LVII. Near the dreare gate, beneath the rifted rock, The Keeper of the Cave all haggard satt, His pining corse a restlesse ague shook, And blistering sores did all his carkas frett: All with himselfe he seemd in keen debate ; For still the muscles of his mouthe he drew Ghastly and fell; and still with deepe regrate He lookd him round, as if his heart did rew His former deeds, and mournd full sore his sores to view. LVIII. Yet not Himselfe, but Heavens Great King he blamd, And dard his wisdom and his will arraign; For boldly he the ways of God blasphemd, And of blind governaunce did loudly plain, While vile Selfe-pity would his eyes distain; As when an Wolfe, entrapt in village ground, In dread of death ygnaws his limb in twain, And views with scalding teares his bleeding wound: Such fierce Selfe-pity still this Wights dire portaunce crownd. LIX. Near by there stood an hamlet in the dale, Where, in the silver age, CONTENT did wonne; This now was His: yet all mote nought avail, His loathing eyes that place did ever shun; But ever through his Neighbours lawns would run, Where every goodlie fielde thrice goodlie seemd. Such was this weary Wight all woe-begone; Such was his life; and thus of things he deemd; And suchlike was his Cave, that all with sorrowes teemd. LX. To this fell Carle gay DISSIPATION led, From the dire Cave fain would the Knight have fled, And fain recalld the treachrous Nymphe from flight: But now the late Obtruder shuns his sight, And dearly must be wooed hard by the den, Where listless Bacchus had his tents ypight, A transient visit sometimes would he gain, While Wine and merry Song beguild his inward pain. LXI. Yet, ever as he reard his slombering head, And aged Winter asks from Youth its stay; But thine comes poore of joy, comes with unhonourd gray. LXII. Thou hast no friend! - still on the worthlesse Traine Thy kindnesse flowd, and still with scorne repaid; So, farre remote from her, thy troubles she esteems. LXIII. Thy Children too! Heavens! what a hopelesse sight! Ah, wretched Syre!-but ever from this scene And in the Bowls wylde fever shuns his teene. LXIV. But boast not of superior shrewd addresse, Ye who can calmly spurn the ruind Mayd, Ye who unmovd can view the deepe distresse That crushes to the dust the Parents head, And rends that easie heart by You betrayd, Boast not that Ye his numerous woes eskew ; Ye who unawd the Nuptial couch invade, Boast not his weaknesse with contempt to view; For worthy is He still compard, perdie, to YOU. POEM V. THE MINSTREL; OR, THE PROGRESS OF GENIUS. BY JAMES BEATTIE, L. L. D. BOOK I. I. АH! who can tell how hard it is to climb The steep where Fame's proud temple shines afar; And waged with fortune an eternal war; Check'd by the scoff of Pride, by Envy's frown, And Poverty's unconquerable bar, In life's low vale remote has pined alone, Then dropt into the grave, unpitied and unknown! |