Tales in Verse Illustrative of The Several Petitions of The Lord's Prayer By the Rev. H. F. Lyte. Second Edition |
 |
| 1. |
| 2. |
| 3. |
| 4. |
| 5. | TALE FIFTH.
THE BROTHERS. |
| 6. |
 | Tales in Verse Illustrative of The Several Petitions of The Lord's Prayer |  |
119
TALE FIFTH. THE BROTHERS.
“FORGIVE US OUR TRESPASSES AS WE FORGIVE THEM
THAT TRESPASS AGAINST US.”
121
SOME years ago, remote in Erin's isle
There dwelt in good old hospitable style,
In huge stone house, and large enclosed demesne
Shane, Master, Squire, nay Prince of Castleshane,
O'er miles of naked, ill-farmed acres round
His woods and walls in lonely grandeur frowned;
And hundreds there of ragged, trembling knaves
Lived on his looks, and joyed to be his slaves.
His cellars with the best of wines o'erflowed,
And groaned his table 'neath its smoking load;
And poor relations round it day by day
Ate, joked, and sang, and swore their hours away.
The priest and parson met in friendship there;
And all were welcome, so they drank their share.
There dwelt in good old hospitable style,
In huge stone house, and large enclosed demesne
Shane, Master, Squire, nay Prince of Castleshane,
O'er miles of naked, ill-farmed acres round
His woods and walls in lonely grandeur frowned;
And hundreds there of ragged, trembling knaves
Lived on his looks, and joyed to be his slaves.
His cellars with the best of wines o'erflowed,
And groaned his table 'neath its smoking load;
122
Ate, joked, and sang, and swore their hours away.
The priest and parson met in friendship there;
And all were welcome, so they drank their share.
Shane was a county magistrate; but took
His law from his own brain, and not from book.
And when a puzzling case came up, his worship
Settled the matter by a general horsewhip.
To Dublin every year in state he went
To attend the Castle and the Parliament,
And learn improvements in the useful arts,
And bring down Scottish stewards, ploughs, and carts.
Each guest that came must see and praise in full
His drilled potatoes, and Merino wool,
And all his undertakings and expenses,
In breeds, plantations, crops, and drains, and fences.
But these, and much else of his state and glory,
I now must pass and hasten to my story.
His law from his own brain, and not from book.
And when a puzzling case came up, his worship
Settled the matter by a general horsewhip.
To Dublin every year in state he went
To attend the Castle and the Parliament,
And learn improvements in the useful arts,
And bring down Scottish stewards, ploughs, and carts.
Each guest that came must see and praise in full
His drilled potatoes, and Merino wool,
And all his undertakings and expenses,
In breeds, plantations, crops, and drains, and fences.
123
I now must pass and hasten to my story.
Shane (for he scorned all adjunct to a name
Which straight from Erin's ancient monarchs came)
Was married twice, and had from either spouse
A young supporter of his regal house.
An heir indeed had been for years delayed,
While daughter after daughter came instead;
And when at length his prayer was heard, his wife
Paid for the infant blessing with her life.
The widower's vacant eye was after caught
By the fair English Governess, who taught
His elder girls, and tempted, yet denied
His suit so well, she was at length his bride;
And ere twelve months had o'er their union sped,
The wife had borne a son, the sire was dead.
The land was on the elder youth entailed,
But the young widow on her spouse prevailed
To leave by will both property and heir
To his dear wife's sole management and care.
Which straight from Erin's ancient monarchs came)
Was married twice, and had from either spouse
A young supporter of his regal house.
An heir indeed had been for years delayed,
While daughter after daughter came instead;
And when at length his prayer was heard, his wife
Paid for the infant blessing with her life.
The widower's vacant eye was after caught
By the fair English Governess, who taught
His elder girls, and tempted, yet denied
His suit so well, she was at length his bride;
And ere twelve months had o'er their union sped,
The wife had borne a son, the sire was dead.
124
But the young widow on her spouse prevailed
To leave by will both property and heir
To his dear wife's sole management and care.
Strange changes now were seen at Castleshane;
Gone were the dinners, claret and champagne.
