Изображения страниц
PDF
EPUB

THE THIEF AND THE CORDELIER.

BY MATTHEW PRIOR.

[MATTHEW PRIOR was born in 1664, according to some, in London, and to others at Wimbourne, in Dorsetshire. Having lost his father when very young, he was brought up by an uncle, a tavern-keeper at Charing Cross, who, after sending him for some time to Westminster School, took him to assist at his business. His classical knowledge, however, attracted the attention of the Earl of Dorset, who sent him to the University of Cambridge, where he obtained a fellowship, which he retained until his death. In conjunction with Montague, he wrote "The Country Mouse and City Mouse," in ridicule of Dryden's "Hind and Panther," and in 1691, through the interest of his patron, the Earl of Dorset, was appointed secretary to the English Embassy at the Hague; then Gentleman of the Bedchamber to King William. He was afterwards made Secretary of State, but he gave up the appointment for a Commissionership of Trade. After the accession of Queen Anne, he negotiated the Treaty of Utrecht, and was then sent ambassador to France: but, when George I. came to the throne, he was recalled and committed to prison, where he remained for two years; and he was even threatened with impeachment, for having held private conferences with the French plenipotentiaries, which, as he showed, was usual in such cases. He died in 1721.

Prior's tales are licentious; but his poems are pleasing, and full of good humour. Like Swift, he loved to versify the ordinary occurrences of life. He realized 4,000l. by one edition of his works, and an equal sum was presented to him by the Earl of Oxford, which left his old age independent.]

WHO has e'er been at Paris, must needs know the Grève,
The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave;

Where honour and justice most oddly contribute

To ease heroes' pains by a halter and gibbet.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.

There death breaks the shackles which force had put on,
And the hangman completes what the judge but begun ;
There the 'squire of the pad, and the knight of the post,
Find their pains no more baulk'd, and their hopes no more cross'd.
Derry down, &c.

Great claims are there made, and great secrets are known; And the king, and the law, and the thief, has his own; But my hearers cry out, What a deuce dost thou ail?

Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale.

Derry down, &c.

'Twas there, then, in civil respect to harsh laws,
And for want of false witness to back a bad cause,
A Norman, though late, was obliged to appear;
And who to assist, but a grave Cordelier?
Derry down, &c.

The 'squire, whose good grace was to open the scene,
Seem'd not in great haste that the show should begin ;
Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart;

And often took leave, but was loath to depart.
Derry down, &c.

What frightens you thus, my good son? says the priest, You murder'd, are sorry, and have been confess'd.

O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon;

For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken.

Derry down, &c.

Pough, prithee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies;
Rely on the aid you shall have from St. Francis;

If the money you promised be brought to the chest,
You have only to die; let the Church do the rest.
Derry down, &c.

And what will folks say, if they see you afraid?

It reflects upon me, as I knew not my trade;
Courage, friend, for to-day is your period of sorrow;
And things will go better, believe me, to-morrow.
Derry down, &c.

To-morrow! our hero replied in a fright;

He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of to-night. Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly truss'd up, For you surely to-night shall in paradise sup.

Derry down, &c.

Alas! quoth the 'squire, howe'er sumptuous the treat,
Parbleu! I shall have little stomach to eat;

I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace,
Would you be so kind as to go in my place.
Derry down, &c.

That I would, quoth the father, and thank you to boot;

But our actions, you know, with our duty must suit;

The feast I proposed to you, I cannot taste,

For this night by our order is mark'd for a fast.
Derry down, &c.

Then, turning about to the hangman, he said,
Despatch me, I prythee, this troublesome blade;
For thy cord and my cord both equally tie,
And we live by the gold for which other men die.
Derry down, &c.

THE SPACIOUS FIRMAMENT.

BY JOSEPH ADDISON.

[JOSEPH ADDISON was born at Milston, in 1672. He was educated at the Charterhouse School, and afterwards at Queen's College and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he distinguished himself for Latin poetry. In 1699 he obtained a pension of 300l. to enable him to travel and when he returned he published a pleasing account of his wanderings. Some time afterwards he was made Commissioner of Appeals, and then Under-Secretary of State. When the Marquis of Wharton was made Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, he accompanied him to that country; and, while there, was made Keeper of the Irish Records. He married the Countess Dowager of Warwick, to whose son he had been tutor; but the union was unfortunate. Both his and Dryden's fate, in marrying noble wives, are warnings to ambitious literary men. Addison became Secretary of State in 1717; but, unable to defend the measures of Government, he resigned the office, on a pension of 1,500/. a year. He died in 1719.

Dr. Johnson asserts that any one desirous of acquiring an English style of the highest excellence "must give his days and nights to the volumes of Addison." He contributed a great number of admirable papers to the Spectator and other periodicals, which have become a portion of English classical literature. Besides his literary excellence, the tendency of his writings is to advance the cause of religion and virtue. One of his last efforts was a defence of the Christian religion; and the portion which has been published shows how much reason there is to regret that he did not live to complete it.]

THE spacious firmament on high,

With all the blue ethereal sky,

And spangled heavens, a shining frame,

Their great Original proclaim :

Th' unwearied sun from day to day

Does his Creator's power display,

And publishes to every land

The work of an Almighty hand.

Soon as the evening shades prevail, The moon takes up the wondrous tale, And nightly to the list ning earth

[graphic]

Repeats the story of her birth:

Whilst all the stars that round her burn,

And all the planets in their turn,

« ПредыдущаяПродолжить »