ancient poems-第4节

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

After　my　house　expense　was　clear；　Whatever　I　could　have　to　spare；　The　neighbouring　poor　should　freely　share。

To　keep　content　and　peace　through　life；　I'd　have　a　prudent　cleanly　wife；　Stranger　to　noise；　and　eke　to　strife。

Then　I；　when　blest　with　such　estate；　With　such　a　house；　and　such　a　mate；　Would　envy　not　the　worldly　great。

Let　them　for　noisy　honours　try；　Let　them　seek　worldly　praise；　while　I　Unnoticed　would　live　and　die。

But　since　dame　Fortune's　not　thought　fit　To　place　me　in　affluence；　yet　I'll　be　content　with　what　I　get。

He's　happiest　far　whose　humble　mind；　Is　unto　Providence　resigned；　And　thinketh　fortune　always　kind。

Then　I　will　strive　to　bound　my　wish；　And　take；　instead　of　fowl　and　fish；　Whate'er　is　thrown　into　my　dish。

Instead　of　wealth　and　fortune　great；　Garden　and　house　and　loving　mate；　I'll　rest　content　in　servile　state。

I'll　from　each　folly　strive　to　fly；　Each　virtue　to　attain　I'll　try；　And　live　as　I　would　wish　to　die。



Poem：　THE　MIDNIGHT　MESSENGER；　OR；　A　SUDDEN　CALL　FROM　AN　EARTHLY　　GLORY　TO　THE　COLD　GRAVE。

In　a　Dialogue　between　Death　and　a　Rich　Man；　who；　in　the　midst　of　　all　his　Wealth；　received　the　tidings　of　his　Last　Day；　to　his　　unspeakable　and　sorrowful　Lamentation。

To　the　tune　of　AIM　NOT　TOO　HIGH；　（1）　&c。



＇THE　following　poem；　and　the　two　that　immediately　follow；　belong　to　　a　class　of　publications　which　have　always　been　peculiar　favourites　　with　the　peasantry；　in　whose　cottages　they　may　be　frequently　seen；　　neatly　framed　and　glazed；　and　suspended　from　the　white…washed　　walls。　　They　belong　to　the　school　of　Quarles；　and　can　be　traced　to　　the　time　when　that　writer　was　in　the　height　of　his　popularity。　　　These　religious　dialogues　are　numerous；　but　the　majority　of　them　　are　very　namby…pamby　productions；　and　unworthy　of　a　reprint。　　The　　modern　editions　preserve　the　old　form　of　the　broadside　of　the　　seventeenth　century；　and　are　adorned　with　rude　woodcuts；　probably　　copies　of　ruder　originals　…　


…　'wooden　cuts　Strange；　and　uncouth；　dire　faces；　figures　dire；　Sharp…kneed；　sharp…elbowed；　and　lean…ankled　too；　With　long　and　ghostly　shanks；　forms　which　once　seen；　Can　never　be　forgotten！'　…　WORDSWORTH'S　EXCURSION。＇


DEATH。

THOU　wealthy　man　of　large　possessions　here；　Amounting　to　some　thousand　pounds　a　year；　Extorted　by　oppression　from　the　poor；　The　time　is　come　that　thou　shalt　be　no　more；　Thy　house　therefore　in　order　set　with　speed；　And　call　to　mind　how　you　your　life　do　lead。　Let　true　repentance　be　thy　chiefest　care；　And　for　another　world　now；　NOW　prepare。　For　notwithstanding　all　your　heaps　of　gold；　Your　lands　and　lofty　buildings　manifold；　Take　notice　you　must　die　this　very　day；　And　therefore　kiss　your　bags　and　come　away。

RICH　MAN。

＇He　started　straight　and　turned　his　head　aside；　Where　seeing　pale…faced　Death；　aloud　he　cried＇；　Lean　famished　slave！　why　do　you　threaten　so；　Whence　come　you；　pray；　and　whither　must　I　go？

