The bard of the dales or poems and miscellaneous pieces; with a life of the author, written by himself. By John Castillo |
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THE WEDDING.
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 | The bard of the dales |  |
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THE WEDDING.
BANDS OF MUSIC—SINGING—DANCING—AND DRINKING.
DAY AFTER THE WEDDING.
Gone is the din of yesterday
Among the years that's roll'd away;
Left many an empty aching void;
Immortal souls unsatisfied..
Among the years that's roll'd away;
Left many an empty aching void;
Immortal souls unsatisfied..
Discordant families sit down,
To half a breakfast, with a frown;
And drinking men who won't refrain,
Go grumbling to their work again.
To half a breakfast, with a frown;
And drinking men who won't refrain,
Go grumbling to their work again.
Others are reeling in the street,
In hopes some cronies there to meet;
Who might have found one shilling more,
He had not spent the night before.
In hopes some cronies there to meet;
Who might have found one shilling more,
He had not spent the night before.
The drum hath ceased and trumpet loud,
Which so bewitch'd the gaping crowd;
That slaves forgot their destiny,
And limping cripples crawl'd to see!
Which so bewitch'd the gaping crowd;
That slaves forgot their destiny,
And limping cripples crawl'd to see!
Will Waver lost his Total-wedge,
Rush'd inte't crowd and broke his pledge;
And while to 't rest he whop'd and hollow'd,
Great numbers his example follow'd.
Rush'd inte't crowd and broke his pledge;
And while to 't rest he whop'd and hollow'd,
Great numbers his example follow'd.
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Tee-totallers will not long stand,
Who disregard the great command;
That they may faithful keep their word,—
They want the saving Grace of God!
Who disregard the great command;
That they may faithful keep their word,—
They want the saving Grace of God!
The drum and trumpet sounded high,
Inviting every passer by,
Of merry heart to come that way,
And join in their great festive day!
Inviting every passer by,
Of merry heart to come that way,
And join in their great festive day!
While women out of 't streets and lanes,
Had rush'd, and left their crying bairns;
Auld folks inside, against ther will,
Could hardly keep their crutches still.
Had rush'd, and left their crying bairns;
Auld folks inside, against ther will,
Could hardly keep their crutches still.
While such the streets were agitating,
The lesser tribes were imitating;
With young manuœuvres, hips, and shouts,
With penny trumpets, sticks, and clouts!
The lesser tribes were imitating;
With young manuœuvres, hips, and shouts,
With penny trumpets, sticks, and clouts!
Through such a crowd, with edge so keen,
The coffin'd dead could pass unseen;
Tho' scarce a passage could be clear'd;
Or scarce the tolling bell be heard!
The coffin'd dead could pass unseen;
Tho' scarce a passage could be clear'd;
Or scarce the tolling bell be heard!
Gone, is the din of yesterday,
And wither'd as the flowers of May,
That blush'd around the shepherd's tents,
But not so gone that day's events.
And wither'd as the flowers of May,
That blush'd around the shepherd's tents,
But not so gone that day's events.
Think not that those will 'scape the eye,
Or scrutiny of the most High!
By whom all secrets are descried;
All thoughts are known and actions weigh'd!
Or scrutiny of the most High!
By whom all secrets are descried;
All thoughts are known and actions weigh'd!
The people seek by mirth and song,
Substantial joy from sources wrong;
'Tis well their fate is yet no worse,
Than disappointment and remorse!
Substantial joy from sources wrong;
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Than disappointment and remorse!
We wonder why such wisdom great,
Have not found out the world's a cheat;
We wonder how those trades can live,
Who promise more than they can give!
Have not found out the world's a cheat;
We wonder how those trades can live,
Who promise more than they can give!
The Devil now must do his might,
And Bands of Music suits him quite;
To lead the people off to drink,
And hardly give them time to think.
And Bands of Music suits him quite;
To lead the people off to drink,
And hardly give them time to think.
It is the tavern's engine rare,
To drive off what they call, “dull care;”
To make their frindships more complete,
Or box them out to't open street.
To drive off what they call, “dull care;”
To make their frindships more complete,
Or box them out to't open street.
Over bumpers full they roar and sing,
And helps awd Death to sharp his sting;
With women dancing up the stairs,
To wicked tunes and wanton airs.
And helps awd Death to sharp his sting;
With women dancing up the stairs,
To wicked tunes and wanton airs.
When such proceedings after ten,
Disturb the rest of sober men;
No wonder that we daily see,
Such symptoms of calamity!
Disturb the rest of sober men;
No wonder that we daily see,
Such symptoms of calamity!
No wonder they thus stain'd with crime,
Should live in such a cloudy clime;
Nor need we ask the reason why,
They without consolation die!
Should live in such a cloudy clime;
Nor need we ask the reason why,
They without consolation die!
Gone, is the din of yesterday,
Like that balloon they sent away;
Gone with trump or bugle's blast,
To higher regions to be pass'd.
Like that balloon they sent away;
Gone with trump or bugle's blast,
To higher regions to be pass'd.
| The bard of the dales | |