 | Rhapsodies |  |
25
A BALLAD.
THE SAILOR BEN AND THE PEASANT JOE.
For five long years poor Ben had been
Upon the salt sea wave,
And many a tempest dire had seen,
And oft had 'scap'd the grave.
Upon the salt sea wave,
And many a tempest dire had seen,
And oft had 'scap'd the grave.
And many a time on top-mast high
He thought of his lov'd dear;
And oft would vent the struggling sigh,
And check the rising tear.
He thought of his lov'd dear;
And oft would vent the struggling sigh,
And check the rising tear.
And many a time at midnight he,
When watching on the deck,
Would think of his lov'd babies three
He left on Susan's neck.
When watching on the deck,
Would think of his lov'd babies three
He left on Susan's neck.
And many a time would he retrace
The parting hour so keen;
How Susan's tears bedew'd his face,
How agoniz'd her mien.
The parting hour so keen;
How Susan's tears bedew'd his face,
How agoniz'd her mien.
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And oft would recollection shew
His infants void of guile,
Who should have known no touch of woe,
Yet then forgot to smile.
His infants void of guile,
Who should have known no touch of woe,
Yet then forgot to smile.
On scenes like these poor Ben would think,
His heart would swell with grief;
Till with his messmates he would drink,
And find in grog relief.
His heart would swell with grief;
Till with his messmates he would drink,
And find in grog relief.
And now the vessel sail'd t'ward shore,
The cliffs appear'd in sight;
And poor Ben thought of grief no more,
His soul was all delight.
The cliffs appear'd in sight;
And poor Ben thought of grief no more,
His soul was all delight.
The boat now skimm'd the billows o'er,
Ben bade the seas adieu;
For Ben through life might stay on shore,
And live for love and Sue.
Ben bade the seas adieu;
For Ben through life might stay on shore,
And live for love and Sue.
Full weighty was his purse with gold,
Poor Ben had sav'd his pay;
For well he knew he should be old,
So guarded 'gainst that day.
Poor Ben had sav'd his pay;
For well he knew he should be old,
So guarded 'gainst that day.
27
He bless'd the hour that set him free,
He bless'd his native earth,
The land of joy and liberty,
The soil that gave him birth.
He bless'd his native earth,
The land of joy and liberty,
The soil that gave him birth.
And Ben each messmate's hand then shook,
Keen sorrow wrung his heart;
Of each a last farewell he took,
And sigh'd that they must part.
Keen sorrow wrung his heart;
Of each a last farewell he took,
And sigh'd that they must part.
Ben's heart beat slow and sometimes quick,
As fast his store he tied
Unto the sturdy oaken stick,
His safeguard, joy, and pride.
As fast his store he tied
Unto the sturdy oaken stick,
His safeguard, joy, and pride.
It was a gift of Susan dear,
Ere she became his wife;
She sigh'd, and bade him prove sincere,
And guard it as his life.
Ere she became his wife;
She sigh'd, and bade him prove sincere,
And guard it as his life.
And since that time Ben ne'er had broke
The vow then made to Sue;
His heart unbending as the oak,
And to his dear one true.
The vow then made to Sue;
His heart unbending as the oak,
And to his dear one true.
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And now with mind o'erjoy'd he pac'd
The well-known paths along;
And oft the distant scenes retrac'd,
Or sang some seaman's song.
The well-known paths along;
And oft the distant scenes retrac'd,
Or sang some seaman's song.
And sometimes whistled to beguile
The tedious hours away;
And sometimes pictur'd with a smile
The joyful coming day.
The tedious hours away;
And sometimes pictur'd with a smile
The joyful coming day.
Thus warm'd by soft affection's fire,
He trudg'd from dawn till night,
When, lo! the well-remember'd spire
Appear'd to greet his sight.
He trudg'd from dawn till night,
When, lo! the well-remember'd spire
Appear'd to greet his sight.
O'erjoy'd he gaz'd, while evening's beam
Shed faint a sober hue;
It ting'd the sky with golden gleam,
And streak'd th' ethereal blue.
Shed faint a sober hue;
It ting'd the sky with golden gleam,
And streak'd th' ethereal blue.
And as he gain'd the church-yard stile,
A Peasant pass'd him near:
“My friend,” cried Ben, “avast awhile;
“How long hast thou liv'd here?”
A Peasant pass'd him near:
“My friend,” cried Ben, “avast awhile;
“How long hast thou liv'd here?”
29
So Joe turn'd round, and dropp'd his spade;
Ben dropp'd his bundle too;
And both their feeling souls display'd;
It was the sire of Sue.
Ben dropp'd his bundle too;
And both their feeling souls display'd;
It was the sire of Sue.
Ben's arms the old man's neck entwin'd,
Ben's cheek his shoulder press'd;
But agoniz'd was Joseph's mind,
He sank on poor Ben's breast.
Ben's cheek his shoulder press'd;
But agoniz'd was Joseph's mind,
He sank on poor Ben's breast.
And Ben wept loud, and Joseph sobb'd,
And not a word they spake;
Ben's heart against his bosom throbb'd,
Joe's heart was nigh to break.
And not a word they spake;
Ben's heart against his bosom throbb'd,
Joe's heart was nigh to break.
And then they sat them on the stile:
Quoth Ben, “I've gold in store:”
And then he paus'd a little while:
“Cheer, man, we part no more.”
Quoth Ben, “I've gold in store:”
And then he paus'd a little while:
“Cheer, man, we part no more.”
Still Joe was silent, and Ben's soul
Felt heavily and sad;
For nothing could his thoughts controul,
And make old Joseph glad.
Felt heavily and sad;
For nothing could his thoughts controul,
And make old Joseph glad.
30
“Oh speak, my father, prithee say,
“How fare my wife and dears?”
Old Joseph turn'd his head away,
While faster flow'd his tears.
“How fare my wife and dears?”
Old Joseph turn'd his head away,
While faster flow'd his tears.
“Oh God! my father, tell to me
“How fares my lovely Sue?
“How fare my pretty babies three,
“I left, my friend, with you?”
“How fares my lovely Sue?
“How fare my pretty babies three,
“I left, my friend, with you?”
With agony quite overcome,
Old Joseph hid his face;
Then stammer'd, “Lord! thy will be done;
“This world's a wretched place.”
Old Joseph hid his face;
Then stammer'd, “Lord! thy will be done;
“This world's a wretched place.”
And Joseph then outstretch'd his arm,
And turn'd from Ben his mien:
“Thy wife and babes are free'd from harm;
“Beneath yon sod so green.”
And turn'd from Ben his mien:
“Thy wife and babes are free'd from harm;
“Beneath yon sod so green.”
Then Ben upon his father cast
A wild and frenzied look;
And then he grasp'd his hand quite fast,
His frame convulsive shook:
A wild and frenzied look;
And then he grasp'd his hand quite fast,
His frame convulsive shook:
31
And then he upward turn'd his eye,
Then down upon the sod;
Life fled in one heart-rending sigh,
And rests in peace with God.
Then down upon the sod;
Life fled in one heart-rending sigh,
And rests in peace with God.
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