DEATH。

I　come　from　ranging　round　the　universe；　Through　courts　and　kingdoms　far　and　near　I　pass；　Where　rich　and　poor；　distressed；　bond　and　free；　Fall　soon　or　late　a　sacrifice　to　me。　From　crowned　kings　to　captives　bound　in　chains　My　power　reaches；　sir；　the　longest　reigns　That　ever　were；　I　put　a　period　to；　And　now　I'm　come　in　fine　to　conquer　you。

RICH　MAN。

I　can't　nor　won't　believe　that　you；　pale　Death；　Were　sent　this　day　to　stop　my　vital　breath；　By　reason　I　in　perfect　health　remain；　Free　from　diseases；　sorrow；　grief；　and　pain；　No　heavy　heart；　nor　fainting　fits　have　I；　And　do　you　say　that　I　am　drawing　nigh　The　latter　minute？　sure　it　cannot　be；　Depart；　therefore；　you　are　not　sent　for　me！

DEATH。

Yes；　yes；　I　am；　for　did　you　never　know；　The　tender　grass　and　pleasant　flowers　that　grow　Perhaps　one　minute；　are　the　next　cut　down？　And　so　is　man；　though　famed　with　high　renown。　Have　you　not　heard　the　doleful　passing　bell　Ring　out　for　those　that　were　alive　and　well　The　other　day；　in　health　and　pleasure　too；　And　had　as　little　thoughts　of　death　as　you？　For　let　me　tell　you；　when　my　warrant's　sealed；　The　sweetest　beauty　that　the　earth　doth　yield　At　my　approach　shall　turn　as　pale　as　lead；　'Tis　I　that　lay　them　on　their　dying　bed。

I　kill　with　dropsy；　phthisic；　stone；　and　gout；　But　when　my　raging　fevers　fly　about；　I　strike　the　man；　perhaps；　but　over…night；　Who　hardly　lives　to　see　the　morning　light；　I'm　sent　each　hour；　like　to　a　nimble　page；　To　infant；　hoary　heads；　and　middle　age；　Time　after　time　I　sweep　the　world　quite　through；　Then　it's　in　vain　to　think　I'll　favour　you。

RICH　MAN。

Proud　Death；　you　see　what　awful　sway　I　bear；　For　when　I　frown　none　of　my　servants　dare　Approach　my　presence；　but　in　corners　hide　Until　I　am　appeased　and　pacified。　Nay；　men　of　greater　rank　I　keep　in　awe　Nor　did　I　ever　fear　the　force　of　law；　But　ever　did　my　enemies　subdue；　And　must　I　after　all　submit　to　you？

DEATH。

'Tis　very　true；　for　why　thy　daring　soul；　Which　never　could　endure　the　least　control；　I'll　thrust　thee　from　this　earthly　tenement；　And　thou　shalt　to　another　world　be　sent。

RICH　MAN。

What！　must　I　die　and　leave　a　vast　estate；　Which；　with　my　gold；　I　purchased　but　of　late？　Besides　what　I　had　many　years　ago？　…　What！　must　my　wealth　and　I　be　parted　so？　If　you　your　darts　and　arrows　must　let　fly；　Go　search　the　jails；　where　mourning　debtors　lie；　Release　them　from　their　sorrow；　grief；　and　woe；　For　I　am　rich　and　therefore　loth　to　go。

DEATH。

I'll　search　no　jails；　but　the　right　mark　I'll　hit；　And　though　you　are　unwilling　to　submit；　Yet　die　you　must；　no　other　friend　can　do；　…　Prepare　yourself　to　go；　I'm　come　for　you。　If　you　had　all　the　world　and　ten　times　more；　Yet　die　you　must；　…　there's　millions　gone　before；　The　greatest　kings　on　earth　yield　and　obey；　And　at　my　feet　their　crowns　and　sceptres　lay：　If　crowned　heads　and　right　renowned　peers　Die　in　the　prime　and　blossoms　of　their　years；　Can　you　suppose　to　gain　a　longer　space？　No！　　I　will　send　you　to　another　place。

RICH　MAN。

Oh！　stay　thy　hand　and　be　not　so　severe；　I　have　a　hopeful　son　and　daughter　dear；　All　that　I　beg　is　but　to　let　me　live　That　I　may　them　in　lawful　marriage　give：　They　being　young　when　I　am　laid　in　the　grave；　I　fear　they　will　be　wronged　of　what　they　have：　Although　of　me　you　will　no　pity　take；　Yet　spare　me　for　my　little　infants'　sake。

