ancient poems-第3节

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ling　man。



Poem：　THE　VANITIES　OF　LIFE。



＇THE　following　verses　were　copied　by　John　Clare；　the　　Northamptonshire　peasant；　from　a　MS。　on　the　fly…leaves　of　an　old　　book　in　the　possession　of　a　poor　man；　entitled　THE　WORLD'S　BEST　　WEALTH；　A　COLLECTION　OF　CHOICE　COUNCILS　IN　VERSE　AND　PROSE。　　　PRINTED　FOR　A。　BETTESWORTH；　AT　THE　RED　LION　IN　PATERNOSTER…ROW；　　1720。　　They　were　written　in　a　'crabbed；　quaint　hand；　and　difficult　　to　decipher。'　　Clare　remitted　the　poem　（along　with　the　original　　MS。）　to　Montgomery；　the　author　of　THE　WORLD　BEFORE　THE　FLOOD；　&c。　　&c。；　by　whom　it　was　published　in　the　SHEFFIELD　IRIS。　　Montgomery's　　criticism　is　as　follows：…　'Long　as　the　poem　appears　to　the　eye；　it　　will　abundantly　repay　the　trouble　of　perusal；　being　full　of　　condensed　and　admirable　thought；　as　well　as　diversified　with　　exuberant　imagery；　and　embellished　with　peculiar　felicity　of　　language：　the　moral　points　in　the　closing　couplets　of　the　stanzas　　are　often　powerfully　enforced。'　　Most　readers　will　agree　in　the　　justice　of　these　remarks。　　The　poem　was；　probably；　as　Clare　　supposes；　written　about　the　commencement　of　the　18th　century；　and　　the　unknown　author　appears　to　have　been　deeply　imbued　with　the　　spirit　of　the　popular　devotional　writers　of　the　preceding　century；　　as　Herbert；　Quarles；　&c。；　but　seems　to　have　modelled　his　smoother　　and　more　elegant　versification　after　that　of　the　poetic　school　of　　his　own　times。＇

'Vanity　of　vanities；　all　is　vanity。'　…　SOLOMON。


WHAT　are　life's　joys　and　gains？　What　pleasures　crowd　its　ways；　That　man　should　take　such　pains　To　seek　them　all　his　days？　Sift　this　untoward　strife　On　which　thy　mind　is　bent；　See　if　this　chaff　of　life　Is　worth　the　trouble　spent。

Is　pride　thy　heart's　desire？　Is　power　thy　climbing　aim？　Is　love　thy　folly's　fire？　Is　wealth　thy　restless　game？　Pride；　power；　love；　wealth　and　all；　Time's　touchstone　shall　destroy；　And；　like　base　coin；　prove　all　Vain　substitutes　for　joy。

Dost　think　that　pride　exalts　Thyself　in　other's　eyes；　And　hides　thy　folly's　faults；　Which　reason　will　despise？　Dost　strut；　and　turn；　and　stride；　Like　walking　weathercocks？　The　shadow　by　thy　side　Becomes　thy　ape；　and　mocks。

Dost　think　that　power's　disguise　Can　make　thee　mighty　seem？　It　may　in　folly's　eyes；　But　not　in　worth's　esteem：　When　all　that　thou　canst　ask；　And　all　that　she　can　give；　Is　but　a　paltry　mask　Which　tyants　wear　and　live。

Go；　let　thy　fancies　range　And　ramble　where　they　may；　View　power　in　every　change；　And　what　is　the　display？　…　The　country　magistrate；　The　lowest　shade　in　power；　To　rulers　of　the　state；　The　meteors　of　an　hour：　…

View　all；　and　mark　the　end　Of　every　proud　extreme；　Where　flattery　turns　a　friend；　And　counterfeits　esteem；　Where　worth　is　aped　in　show；　That　doth　her　name　purloin；　Like　toys　of　golden　glow　That's　sold　for　copper　coin。

Ambition's　haughty　nod；　With　fancies　may　deceive；　Nay；　tell　thee　thou'rt　a　god；　…　And　wilt　thou　such　believe？　Go；　bid　the　seas　be　dry；　Go；　hold　earth　like　a　ball；　Or　throw　her　fancies　by；　For　God　can　do　it　all。