No errant friends, or poor relations there
Put up their steeds, and took their welcome fare.
The old domestics all were turned away,
The tenants' rents demanded to a day.
Sold were the ploughs, the cattle, horse and hound,
The whole demesne let out to farmers round,
The ancient timber felled, and broken up the ground
And to complete the wreck, when all beside
Was gone, the lady too to England hied;
And a stern agent to the castle sent
To screw the tenants, and transmit the rent.
Gone were the dinners, claret and champagne.
No errant friends, or poor relations there
Put up their steeds, and took their welcome fare.
The old domestics all were turned away,
The tenants' rents demanded to a day.
Sold were the ploughs, the cattle, horse and hound,
The whole demesne let out to farmers round,
The ancient timber felled, and broken up the ground
And to complete the wreck, when all beside
Was gone, the lady too to England hied;
And a stern agent to the castle sent
To screw the tenants, and transmit the rent.
125
The boys were put to school, to college then,
And grew apace, and ripened into men:
But as their minds unfolded day by day
The more diverse they shewed in every trait.
Edmund the elder from his earliest youth
Was free and fearless, full of warmth and truth,
Frank, unsuspicious, sensitive, and kind,
And graced alike in person and in mind.
His brother James was secret, smooth, and sly;
He spoke nor acted but with reasons why:
He weighed each look and word with nicest skill,
And checked and feigned all passions at his will.
He early learned his interests, and the art
To wind him round his brother's honest heart;
And watched his moods and motions, and indulged
In hopes and views that might not be divulged.
While Edmund lives, he best can help his ends,
But Edmund dead, and all to James descends.
And grew apace, and ripened into men:
But as their minds unfolded day by day
The more diverse they shewed in every trait.
Edmund the elder from his earliest youth
Was free and fearless, full of warmth and truth,
Frank, unsuspicious, sensitive, and kind,
And graced alike in person and in mind.
His brother James was secret, smooth, and sly;
He spoke nor acted but with reasons why:
He weighed each look and word with nicest skill,
And checked and feigned all passions at his will.
He early learned his interests, and the art
To wind him round his brother's honest heart;
And watched his moods and motions, and indulged
In hopes and views that might not be divulged.
126
But Edmund dead, and all to James descends.
On thoughts like these he brooded, till they grew
A part of his existence; gave a hue
And turn to all within him; sent their root
Deep in his soul, and upward bore their fruit;
Grew with his growth, and strengthened with his strength,
Till in one foul ambition all at length
Was lost; one viper passion filled his breast,
And like the prophet's rod devoured the rest.
No pains were spared, no practice was untried,
No tempting lure unsought and unapplied;
And his fell spirit, like a stream up pent,
But gained new strength from each impediment.
Yet on through baffled project, plot, and snare,
Young Edmund walked secure, though unaware:
Till came at last the proud eventful age,
That burst the tedious bonds of pupillage.
A part of his existence; gave a hue
And turn to all within him; sent their root
Deep in his soul, and upward bore their fruit;
Grew with his growth, and strengthened with his strength,
Till in one foul ambition all at length
Was lost; one viper passion filled his breast,
And like the prophet's rod devoured the rest.
No pains were spared, no practice was untried,
No tempting lure unsought and unapplied;
And his fell spirit, like a stream up pent,
But gained new strength from each impediment.
Yet on through baffled project, plot, and snare,
Young Edmund walked secure, though unaware:
127
That burst the tedious bonds of pupillage.
Time passed. And still o'er Edmund's easy soul
The son and mother held their strong controul.
James, now a lawyer, kept his brother's deeds,
Received his rents, and furnished all his needs:
While the base mother fed his appetites,
And kept him quiet, while they filched his rights.
This was however a precarious game
And soon might end, perhaps in loss and shame;
But could poor Edmund once aside be thrown,
Then all for ever were by law their own.
The son and mother held their strong controul.
James, now a lawyer, kept his brother's deeds,
Received his rents, and furnished all his needs:
While the base mother fed his appetites,
And kept him quiet, while they filched his rights.
This was however a precarious game
And soon might end, perhaps in loss and shame;
But could poor Edmund once aside be thrown,
Then all for ever were by law their own.
