothing hear!’
“Oh! Charming was I then,
“But my Mama was in a Rage,
“Whene'er I talked with Men!
“They talked to her, they gazed on me.
“She said with Frown severe:
“‘Child! seeing, you must nothing see,
“‘And, hearing, nothing hear!’
“She kept from me the Gay, the Young,
“From Question & Reply!
“Supprest the Movement of my Tongue,
“The Speaking of mine Eye.
“Forbid to look on gentle Guest
“By dear Mama's absurd alarm,
“I let my Eye & Fancy rest
“On Footman Philip's Legs & Arms!
“From Question & Reply!
“Supprest the Movement of my Tongue,
“The Speaking of mine Eye.
“Forbid to look on gentle Guest
“By dear Mama's absurd alarm,
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“On Footman Philip's Legs & Arms!
“Then Fanny talked of Philip's Eyes,
“That twinkled like the Stars above,
“Next, of his secret Fears & Sighs,
“And lastly, of his deathless Love!
“That twinkled like the Stars above,
“Next, of his secret Fears & Sighs,
“And lastly, of his deathless Love!
“She told of Philip's Form & Strength,
“How many Hearts the Youth had won,
“And I began to think at Length:
“—‘If nothing better can be done’—
“My Story runs—as Man & Wife
“We came from Gretna Green,
“A wicked Place, that through my Life
“I wished I had not seen.
“How many Hearts the Youth had won,
“And I began to think at Length:
“—‘If nothing better can be done’—
“My Story runs—as Man & Wife
“We came from Gretna Green,
“A wicked Place, that through my Life
“I wished I had not seen.
“I married, & the very Dregs
“Of Misery drank, of Care & Pain,
“For though the Man had handsome Legs,
“He wanted Breeding, wanted Brain.
“Among the low, the liveried Clan,
“Gambler & Bully, Boxer, Cheat,
“He thought he was ye greatest Man,
“Because he took the higher Seat.
“Of Misery drank, of Care & Pain,
“For though the Man had handsome Legs,
“He wanted Breeding, wanted Brain.
“Among the low, the liveried Clan,
“Gambler & Bully, Boxer, Cheat,
“He thought he was ye greatest Man,
“Because he took the higher Seat.
“As Owls appear, When Owls appear,
“He staring, staggering, left his Den,
“Of Bullies like himself in fear,
“Still more afraid of sober Men.
“Of Quarrels fond, of Blows afraid,
“Yet Once he dared his Might to try,
“And, beaten, was to Bed convey'd,
“And died as Beast & Bullies die.
“He staring, staggering, left his Den,
“Of Bullies like himself in fear,
“Still more afraid of sober Men.
“Of Quarrels fond, of Blows afraid,
“Yet Once he dared his Might to try,
“And, beaten, was to Bed convey'd,
“And died as Beast & Bullies die.
“O! Ever if, seduced by Charms
“Of Mortal Man, I wed Again,
“Not Grace or Strength of Legs or Arms
“Shall bind me in that dreadful Chain.
“Give me the Man whom all approve,
“Who makes of wealth a fair Display,
“Whom 'tis no Pride if I can love,
“& not my Shame I must obey.
“Of Mortal Man, I wed Again,
“Not Grace or Strength of Legs or Arms
“Shall bind me in that dreadful Chain.
“Give me the Man whom all approve,
“Who makes of wealth a fair Display,
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“& not my Shame I must obey.
“I wed for Wealth, for State & Place,
“That with that drunken Sot had flown Away,
“Sir Robert Leigh, for female Grace
“And charm that I could yet display.
“It was upon the Wedding Day,
“When Brides in all their Charms appear,
“I saw his Glance, that stole Away
“And rested on the bonny Cheer.
“That with that drunken Sot had flown Away,
“Sir Robert Leigh, for female Grace
“And charm that I could yet display.
“It was upon the Wedding Day,
“When Brides in all their Charms appear,
“I saw his Glance, that stole Away
“And rested on the bonny Cheer.
“On Earth he knew nor sought a Good,
“Nor on the Waters wide,
“Save here & there the dainty Food
“That Land & Sea supplied.
“Why did he wed? He wished a wife
“His Houshold to o'erlook,
“And rule—the Glories of his Life,
“His Kitchen and his Cook.”
“Nor on the Waters wide,
“Save here & there the dainty Food
“That Land & Sea supplied.
“Why did he wed? He wished a wife
“His Houshold to o'erlook,
“And rule—the Glories of his Life,
“His Kitchen and his Cook.”
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