 | The Works of Thomas Love Peacock |  |
147
RICH AND POOR; OR SAINT AND SINNER
[_]
[This is a correct copy of a little poem which has been often printed, and not quite accurately. It first appeared, many years ago, in the Globe and Traveller, and was suggested by a speech in which Mr. Wilberforce, replying to an observation of Dr. Lushington, that “the Society for the Suppression of Vice meddled with the poor alone,” said that “offences of the poor came more under observation than those of the rich.”]
The poor man's sins are glaring;
In the face of ghostly warning
He is caught in the fact
Of an overt act—
Buying greens on Sunday morning.
In the face of ghostly warning
He is caught in the fact
Of an overt act—
Buying greens on Sunday morning.
The rich man's sins are hidden
In the pomp of wealth and station;
And escape the sight
Of the children of light,
Who are wise in their generation.
In the pomp of wealth and station;
And escape the sight
Of the children of light,
Who are wise in their generation.
The rich man has a kitchen,
And cooks to dress his dinner;
The poor who would roast
To the baker's must post,
And thus becomes a sinner.
And cooks to dress his dinner;
The poor who would roast
To the baker's must post,
And thus becomes a sinner.
148
The rich man has a cellar,
And a ready butler by him;
The poor must steer
For his pint of beer
Where the saint can't choose but spy him.
And a ready butler by him;
The poor must steer
For his pint of beer
Where the saint can't choose but spy him.
The rich man's painted windows
Hide the concerts of the quality;
The poor can but share
A crack'd fiddle in the air,
Which offends all sound morality.
Hide the concerts of the quality;
The poor can but share
A crack'd fiddle in the air,
Which offends all sound morality.
The rich man is invisible
In the crowd of his gay society;
But the poor man's delight
Is a sore in the sight,
And a stench in the nose of piety.
In the crowd of his gay society;
But the poor man's delight
Is a sore in the sight,
And a stench in the nose of piety.
| The Works of Thomas Love Peacock | |