At length the troublous year of ninety-eight
Arrived; and on the Castleshane estate,
Oppressed, deserted, as the tenants were,
They blindly rushed into rebellious snare;
Held nightly meetings, laws and arms defied,
And rents and taxes to a man denied.
The case was urgent, and confirmed a vow
Which Edmund long had formed, but which till now
Had always met some hindrance, to go o'er
Their real state in person to explore,
Hear their complaints, their grievances reform,
And quell, if possible, the rising storm;
And “come, my friend, my brother and my guide
“Assist me in the generous task,” he cried.
Arrived; and on the Castleshane estate,
128
They blindly rushed into rebellious snare;
Held nightly meetings, laws and arms defied,
And rents and taxes to a man denied.
The case was urgent, and confirmed a vow
Which Edmund long had formed, but which till now
Had always met some hindrance, to go o'er
Their real state in person to explore,
Hear their complaints, their grievances reform,
And quell, if possible, the rising storm;
And “come, my friend, my brother and my guide
“Assist me in the generous task,” he cried.
They went. The kingdom wheresoe'er they came
Boiled like a crater, ere it bursts in flame;
Rolled like the ocean when a storm is near;
And haste, and trouble, and suspense, and fear
Sat in all faces. Fierce debate was heard;
And fiercer thoughts indulged, that breathed no word,
But kept their angry energy to aid
The avenging arm, the liberating blade.
Edmund although in England nursed and trained,
Still for his native land a love retained;
And oft had stood the champion of her wrongs
From foreign prejudice, and sneering tongues;
And argument and declamation here
Found quick reception in his partial ear.
His country's claims, and injuries, and woes
Before him through enlarging medium rose;
And liberty her strong appeal addressed
To a misjudging, though a generous breast.
Boiled like a crater, ere it bursts in flame;
Rolled like the ocean when a storm is near;
And haste, and trouble, and suspense, and fear
129
And fiercer thoughts indulged, that breathed no word,
But kept their angry energy to aid
The avenging arm, the liberating blade.
Edmund although in England nursed and trained,
Still for his native land a love retained;
And oft had stood the champion of her wrongs
From foreign prejudice, and sneering tongues;
And argument and declamation here
Found quick reception in his partial ear.
His country's claims, and injuries, and woes
Before him through enlarging medium rose;
And liberty her strong appeal addressed
To a misjudging, though a generous breast.
Now was the time for James. With villain eye
He watched his brother's moods nor failed to ply
His spirit with incentives, and to wind
The chains of error fast around his mind.
From step to step he led his victim on
Till fear and moderation both were gone;
And forth he stood in Freedom's fancied cause
An open rebel to his king and laws.
Meanwhile intelligence was duly sent
Of each proceeding to the Government,
And means soon used their projects to avert,
And bring the leaders up to their desert.
Edmund with sudden consternation learned
All his fond aims detected and o'erturned.
He saw the danger rushing on his head,
One desperate effort at resistance made,
Failed; but escaped pursuit by James's timely aid.
He watched his brother's moods nor failed to ply
130
The chains of error fast around his mind.
From step to step he led his victim on
Till fear and moderation both were gone;
And forth he stood in Freedom's fancied cause
An open rebel to his king and laws.
Meanwhile intelligence was duly sent
Of each proceeding to the Government,
And means soon used their projects to avert,
And bring the leaders up to their desert.
Edmund with sudden consternation learned
All his fond aims detected and o'erturned.
He saw the danger rushing on his head,
One desperate effort at resistance made,
Failed; but escaped pursuit by James's timely aid.
131
Think not the wolf had now begun to feel;
Think not that any generous appeal
Had reached the heart of James. He only thought
Of what might best advance his fiendish plot.
If Edmund had to open war proceeded,
There was a chance his cause might have succeeded;
If made a prisoner, as matters were,
The law had power, and there were pleas, to spare;
And on himself the office and the stain
Of traitor and accuser must remain.
Besides he saw another readier way
To gain his objects. In a secret bay
Near Castleshane a lawless privateer,
With his connivance, anchored twice a year.
Thither 'twas easy Edmund to ensnare,
And quietly dispose of him when there.
