Nugae Modernae Morning thoughts, and midnight musings: consisting of casual reflections, egotisms, &c. In prose and verse. By Thomas Park |
 |
ALLODIUM SEPULCHRALE:
OR,
THE POET'S LANDED PROPERTY. |
 | Nugae Modernae |  |
128
ALLODIUM SEPULCHRALE: OR, THE POET'S LANDED PROPERTY.
In the parish of Acton I hold an estate,
Which I visit scarce once in a year,—
Though there do wife, parents, and sister abide,
And there I look forward myself to reside,
When the lease of my dwelling ends here.
Which I visit scarce once in a year,—
Though there do wife, parents, and sister abide,
And there I look forward myself to reside,
When the lease of my dwelling ends here.
Brick-wall'd is the building, with stone is it fac'd,
With moss-grass the roof is o'ergrown,
And above it the names of the tenants are trac'd,—
For unless near each limit some land-mark is plac'd,
There's none that could challenge his own.
With moss-grass the roof is o'ergrown,
And above it the names of the tenants are trac'd,—
For unless near each limit some land-mark is plac'd,
There's none that could challenge his own.
129
The portal is narrow, the entrance is dark,
And the yew-tree contributes a shade;
But stillness and peace have their station within,
And howe'er the world jangles, no sense of its din
Can that hallow'd asylum invade.
And the yew-tree contributes a shade;
But stillness and peace have their station within,
And howe'er the world jangles, no sense of its din
Can that hallow'd asylum invade.
In a populous neighbourhood, near yet apart,
Dwell a concourse unsocial, 'tis true:
One sleeping-room there is the mansion of all,
Which is chill as a grotto, and even more small,
And quite as contracted the view.
Dwell a concourse unsocial, 'tis true:
One sleeping-room there is the mansion of all,
Which is chill as a grotto, and even more small,
And quite as contracted the view.
But upward the prospect unbounded extends,
And the soul that hath shook off its leaven,
Will burst through the regions of infinite space,
Which sight cannot measure, which thought cannot trace,
Till it reaches the concave of Heaven.
And the soul that hath shook off its leaven,
Will burst through the regions of infinite space,
Which sight cannot measure, which thought cannot trace,
Till it reaches the concave of Heaven.
130
That safe in reversion, no change can I dread,
Though to fragments my shelter be riven—
Though the roofing be rent, the foundation decay,
And without any warning I'm hurried away,
By mortality's mandamus driven.
Though to fragments my shelter be riven—
Though the roofing be rent, the foundation decay,
And without any warning I'm hurried away,
By mortality's mandamus driven.
For the Lord of my freehold is Lord of the world!
Which He rules with so equal a sway,
That the rich who possesses whole quarries of pelf,
And the poor whose possession is only himself,
Have at last a like portion of clay.
Which He rules with so equal a sway,
That the rich who possesses whole quarries of pelf,
And the poor whose possession is only himself,
Have at last a like portion of clay.
And a hope not less equal cheers pauper and prince,
(May it cheer the whole race of mankind!)
The hope of a high and celestial abode,
Whose founder is Jesus, whose builder is God,
For ages eternal design'd:
(May it cheer the whole race of mankind!)
The hope of a high and celestial abode,
Whose founder is Jesus, whose builder is God,
For ages eternal design'd:
131
Where all nations, tongues, people, and kindred shall meet
Round the throne of their Lord and the Lamb,
Giving glory, and honour, and blessing, and power,
While thousands of thousands of thousands adore
The Great Everlasting I AM!
Round the throne of their Lord and the Lamb,
Giving glory, and honour, and blessing, and power,
While thousands of thousands of thousands adore
The Great Everlasting I AM!
| Nugae Modernae | |