The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay With Illustrations by John Gilbert |
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| I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
UNHAPPY JOHN. |
 | The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay |  |
UNHAPPY JOHN.
I
Unhappy John doubts woman's truth,And vows true love is dead and gone:—
Why?—He was jilted in his youth;
A false fair maid abandon'd John.
Because he found one canker'd peach,
All fruit is worthless in his eyes;—
Come forth, ye gentle souls, and teach
The selfish craven how he lies;
Come forth, ye ladies bright and fair,
Point at him your reproving hands,
And let your eyes your truth declare,
And shame him where he stands!
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II
Unhappy John is sick of schemes;He doubts the use of striving on:
Why?—Something is amiss, it seems,
And failure has dishearten'd John.
He moans in pitiful distress,
Because his projects topple down;—
Come forth, ye masters of success,
Ye builders of your own renown,
Who dig the mine or fell the oak;
Show him your hard and blister'd hands;
Tell him the worth of stroke on stroke,
And shame him where he stands!
III
Unhappy John distrusts his kind;He gives the world his malison:
Why?—He was somewhat weak and blind,
And a false rogue defrauded John.
He thinks misanthropy is right,
If he be cheated of his pelf;—
Come forth, true souls, and in your light
Depict the bigot to himself!
Come forth, ye generous and good,
With spotless hearts and liberal hands,
Show him the face of brotherhood,
And shame him where he stands!
| The Collected Songs of Charles Mackay | |