He knew the crew were fit for any deed,
At least when (as they should be) duly feed.
Think not that any generous appeal
Had reached the heart of James. He only thought
Of what might best advance his fiendish plot.
If Edmund had to open war proceeded,
There was a chance his cause might have succeeded;
If made a prisoner, as matters were,
The law had power, and there were pleas, to spare;
And on himself the office and the stain
Of traitor and accuser must remain.
Besides he saw another readier way
To gain his objects. In a secret bay
Near Castleshane a lawless privateer,
With his connivance, anchored twice a year.
Thither 'twas easy Edmund to ensnare,
And quietly dispose of him when there.
132
At least when (as they should be) duly feed.
The pirates put to sea, their grand concern,
Their sanguinary recompense to earn.
But as they came to put their plans in force,
Among them rose strange scruples and remorse.
A something in their victim's case and air
Won on their hearts, all ruffian as they were;
And when the bloody deed was to be done,
They slunk back from the office one by one.
At last three fellows, bolder than the rest,
Took it upon them. Edmund now had guessed,
From certain looks and whisperings, that some plot
Was hatching, though he scarce conjectured what.
But when the villains to the cabin came
Stealthy and armed, at once he saw their aim,
And rose, and rushed upon them for his life.
The foremost was struck down; another's knife
Just grazed him as upon the deck he sprung,
And snatching up a random weapon, flung
Back on his hot pursuers, and engaged
Hand to hand boldly with them. Fiercely raged
The unequal conflict; back retired the crew,
And stood aloof the deadly sport to view.
Edmund meanwhile fought backward o'er the deck,
Till at the poop he held all three at check;
And dealt his blows so ably round him there,
He soon brought one to ground. The other pair
Pressed the more hard on him, all efforts plied,
And wounds were shared and dealt on either side;
But a good cause gave weight to Edmund's blade,
And soon another at his feet was laid.
The last assassin fled: and from the rest
A general shout his gallantry confessed.
The captain then stepped forth, disclosed the whole,
Doubt and amaze bewildering Edmund's soul;
Till, all made clear, the feelings struggling there
Passed on through wrath and scorn to blank despair.
He bared his breast. “Come on, come on,” he cried;
“Here in my heart your murderous weapons hide:
“Obey the traitor: let him have his will.”
“Nay, cheer up,” cried the captain, “take not ill
“Our usage: 'twas a job we never loved,
“Though bribes like his might better men have moved.
“But it shall ne'er be said that one of us
“Killed any man for hire in cold blood thus.
“Cast in your lot with us, my lad, and dare
“A bold sea pirate's joys and gains to share.
“Thou lovest freedom. We are of the free,
“The untamed lovers of the rolling sea.
“Quit the false land, its traitors, and its slaves,
“And take with us the fortune of the waves.”
Alas, he had no choice; for death was now
On shore, life and the deep before his prow.
He cursed the treacherous caitiff, joined their cheer,
And roamed the world a reckless buccaneer.
Their sanguinary recompense to earn.
But as they came to put their plans in force,
Among them rose strange scruples and remorse.
A something in their victim's case and air
Won on their hearts, all ruffian as they were;
And when the bloody deed was to be done,
They slunk back from the office one by one.
At last three fellows, bolder than the rest,
Took it upon them. Edmund now had guessed,
From certain looks and whisperings, that some plot
Was hatching, though he scarce conjectured what.
But when the villains to the cabin came
Stealthy and armed, at once he saw their aim,
133
The foremost was struck down; another's knife
Just grazed him as upon the deck he sprung,
And snatching up a random weapon, flung
Back on his hot pursuers, and engaged
Hand to hand boldly with them. Fiercely raged
The unequal conflict; back retired the crew,
And stood aloof the deadly sport to view.
Edmund meanwhile fought backward o'er the deck,
Till at the poop he held all three at check;
And dealt his blows so ably round him there,
He soon brought one to ground. The other pair
Pressed the more hard on him, all efforts plied,
And wounds were shared and dealt on either side;
But a good cause gave weight to Edmund's blade,
And soon another at his feet was laid.
134
A general shout his gallantry confessed.