DEATH。

If　such　a　vain　excuse　as　this　might　do；　It　would　be　long　ere　mortals　would　go　through　The　shades　of　death；　for　every　man　would　find　Something　to　say　that　he　might　stay　behind。　Yet；　if　ten　thousand　arguments　they'd　use；　The　destiny　of　dying　to　excuse；　They'll　find　it　is　in　vain　with　me　to　strive；　For　why；　I　part　the　dearest　friends　alive；　Poor　parents　die；　and　leave　their　children　small　With　nothing　to　support　them　here　withal；　But　the　kind　hand　of　gracious　Providence；　Who　is　their　father；　friend；　and　sole　defence。　Though　I　have　held　you　long　in　disrepute；　Yet　after　all　here　with　a　sharp　salute　I'll　put　a　period　to　your　days　and　years；　Causing　your　eyes　to　flow　with　dying　tears。

RICH　MAN。

＇Then　with　a　groan　he　made　this　sad　complaint＇：　My　heart　is　dying；　and　my　spirits　faint；　To　my　close　chamber　let　me　be　conveyed；　Farewell；　false　world；　for　thou　hast　me　betrayed。　Would　I　had　never　wronged　the　fatherless；　Nor　mourning　widows　when　in　sad　distress；　Would　I　had　ne'er　been　guilty　of　that　sin；　Would　I　had　never　known　what　gold　had　been；　For　by　the　same　my　heart　was　drawn　away　To　search　for　gold：　but　now　this　very　day；　I　find　it　is　but　like　a　slender　reed；　Which　fails　me　most　when　most　I　stand　in　need；　For；　woe　is　me！　the　time　is　come　at　last；　Now　I　am　on　a　bed　of　sorrow　cast；　Where　in　lamenting　tears　I　weeping　lie；　Because　my　sins　make　me　afraid　to　die：　Oh！　Death；　be　pleased　to　spare　me　yet　awhile；　That　I　to　God　myself　may　reconcile；　For　true　repentance　some　small　time　allow；　I　never　feared　a　future　state　till　now！　My　bags　of　gold　and　land　I'd　freely　give；　For　to　obtain　the　favour　here　to　live；　Until　I　have　a　sure　foundation　laid。　Let　me　not　die　before　my　peace　be　made！

DEATH。

Thou　hast　not　many　minutes　here　to　stay；　Lift　up　your　heart　to　God　without　delay；　Implore　his　pardon　now　for　what　is　past；　Who　knows　but　He　may　save　your　soul　at　last？

RICH　MAN。

I'll　water　now　with　tears　my　dying　bed；　Before　the　Lord　my　sad　complaint　I'll　spread；　And　if　He　will　vouchsafe　to　pardon　me；　To　die　and　leave　this　world　I　could　be　free。　False　world！　false　world；　farewell！　farewell！　adieu！　I　find；　I　find；　there　is　no　trust　in　you！　For　when　upon　a　dying　bed　we　lie；　Your　gilded　baits　are　nought　but　misery。　My　youthful　son　and　loving　daughter　dear；　Take　warning　by　your　dying　father　here；　Let　not　the　world　deceive　you　at　this　rate；　For　fear　a　sad　repentance　comes　too　late。　Sweet　babes；　I　little　thought　the　other　day；　I　should　so　suddenly　be　snatched　away　By　Death；　and　leave　you　weeping　here　behind；　But　life's　a　most　uncertain　thing；　I　find。　When　in　the　grave　my　head　is　lain　full　low；　Pray　let　not　folly　prove　your　overthrow；　Serve　ye　the　Lord；　obey　his　holy　will；　That　he　may　have　a　blessing　for　you　still。　＇Having　saluted　them；　he　turned　aside；　These　were　the　very　words　before　he　died＇：

A　painful　life　I　ready　am　to　leave；　Wherefore；　in　mercy；　Lord；　my　soul　receive。