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202
THE GREAT PEEPSHOW.
I
Walk up! walk up! This way to see the world!Scant time allowed, must make the best of it:
Seventy years or so: your hair'll be curled
Before that, though, with two or three sights fit
To set your eyes wide open—if you've wit,
That is to say, to win in the great strife
For bare existence 'gainst each brother chit—
To keep one eye upon the slide of life,
As 'twere an instant, ere death hood you with his coif.
II
Walk up! walk up! Well, you're a stranger now;But that won't last. It's excellent rare fun
Up here; but as we've much to see, allow
Me to begin at once. Now, there's the Sun.
203
Or aught to match it; 'tis too far to touch,
But has its use, natheless, which is to run
From end to end of heaven, and give rays such
As may suffice to warm and light our earthly hutch.
III
It shines by day and is obscured at night—A capital arrangement, such as I
Should have suggested if the Infinite
Had asked my counsel. If you ask me why,
'Tis clear 'twould not have suited men to lie
Abed with sun full-orbed at midnight blaze
And work their days by gaslight. We descry
Throughout these things the providential ways,
And are prepared in all to render them due praise.
IV
Walk up! walk up! There's plenty more to seeBy this said sun's rays—simple and sublime.
The world's a show which is, you'll all agree,
The greatest ever advertised in rhyme,—
204
And can explain it fully;—and to-day
'Tis not too much to say 'tis in its prime;
Admission free—that is, if you obey
Our fatherly direction, there is nought to pay.
V
Move with the rest, and do not stop to gazeToo long or closely. All is very good:
So the Creator said—in some amaze
At his own skill. Besides, in any mood,
Doubting or not, 'tis deemed a little rude
To look a gift-horse in the mouth. Move on:
And thank your planets—as indeed you should—
That you have got such good advice to con,
For which the world were worthy visiting, alone.
VI
Your eyes are caught at first by empty shows—Bright colours, smiling faces, forms of grace.
To chase gold butterflies by green hedgerows,
To play regardless both of time and space
205
Propriety and prudence out of breath,
Seem pleasant and surprisingly in place
In this fair world where, as the preacher saith,
What profits he that works in that he laboureth?
VII
But look around you, and you'll soon perceiveYour judgment is at fault, and, once for all,
'Tis best surrender freedom and not grieve,
But bend your neck demurely to the thrall—
Remembering the weak must take the wall.
And get by rote, if not by heart, the themes
Which age and ancient custom learning call,
And leave enthusiastic youthful dreams,
To labour for what is and not for that which seems.
VIII
Such labour profits. Since it pleased the LordTo shut us out of Paradise, the sweat
Of each man's brow alone secures reward
(His or another's); and we need not fret.
206
Interest, we get profits, which are more.
Life's interest is Nature's secret, set
In untrod plains, and if all pleasant lore
Is there, Knowledge and Life,—an Eden-land whereo'er
IX
The sun of freedom shines—still, here is gold,Which, after all, surpasses any sun:
For without light were nothing to behold,
But without this is nothing to be done.
Therefore seek first for gold, and therefore shun
Unthrifty habits or excessive vice:
Honesty's best policy in the long run,
Dishonour ruins credit in a trice,
And virtue, being its own reward, thus pays you twice.
X
Yet all with moderation. We, who cameInto the world and learned our lesson flush
Ere you were thought of, have the prior clain
In law as well as profits. Do not push!
207
Order! If there's not room, why, some must wait;
First comers first: 'tis just. And I'll not blush
To say I've tarried yearlong for a great
Opening which now the due rotation brings—though late.
XI
Nay, do not push. Ah! Vengeance on you all!'Tis lost. What greediness!—a vulgar crowd
Pressing and trampling forward—I shall fall.
Help! hear me! Here is hard cash: I'm not proud.
In vain. All lost. Before my eyes a cloud
Hides the great show, the scene becomes obscure.
I could have wished that chance had been allowed;
But no, the risk of limb outweighted the lure,—
And, taking all in all, the show's a little poor.
XII
Adieu. See how they fight! So has it beenSince the beginning, as if unaware
The panorama's but a shifting scene,
And all its wonders only empty air.
208
No grudge against you, but would have you know,
For your own good, the lust of gold's a snare.
The world's no shop, but only a peepshow:
What's seen or handled you surrender when you go.
XIII
Carry him out! more room! come up behind!One peephole vacant! now the show's at height.
Strange, that our predecessors—though not blind—
Ne'er fully saw or understood the sight,
Withal so anxious to display their light
For our illumination! But away:
Our time for all such questioning is quite
Too limited. Enough, while yet 'tis day,
To use the precious hours. Let night come when it may.
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