The captain then stepped forth, disclosed the whole,
Doubt and amaze bewildering Edmund's soul;
Till, all made clear, the feelings struggling there
Passed on through wrath and scorn to blank despair.
He bared his breast. “Come on, come on,” he cried;
“Here in my heart your murderous weapons hide:
“Obey the traitor: let him have his will.”
“Nay, cheer up,” cried the captain, “take not ill
“Our usage: 'twas a job we never loved,
“Though bribes like his might better men have moved.
“But it shall ne'er be said that one of us
“Killed any man for hire in cold blood thus.
“Cast in your lot with us, my lad, and dare
“A bold sea pirate's joys and gains to share.
135
“The untamed lovers of the rolling sea.
“Quit the false land, its traitors, and its slaves,
“And take with us the fortune of the waves.”
Alas, he had no choice; for death was now
On shore, life and the deep before his prow.
He cursed the treacherous caitiff, joined their cheer,
And roamed the world a reckless buccaneer.
No more was heard of him. The contest closed,
And Ireland was to sullen peace composed;
And James, as heir at law, the objects gained
At which he had so long and basely strained.
But rumours somehow rose, that all had not
Been managed well and fairly as it ought.
The neighbouring gentlemen were cool and shy,
And shunned him though they gave no reason why.
A closer scrutiny he feared to face,
So wisely let the lands, and left the place.
And Ireland was to sullen peace composed;
And James, as heir at law, the objects gained
At which he had so long and basely strained.
But rumours somehow rose, that all had not
Been managed well and fairly as it ought.
The neighbouring gentlemen were cool and shy,
And shunned him though they gave no reason why.
136
So wisely let the lands, and left the place.
He left the place, but could not leave behind
The heavy burthen of a rankling mind.
Fly whom he might, himself he could not fly;
His worst accuser, conscience, still was nigh;
Made all his riches poor, his splendours dim,
And flattery but a tuneless taunt to him.
From place to place, from scene to scene he pressed,
And found in restless change his only rest;
No friend nor home in the wide world enjoyed,
And all beyond was madness or a void.
The heavy burthen of a rankling mind.
Fly whom he might, himself he could not fly;
His worst accuser, conscience, still was nigh;
Made all his riches poor, his splendours dim,
And flattery but a tuneless taunt to him.
From place to place, from scene to scene he pressed,
And found in restless change his only rest;
No friend nor home in the wide world enjoyed,
And all beyond was madness or a void.
Thus matters stood with each. Time travelled on.
At last, when many years were passed and gone,
To a small parish town in Devon came
A reverend priest of meek and holy frame.
He lived retired, and a strange mystery hung
Around him. Who he was, and whence he sprung
None knew; or how, or where his youth was spent.
Yet there was somewhat in each lineament
That caught the notice he desired to shun,
And told discernment he had seen and done
More than he chose to mention. On his face
Toil more than time had left its harrowing trace:
The hue of other climes was there displayed;
And words at times dropped from him, that betrayed
A knowledge from strange scenes and manners brought,
And ill consorting with his present lot.
At last, when many years were passed and gone,
137
A reverend priest of meek and holy frame.
He lived retired, and a strange mystery hung
Around him. Who he was, and whence he sprung
None knew; or how, or where his youth was spent.
Yet there was somewhat in each lineament
That caught the notice he desired to shun,
And told discernment he had seen and done
More than he chose to mention. On his face
Toil more than time had left its harrowing trace:
The hue of other climes was there displayed;
And words at times dropped from him, that betrayed
A knowledge from strange scenes and manners brought,
And ill consorting with his present lot.
Yet be he who he might, each sterner trait
Religion's influence much had smoothed away.
A moonlight stillness in his looks was seen,
And all his air was thoughtful and serene.
A trace of melancholy thrid the whole,
Entendering, chilling not, where'er it stole.
Perhaps dark recollections o'er him came,
Constraining self what God forgave to blame;
Perhaps he long had erred from him, and now
Resolved his penitent for aye to bow;
Retaining still a deep and humbling sense
Of what he had been, and should feel from thence.