Dost　thou　possess　the　dower　Of　laws　to　spare　or　kill？　Call　it　not　heav'nly　power　When　but　a　tyrant's　will；　Know　what　a　God　will　do；　And　know　thyself　a　fool；　Nor　tyrant…like　pursue　Where　He　alone　should　rule。

Dost　think；　when　wealth　is　won；　Thy　heart　has　its　desire？　Hold　ice　up　to　the　sun；　And　wax　before　the　fire；　Nor　triumph　o'er　the　reign　Which　they　so　soon　resign；　In　this　world　weigh　the　gain；　Insurance　safe　is　thine。

Dost　think　life's　peace　secure　In　houses　and　in　land？　Go；　read　the　fairy　lure　To　twist　a　cord　of　sand；　Lodge　stones　upon　the　sky；　Hold　water　in　a　sieve；　Nor　give　such　tales　the　lie；　And　still　thine　own　believe。

Whoso　with　riches　deals；　And　thinks　peace　bought　and　sold；　Will　find　them　slippery　eels；　That　slide　the　firmest　hold：　Though　sweet　as　sleep　with　health；　Thy　lulling　luck　may　be；　Pride　may　o'erstride　thy　wealth；　And　check　prosperity。

Dost　think　that　beauty's　power；　Life's　sweetest　pleasure　gives？　Go；　pluck　the　summer　flower；　And　see　how　long　it　lives：　Behold；　the　rays　glide　on；　Along　the　summer　plain；　Ere　thou　canst　say；　they're　gone；　…　And　measure　beauty's　reign。

Look　on　the　brightest　eye；　Nor　teach　it　to　be　proud；　But　view　the　clearest　sky　And　thou　shalt　find　a　cloud；　Nor　call　each　face　ye　meet　An　angel's；　'cause　it's　fair；　But　look　beneath　your　feet；　And　think　of　what　ye　are。

Who　thinks　that　love　doth　live　In　beauty's　tempting　show；　Shall　find　his　hopes　ungive；　And　melt　in　reason's　thaw；　Who　thinks　that　pleasure　lies　In　every　fairy　bower；　Shall　oft；　to　his　surprise；　Find　poison　in　the　flower。

Dost　lawless　pleasures　grasp？　Judge　not　thou　deal'st　in　joy；　Its　flowers　but　hide　the　asp；　Thy　revels　to　destroy：　Who　trusts　a　harlot's　smile；　And　by　her　wiles　is　led；　Plays　with　a　sword　the　while；　Hung　dropping　o'er　his　head。

Dost　doubt　my　warning　song？　Then　doubt　the　sun　gives　light；　Doubt　truth　to　teach　thee　wrong；　And　wrong　alone　as　right；　And　live　as　lives　the　knave；　Intrigue's　deceiving　guest；　Be　tyrant；　or　be　slave；　As　suits　thy　ends　the　best。

Or　pause　amid　thy　toils；　For　visions　won　and　lost；　And　count　the　fancied　spoils；　If　e'er　they　quit　the　cost；　And　if　they　still　possess　Thy　mind；　as　worthy　things；　Pick　straws　with　Bedlam　Bess；　And　call　them　diamond　rings。

Thy　folly's　past　advice；　Thy　heart's　already　won；　Thy　fall's　above　all　price；　So　go；　and　be　undone；　For　all　who　thus　prefer　The　seeming　great　for　small；　Shall　make　wine　vinegar；　And　sweetest　honey　gall。

Wouldst　heed　the　truths　I　sing；　To　profit　wherewithal；　Clip　folly's　wanton　wing；　And　keep　her　within　call：　I've　little　else　to　give；　What　thou　canst　easy　try；　The　lesson　how　to　live；　Is　but　to　learn　to　die。



Poem：　THE　LIFE　AND　AGE　OF　MAN。



＇FROM　one　of　Thackeray's　Catalogues；　preserved　in　the　British　　Museum；　it　appears　that　THE　LIFE　AND　AGE　OF　MAN　was　one　of　the　　productions　printed　by　him　at　the　'Angel　in　Duck　Lane；　London。'　　　Thackeray's　imprint　is　found　attached　to　broadsides　published　　between　1672　and　1688；　and　he　probably　commenced　printing　soon　　after　the　accession　of　Charles　II。　　The　present　reprint；　the　　correctness　of　which　is　very　questionable；　is　taken　from　a　modern　　broadside；　the　editor　not　having　been　fortunate　enough　to　meet　with　　any　earlier　edition。　　This　old　poem　is　said　to　have　been　a　great　　favourite　with　the　father　of　Robert　Burns。＇


