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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FRYUP'S LAMENTATION
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 | The bard of the dales |  |
FRYUP'S LAMENTATION
ON THE DEATH OF ROBERT VENIS, WHO WAS FIFTY NINE YEARS A WESLEYAN.
Come, lovely meditation dear!
I long with thee to rove,
To leave this noise, and wander far,
Among the scenes I love.
I long with thee to rove,
To leave this noise, and wander far,
Among the scenes I love.
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Come, thou divine interpreter,
And mine instructer be,
Through woods, o'er moors and mountains,
To walk and talk with me!
And mine instructer be,
Through woods, o'er moors and mountains,
To walk and talk with me!
Till seated on some eminence,
With pleasure I survey
The golden dye, the closing eye,
Of the departing day.
With pleasure I survey
The golden dye, the closing eye,
Of the departing day.
The silent hours of evening
Now usher on apace,
Yon silent moon begins to shine,
With brightness in her face!
Now usher on apace,
Yon silent moon begins to shine,
With brightness in her face!
The dews distil, the night-birds sing,
The air is calm and clear,
Methinks I hear the sound of grief
To whisper in my ear.
The air is calm and clear,
Methinks I hear the sound of grief
To whisper in my ear.
And as I listen to that voice,
It seems to speak to me,
A question now the silence breaks,
“What can the matter be?”
It seems to speak to me,
A question now the silence breaks,
“What can the matter be?”
While round I gaze with wond'ring eyes,
The valley to explore,
Methinks in sighs yon grove replies,
“R. Venis is no more!”
The valley to explore,
Methinks in sighs yon grove replies,
“R. Venis is no more!”
Yes, Fryup, we have cause to fear,
Hath lost her heart's delight,
The fairest flower in all her bower
Is vanished from her sight.
Hath lost her heart's delight,
The fairest flower in all her bower
Is vanished from her sight.
Yet weep no more, thou lovely vale,
Grieve not, nor yet complain!
Break out and sing, for this thy loss
Is his eternal gain!
Grieve not, nor yet complain!
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Is his eternal gain!
Great cause had we to bless that time,
When he to York was led;
Great cause have we to bless that day,
The stranger shook his head.
When he to York was led;
Great cause have we to bless that day,
The stranger shook his head.
Had York's great Duke invited him
His dainties for to share;
Compared with what he then received,
It was but scanty fare.
His dainties for to share;
Compared with what he then received,
It was but scanty fare.
How oft these unfrequented tracks,
His lonely feet have trod,
To get his spirit's strength renew'd,
And glorify his God.
His lonely feet have trod,
To get his spirit's strength renew'd,
And glorify his God.
For Fifty-nine long years, we're told,
His royal robes he wore;
And followed Christ through heat and cold,
And now he is no more!
His royal robes he wore;
And followed Christ through heat and cold,
And now he is no more!
On stormy day, or darkest night,
He'd o'er the mountain pass;
And hum and sing, till home he'd bring
His lantern and his Ass.
He'd o'er the mountain pass;
And hum and sing, till home he'd bring
His lantern and his Ass.
The means of grace were dear to him,
As prov'd in ages past;
The cause of God lay near his heart,
Unto the very last!
As prov'd in ages past;
The cause of God lay near his heart,
Unto the very last!
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Then like a shock of corn full ripe,
He hung his graceful head,
When he, supported by our friends,
Was to the Chapel led.
He hung his graceful head,
When he, supported by our friends,
Was to the Chapel led.
He told us that on earth he thought
He had not long to dwell,
With trembling limbs, and falt'ring voice,
He bade us all farewell!
He had not long to dwell,
With trembling limbs, and falt'ring voice,
He bade us all farewell!
Farewell, thou royal Christian!
We mourn when we reflect
On such a shining pattern,
So worthy of respect.
We mourn when we reflect
On such a shining pattern,
So worthy of respect.
Thy blessed Master's service here,
Thou never thought it hard,
So now with him in Paradise
Thou'rt reaping thy reward!
Thou never thought it hard,
So now with him in Paradise
Thou'rt reaping thy reward!
We think, while we by faith draw near,
And raise our feeble eyes,
We see him safe with Christ appear,
Above the starry skies!
And raise our feeble eyes,
We see him safe with Christ appear,
Above the starry skies!
With countenance divinely sweet,
And raiment white as snow;
He bids us all live near to God,
And good examples shew.
And raiment white as snow;
He bids us all live near to God,
And good examples shew.
Fight on, says he, my brethren dear,
For Heaven will be your friend,
If you stand fast, the conquest soon
In victory shall end!
For Heaven will be your friend,
If you stand fast, the conquest soon
In victory shall end!
O seek the perfect love of God,
Nor rest until you find
The healing balm, the cheering word,
Which satisfies the mind!
Nor rest until you find
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Which satisfies the mind!
Fight on! ye royal citizens,
Behold the starry crown!
Though many have deserted us,
Lay not your weapons down!
Behold the starry crown!
Though many have deserted us,
Lay not your weapons down!
Tho' many have got wounded deep,
Give not the combat o'er,
There still is balm in Gilead,
Which can their health restore!
Give not the combat o'er,
There still is balm in Gilead,
Which can their health restore!
The serpent lifts his bruised head,
And all his powers employ,
Gasping, he coils with fiery rage,
And covets to destroy!
And all his powers employ,
Gasping, he coils with fiery rage,
And covets to destroy!
His agents fill'd with envy, strive
To pull our colours down;
But by and bye, we hope to see
His kingdom overthrown!
To pull our colours down;
But by and bye, we hope to see
His kingdom overthrown!
O may we 'quit ourselves like men,
Amid this din of war!
Oh! arm us Lord, with faith and prayer,
And then we need not fear.
Amid this din of war!
Oh! arm us Lord, with faith and prayer,
And then we need not fear.
But in the strength of grace divine,
And through redeeming love,
We here shall spoil our haughty foes,
And reign enthron'd above!
And through redeeming love,
We here shall spoil our haughty foes,
And reign enthron'd above!
Ye lab'ring men, and starving poor,
Who now lament your loss,
Hear him though dead, yet speak to you,
And recommend the Cross.
Who now lament your loss,
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And recommend the Cross.
The cross, the spear, and fountain, still
May efficacious prove,
To those who will instruction hear,
And yield to matchless love!
May efficacious prove,
To those who will instruction hear,
And yield to matchless love!
Ye half persuaded Christians! what shall we say to you?
Read Venis' life and pray to God, that you may live so too:—
Except you all be born again, in vain your homage rise,
For while you in your sins remain, you cannot gain the prize!
Read Venis' life and pray to God, that you may live so too:—
Except you all be born again, in vain your homage rise,
For while you in your sins remain, you cannot gain the prize!
| The bard of the dales | |