Howbeit among his little flock he moved
Active, though sad, though distant, yet beloved;
Straight by the line of even duty steered,
And fearing God, no other object feared.
Religion's influence much had smoothed away.
138
And all his air was thoughtful and serene.
A trace of melancholy thrid the whole,
Entendering, chilling not, where'er it stole.
Perhaps dark recollections o'er him came,
Constraining self what God forgave to blame;
Perhaps he long had erred from him, and now
Resolved his penitent for aye to bow;
Retaining still a deep and humbling sense
Of what he had been, and should feel from thence.
Howbeit among his little flock he moved
Active, though sad, though distant, yet beloved;
Straight by the line of even duty steered,
And fearing God, no other object feared.
This man was injured Edmund. Here he came
Altered in views, in features, lot, and name;
Come to repay by such a life as this
A morn of trouble with a noon of peace.
The long-lost wanderer by his God was found;
The broken spirit by its Saviour bound.
Heaven had recalled him from his fierce career
Of lawless daring, and had sent him here
To give to God the remnant of his days,
And lead in others to his hallowed ways.
Altered in views, in features, lot, and name;
139
A morn of trouble with a noon of peace.
The long-lost wanderer by his God was found;
The broken spirit by its Saviour bound.
Heaven had recalled him from his fierce career
Of lawless daring, and had sent him here
To give to God the remnant of his days,
And lead in others to his hallowed ways.
The little town where Edmund thus abode
Lay, as it happened, on the public road
To a large watering place upon the coast,
Where fashion yearly sent her restless host.
One day a carriage, journeying thither, met
Close to the town a frightful overset.
A well-dressed man who sat alone within
Was wounded much, and to the village inn
Was brought, and there in great distress and pain
Now lay, and all assistance seemed in vain.
The faculty at last gave up the case,
And now the priest was summoned in their place.
Lay, as it happened, on the public road
To a large watering place upon the coast,
Where fashion yearly sent her restless host.
One day a carriage, journeying thither, met
Close to the town a frightful overset.
A well-dressed man who sat alone within
Was wounded much, and to the village inn
140
Now lay, and all assistance seemed in vain.
The faculty at last gave up the case,
And now the priest was summoned in their place.
Edmund approached, upon the stranger looked,—
It was his brother James.—But he rebuked
His strong emotions, and his face withdrew.
“Leave,” said the man “the chamber to us two.”
They went. “Sir,” he continued, “I have learned
“Much of thy worth and goodness, and have yearned
“To lay my case before thee, and receive
“What comfort thou a dying man canst give.
“I feel it is no season to dissemble,
“When in a few hours longer I must tremble
“At God's dread bar, and all the truth display
“In the broad light of everlasting day.
“These, sir, are things I've tried to disbelieve,
“But am constrained to shudder and receive:
“The frail supports such reasonings can supply
“May serve whereon to live, but not to die.
“I want, I feel it, now a surer stay;
“And haply, sir, thy long experience may
“Suggest such comfort; only with me deal
“In candour, nor compose where thou shouldst heal.
“Thou seest a wretch before thee who has erred
“Deeply and grossly: if thou hast a word
“Of peace for such, say on; I need not add
“How sounds like these a dying ear will glad.”
It was his brother James.—But he rebuked
His strong emotions, and his face withdrew.
“Leave,” said the man “the chamber to us two.”
They went. “Sir,” he continued, “I have learned
“Much of thy worth and goodness, and have yearned
“To lay my case before thee, and receive
“What comfort thou a dying man canst give.
“I feel it is no season to dissemble,
“When in a few hours longer I must tremble
“At God's dread bar, and all the truth display
“In the broad light of everlasting day.
141
“But am constrained to shudder and receive:
“The frail supports such reasonings can supply
“May serve whereon to live, but not to die.
“I want, I feel it, now a surer stay;
“And haply, sir, thy long experience may
“Suggest such comfort; only with me deal
“In candour, nor compose where thou shouldst heal.
“Thou seest a wretch before thee who has erred
“Deeply and grossly: if thou hast a word
“Of peace for such, say on; I need not add
“How sounds like these a dying ear will glad.”
