Why do these steeds stand ready dight? Lest Scroop, or Howard, or Percy's powers From Warkworth, or Naworth, or merry Carlisle. SIR WALTER SCOTT. WE 73. THE ALDERMAN'S FUNERAL. Stranger. HOM are they ushering from the world, with all This pageantry and long parade of death? Townsman. A long parade, indeed, sir, and yet here You see but half; round yonder bend it reaches A furlong farther, carriage behind carriage. S. 'Tis but a mournful sight, and yet the pomp Tempts me to stand a gazer. T. Yonder school-boy, Who plays the truant, says the proclamation Of peace was nothing to the show, and even The chairing of the members at election Would not have been a finer sight than this; Only that red and green are prettier colours Than all this mourning.-There, sir, you behold One of the red-gown'd worthies of the city, The envy and the boast of our exchange: I Ay, what was worth, last week, a good half million, Screw'd down in yonder hearse. S. Then he was born Under a lucky planet, who to-day very speech T. When first I heard his death, that S. The camel and the needle, Is that, then, in your mind? T. Even so. The text Is gospel wisdom. I would ride the camel,Yea, leap him flying, through the needle's eye, As easily as such a pamper'd soul Could pass the narrow gate. S. Your pardon, sir; But sure this lack of Christian charity T. Your pardon, too, sir, If, with this text before me, I should feel In the preaching mood! But for these barren fig-trees, With all their flourish and their leafiness, We have been told their destiny and use, When the axe falls upon their root, and they S. Was his wealth Stored fraudfully; the spoil of orphans wrong'd, And widows who had none to plead their right? T. All honest, open, honourable gains; Fair legal interests, bonds and mortgages, Ships to the east and west. So hardly of the dead? S. Why judge you then T. For what he left T. As all men know T. We track the streamlet by the brighter green And livelier growth it gives: but as for thisThis was a pool that stagnated and stunk; The rains of heaven engendered nothing in it But slime and foul corruption. S. Yet even these Are reservoirs, whence public charity T. Now, sir, you touch Upon the point. This man of half a million Had all these public virtues which you praise: Who, all the summer long, stands, hat in hand, His alms were money put to interest When, for the trusted talents, strict account Shall be required from all, and the old Arch-Lawyer Plead his own cause as plaintiff. S. I must needs Believe How can this man have lived, that thus his death T. Who should lament for him, sir, in whose heart Love had no place, nor natural charity? The parlour spaniel, when she heard his step, How could it be but thus? Arithmetic Was the sole science he was ever taught. When yet he was a boy, and should have breathed To give his blood its natural spring and play, Poor muck-worm! through his threescore years and ten. And when the earth shall now be shovell'd on him, A bright example. T. Even half a million Gets him no other praise. But come this way Some twelve months hence, and you will find his virtues Trimly set forth in lapidary lines; Faith, with her torch beside, and little Cupids SOUTHEY |