IN　prime　of　years；　when　I　was　young；　I　took　delight　in　youthful　ways；　Not　knowing　then　what　did　belong　Unto　the　pleasures　of　those　days。　At　seven　years　old　I　was　a　child；　And　subject　then　to　be　beguiled。

At　two　times　seven　I　went　to　learn　What　discipline　is　taught　at　school：　When　good　from　ill　I　could　discern；　I　thought　myself　no　more　a　fool：　My　parents　were　contriving　than；　How　I　might　live　when　I　were　man。

At　three　times　seven　I　waxed　wild；　When　manhood　led　me　to　be　bold；　I　thought　myself　no　more　a　child；　My　own　conceit　it　so　me　told：　Then　did　I　venture　far　and　near；　To　buy　delight　at　price　full　dear。

At　four　times　seven　I　take　a　wife；　And　leave　off　all　my　wanton　ways；　Thinking　thereby　perhaps　to　thrive；　And　save　myself　from　sad　disgrace。　So　farewell　my　companions　all；　For　other　business　doth　me　call。

At　five　times　seven　I　must　hard　strive；　What　I　could　gain　by　mighty　skill；　But　still　against　the　stream　I　drive；　And　bowl　up　stones　against　the　hill；　The　more　I　laboured　might　and　main；　The　more　I　strove　against　the　stream。

At　six　times　seven　all　covetise　Began　to　harbour　in　my　breast；　My　mind　still　then　contriving　was　How　I　might　gain　this　worldly　wealth；　To　purchase　lands　and　live　on　them；　So　make　my　children　mighty　men。

At　seven　times　seven　all　worldly　thought　Began　to　harbour　in　my　brain；　Then　did　I　drink　a　heavy　draught　Of　water　of　experience　plain；　There　none　so　ready　was　as　I；　To　purchase　bargains；　sell；　or　buy。

At　eight　times　seven　I　waxed　old；　And　took　myself　unto　my　rest；　Neighbours　then　sought　my　counsel　bold；　And　I　was　held　in　great　request；　But　age　did　so　abate　my　strength；　That　I　was　forced　to　yield　at　length。

At　nine　times　seven　take　my　leave　Of　former　vain　delights　must　I；　It　then　full　sorely　did　me　grieve　…　I　fetched　many　a　heavy　sigh；　To　rise　up　early；　and　sit　up　late；　My　former　life；　I　loathe　and　hate。

At　ten　times　seven　my　glass　is　run；　And　I　poor　silly　man　must　die；　I　looked　up；　and　saw　the　sun　Had　overcome　the　crystal　sky。　So　now　I　must　this　world　forsake；　Another　man　my　place　must　take。

Now　you　may　see；　as　in　a　glass；　The　whole　estate　of　mortal　men；　How　they　from　seven　to　seven　do　pass；　Until　they　are　threescore　and　ten；　And　when　their　glass　is　fully　run；　They　must　leave　off　as　they　begun。



Poem：　THE　YOUNG　MAN'S　WISH。



＇FROM　an　old　copy；　without　printer's　name；　probably　one　from　the　　Aldermary　Church…yard　press。　　Poems　in　triplets　were　very　popular　　during　the　reign　of　Charles　I。；　and　are　frequently　to　be　met　with　　during　the　Interregnum；　and　the　reign　of　Charles　II。＇


IF　I　could　but　attain　my　wish；　I'd　have　each　day　one　wholesome　dish；　Of　plain　meat；　or　fowl；　or　fish。

A　glass　of　port；　with　good　old　beer；　In　winter　time　a　fire　burnt　clear；　Tobacco；　pipes；　an　easy　chair。

In　some　clean　town　a　snug　retreat；　A　little　garden　'fore　my　gate；　With　thousand　pounds　a　year　estate。

After　my　house　expense　was　cl