benefit will not fail to result from them even in their lowest degree. |
The idea of the Supreme Being, has this' peculiar property that, as it admits of no substitute, so, from the first moment it is impressed, it is capable of | continual growth, and enlargement. God himself is immutable; but our conception of his character, | is continually receiving fresh acces.sions, is continually growing more extended and refulgent, by having transferred upon it new perceptions of beauty, and good.ness; by attracting to itself, as a centre, whatever bears the impress of dignity, or'der, or happiness. | It borrows splendor from all that is fair, subordinates to itself all that is great', | and sits enthroned on the riches of the universe. |
THE THREE WARNINGS.
(MRS. THRALE.)
The tree of deepest root, is found | Least willing still to quit the ground:| "T was therefore said by ancient sages, | That love of life increas'd with years | So much, that, in our latter stages, | When pains grow sharp, and sickness rages, | The greatest love of life appears. I
This great affection to believe, | Which all confess, but few perceive, | If old assertions can't prevail, |
Be pleas'd to hear a modern tale.]
When sports went round, and all were gay,¦ On neighbor Dodson's wedding-day, |
Death call'd aside the jocund groom
With him, into another room; |
'Quit your sweet bride', | and come with me.'
"With you'! and quit my Susan's side'!| With you!" 'the hapless husband cried,;| Young as I am, 't is monstrous_hard! | Beside, in truth, I'm not prepar'd: ¦ My thoughts on other matters go; | This is my wed'ding-day, you know."| What more he urg'd, I have not heard, | His reasons could not well be stronger;| So Death the poor delinquent spar'd, | And left to live a little longer. | Yet, calling up a serious look-
('His hour-glass trembled while he spoke) | 2. Neighbor," he said, "farewell. No more Shall Death disturb your mirthful hour、;| And farther, to avoid all blame | Of cruelty upon my name, |
To give you time for preparation, | And fit you for your future station, | Three several war'nings you shall have, | Before you're summon'd to the grave.| Willing for once, I'll quit my prey', | And grant a kind reprieve, |
In hopes you'll have no more to say`;! But, when I call again this way, |
Well pleas'd the world will leave." | To these conditions both consen'ted,'} And parted perfectly contented. |
What next the hero of our tale befell, | How long he liv'd, how wise', how well, { How roundly he pursued his course, |
And smok'd his pipe', and strok'd his horse', The willing muse shall tell.:!
He chaffer'd then, he bought', Nor once perceiv'd his growing old',
Nor thought of Death as near,; |
His friends not false', his wife no shrew',¦ Many his gains', his children few,,|
He pass'd his hours in peace.
But, while he view'd his wealth increase, Į While thus along Life's dusty road,| The beaten track content he trod,|
Old Time, whose haste no mortal spares, | Uncall'd', unheeded, unawares1, | Brought on his eightieth year. I
And now, one night, in musing mood, | As all alone he sate, |
The unwelcome messenger of Fate, [ Once more before him stood. I
Half kill'd with anger, and surprise, | "So soon return'd'!" | 'old Dodson cries,, | 2" So soon, d'ye call it?" | 'Death replies,: | "Surely, my friend, you're but in jest! | | Since I was here before |
'Tis six-and-thirty years', at least,"
And you are now fourscore." |
"So much the worse," 'the clown rejoin'd, | To spare the aged would be kind:] However, see your search be le'gal; ! And your author'ity is 't re'gal?! | Else you are come on a fool's' errand, | With but a secretary's warrant.
Beside, you promis'd me Three War'nings | Which I have look'd for nights, and mornings!{ But, for that loss of time, and ease, |
I can recover dam'ages.” |
"I know," cries Death, "that, at the best', I seldom am a welcome guest; | But don't be captious, friend, at least: 1 I little thought you'd still be able | To stump about your farm', and stable; | Your years have run to a great length; | I wish you joy, though, of your strength.!" |
But in jest; not button jest. b Years at least; not years'at-least
"Hold," says the farmer, "not so fast! I have been lame these four years past." "And no great won'der," | Death replies、:| "However, you still keep your eyes';] And sure, to see one's loves, and friends, | For legs, and arms, would make amends." | Perhaps," says Dodson, "so it might`, | But latterly, I've lost my sight.." |
"This is a shocking tale, 't is true, | But still there's comfort left for you:| Each strives your sadness to amuse I warrant you hear all the news." | "There's none'," cries he;" and, if there were, | I'm grown so deaf, I could not hear.”| "Nay, then," | the spectre stern_rejoin'd、,| These are unjus'tifiable yearnings; |
If you are Lame', and Deaf', and Blind', | You've had your Three sufficient Warnings.] So, come along, no more we'll part;" | He said, and touch'd him with his dart. | And now, old Dodson turning pale, |
Yields to his fate, so ends my tale. I
THE CHAMELEON; OR, PERTINACITY EXPOSED. (MERRICK.)
Oft has it been my lot to mark | A proud, conceited, talking spark, With eyes that hardly serv'd at most', | To guard their master 'gainst a post; | Yet round the world the blade has been, ] To see whatever could be seen: | Returning from his finish'd tour, | Grown ten times perter than before. ; | Whatever word you chance to drop, | The travell'd fool your mouth will stop.:!
Sir, if my judgment you'll allow
I've seen and sure I ought to know." | So, begs you'd pay a due submission, And acquiesce in his decision. |
Two travellers of such a cast, | As o'er Arabia's wilds they pass'd, I And on their way, in friendly chat, | Now talk'd of this', and then of that', | Discours'd a while, 'mongst other matter, | Of the Chameleon's form, and nature. |
"A stranger animal," cries one, "Sure never liv'd beneath the sun! | A lizard's body, I lean, and long, | A fish's head, a serpent's tongue, Its foot with triple claw disjoin'd And what a length of tail' behind! | How slow, its pace! | and then, its hue'-t Who ever saw so fine a blue, ?" |
"Hold there," the other quick replies, | ""Tis green' I saw it with these eyes', | As late with open mouth, it lay,
And warm'd it in the sunny ray; | Stretch'd at its ease, the beast I view'd', | And saw it eat the air for food." |
"I've seen it, friend, as well as you', | And must again affirm it blue.. | At leisure, I the beast survey'd', | Extended in the cooling shade.” |
"'Tis green', 't is green', I can assure ye."! "Green" 'cries the other in a fury, 26 Why', do you think I've lost my eyes'?" | "'T were no great loss," the friend replies,, ! "For, if they always serve you thus', You'll find them but of little use." |
« PředchozíPokračovat » |