Edmund a moment paused. His soul was moved
Within him; but the mood he soon reproved,
And calm replied, “'tis well to know our guilt:
“A sickness to be healed must first be felt.
“None are exempt from sin; but grace is sent
“To all that look to Jesus and repent.”
Within him; but the mood he soon reproved,
And calm replied, “'tis well to know our guilt:
“A sickness to be healed must first be felt.
142
“To all that look to Jesus and repent.”
“But mine, sir, mine is a peculiar case,
“Beyond the reach of ordinary grace.
“No venial errors, common to mankind,
“Have stained my life, and now oppress my mind.
“But guilt so black, that tears of blood might fail
“To rase it. Memory sickens, Hope turns pale
“To look at it. And here upon the verge
“Of that dark Ocean, whose next rising surge
“May sweep me in, I tremble now, nor find
“Whereon to rest before me or behind.
“If then thou ownest aught of stronger power
“To comfort such a wretch, at such an hour
“O speak it.”
“Beyond the reach of ordinary grace.
“No venial errors, common to mankind,
“Have stained my life, and now oppress my mind.
“But guilt so black, that tears of blood might fail
“To rase it. Memory sickens, Hope turns pale
“To look at it. And here upon the verge
“Of that dark Ocean, whose next rising surge
“May sweep me in, I tremble now, nor find
“Whereon to rest before me or behind.
“If then thou ownest aught of stronger power
“To comfort such a wretch, at such an hour
“O speak it.”
143
“Sir, this language makes me bold,”
Said Edmund, “and were all more plainly told,
“Some mitigating feature might arrest
“Another's eye; the case itself suggest
“Its own peculiar comfort: but be sure,
“Whate'er thy guilt, it is not past a cure.
“The Saviour died that none might feel despair
“Who turn to Him with penitence and prayer.”
Said Edmund, “and were all more plainly told,
“Some mitigating feature might arrest
“Another's eye; the case itself suggest
“Its own peculiar comfort: but be sure,
“Whate'er thy guilt, it is not past a cure.
“The Saviour died that none might feel despair
“Who turn to Him with penitence and prayer.”
“Suppose then, Sir, the blackest and the worst
“Of all that's mean, base, devilish, and accurst.
“Suppose the use of every trick and art
“That mars and desecrates the human heart;
“A show of candour o'er a knot of wiles,
“A soul of hell beneath a face of smiles,
“Worth undermined, and confidence betrayed,
“And love and truth with wrong and hate repaid.
“Suppose one mammon project long pursued,
“And sealed at last with perfidy and blood—
“Suppose the victim of all this to be
“A brother.—O! the kindest! best!—and he
“Duped, beggared, outlawed, murdered—all by me!—
“Is there still hope?”
“Of all that's mean, base, devilish, and accurst.
“Suppose the use of every trick and art
“That mars and desecrates the human heart;
“A show of candour o'er a knot of wiles,
“A soul of hell beneath a face of smiles,
“Worth undermined, and confidence betrayed,
“And love and truth with wrong and hate repaid.
144
“And sealed at last with perfidy and blood—
“Suppose the victim of all this to be
“A brother.—O! the kindest! best!—and he
“Duped, beggared, outlawed, murdered—all by me!—
“Is there still hope?”
“Thy guilt indeed is great;
“But God forbids me to set bounds or date
“To his redeeming mercy. Lo the thief
“Who on the cross found pardon and relief!
“To the same Saviour be thy prayer up sent,
“For sure thy language says thou dost relent.
“But God forbids me to set bounds or date
“To his redeeming mercy. Lo the thief
“Who on the cross found pardon and relief!
“To the same Saviour be thy prayer up sent,
“For sure thy language says thou dost relent.
“Relent! O yes! If days and nights of tears,
“If sorrow eating on my joyless years,
“If this false head, all prematurely grey,
“If pangs that cannot rest, and dare not pray,
“If Heaven grown black above, and earth beneath
“Become one gloomy vault, one waste of death;
“If taunt and scorn descried in every face,
“And hunting me forlorn from place to place;
“If to seem less among my fellow men
“Than the poor scribble of some idle pen;
“If envy of the meanest thing that crawls,
‘The idiot's leer, the maniac's chains and walls;
“If death desired, yet dreaded”—
“If sorrow eating on my joyless years,
145
“If pangs that cannot rest, and dare not pray,
“If Heaven grown black above, and earth beneath
“Become one gloomy vault, one waste of death;
“If taunt and scorn descried in every face,
“And hunting me forlorn from place to place;
“If to seem less among my fellow men
“Than the poor scribble of some idle pen;
“If envy of the meanest thing that crawls,
‘The idiot's leer, the maniac's chains and walls;
“If death desired, yet dreaded”—
“Hold, O, hold,
“Enough, enough to mortal ear is told.
“Turn to thy God. With him for mercy plead:
“All is not lost while he can hear and heed.
“My heart bleeds for thee. Lift with me thy prayer.
“Why shouldst thou yield to Satan and despair?”
“Enough, enough to mortal ear is told.
“Turn to thy God. With him for mercy plead:
“All is not lost while he can hear and heed.
146
“Why shouldst thou yield to Satan and despair?”
“I cannot pray. I dare not look on high,
“My brother's form is there to meet my eye.
“His voice is there my conscious plea to drown.
“Yes! his least glance will hurl me headlong down
“From heaven, will be enough my soul to scare
“Down to its place of judgment and despair.
“See where he stands! my murdered brother! see
“He turns his still reproachful eyes on me!
“My brother's form is there to meet my eye.
“His voice is there my conscious plea to drown.
“Yes! his least glance will hurl me headlong down
“From heaven, will be enough my soul to scare
“Down to its place of judgment and despair.
“See where he stands! my murdered brother! see
“He turns his still reproachful eyes on me!
“O! calm this mood, thy wandering thoughts recall!
“Thy brother? O! he pities, pardons all!
“Has he not sins himself to be forgiven?
“How could he look up to his God in Heaven,
“And ask the mercy which himself denied?
“Has he not seen thee? has he not descried
“Thy deep remorse, thy bitterness of soul?
“He has, he has. He knows, forgives the whole.
“He was not wont to own a mood like this:
“And anger cannot dwell where Jesus is.”
“Thy brother? O! he pities, pardons all!
“Has he not sins himself to be forgiven?
“How could he look up to his God in Heaven,
147
“Has he not seen thee? has he not descried
“Thy deep remorse, thy bitterness of soul?
“He has, he has. He knows, forgives the whole.
“He was not wont to own a mood like this:
“And anger cannot dwell where Jesus is.”
“Ah, could I think it so!”
“Then look on me.
“This face is not so changed but thou may'st see
“A brother's likeness in it—Yes, I live!—
“Live to console, to cherish, to forgive!”
“This face is not so changed but thou may'st see
“A brother's likeness in it—Yes, I live!—
“Live to console, to cherish, to forgive!”
There have been looks of power; and souls have shook
And shrunk and quailed before one awful look.
The eye of Marius struck the slave to stone
Who came to slay him fettered and alone.
A look from Christ pierced Peter like a sword
In Pilate's hall, when he denied his Lord.
The hosts of Pharoah in the deep were awed
And checked, and scattered by one look from God.
As strong, as thrilling though with love they gushed,
The looks of Edmund on his brother rushed.
He started up as lightly from the bed,
As if his pain and weakness all were fled;
Held back and glared awhile in Edmund's face,
Then dropped exhausted in his spread embrace.
“He lives! thank God! thank God!” he faintly cried,
Then back upon the pillow sank, and died.
And shrunk and quailed before one awful look.
148
Who came to slay him fettered and alone.
A look from Christ pierced Peter like a sword
In Pilate's hall, when he denied his Lord.
The hosts of Pharoah in the deep were awed
And checked, and scattered by one look from God.
As strong, as thrilling though with love they gushed,
The looks of Edmund on his brother rushed.
He started up as lightly from the bed,
As if his pain and weakness all were fled;
Held back and glared awhile in Edmund's face,
Then dropped exhausted in his spread embrace.
“He lives! thank God! thank God!” he faintly cried,
Then back upon the pillow sank, and died.
| Tales in Verse Illustrative of The Several Petitions of The Lord's Prayer | |