ancient poems-第3章

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n；　Ere　thou　canst　say；　they're　gone；　…　And　measure　beauty's　reign。

Look　on　the　brightest　eye；　Nor　teach　it　to　be　proud；　But　view　the　clearest　sky　And　thou　shalt　find　a　cloud；　Nor　call　each　face　ye　meet　An　angel's；　'cause　it's　fair；　But　look　beneath　your　feet；　And　think　of　what　ye　are。

Who　thinks　that　love　doth　live　In　beauty's　tempting　show；　Shall　find　his　hopes　ungive；　And　melt　in　reason's　thaw；　Who　thinks　that　pleasure　lies　In　every　fairy　bower；　Shall　oft；　to　his　surprise；　Find　poison　in　the　flower。

Dost　lawless　pleasures　grasp？　Judge　not　thou　deal'st　in　joy；　Its　flowers　but　hide　the　asp；　Thy　revels　to　destroy：　Who　trusts　a　harlot's　smile；　And　by　her　wiles　is　led；　Plays　with　a　sword　the　while；　Hung　dropping　o'er　his　head。

Dost　doubt　my　warning　song？　Then　doubt　the　sun　gives　light；　Doubt　truth　to　teach　thee　wrong；　And　wrong　alone　as　right；　And　live　as　lives　the　knave；　Intrigue's　deceiving　guest；　Be　tyrant；　or　be　slave；　As　suits　thy　ends　the　best。

Or　pause　amid　thy　toils；　For　visions　won　and　lost；　And　count　the　fancied　spoils；　If　e'er　they　quit　the　cost；　And　if　they　still　possess　Thy　mind；　as　worthy　things；　Pick　straws　with　Bedlam　Bess；　And　call　them　diamond　rings。

Thy　folly's　past　advice；　Thy　heart's　already　won；　Thy　fall's　above　all　price；　So　go；　and　be　undone；　For　all　who　thus　prefer　The　seeming　great　for　small；　Shall　make　wine　vinegar；　And　sweetest　honey　gall。

Wouldst　heed　the　truths　I　sing；　To　profit　wherewithal；　Clip　folly's　wanton　wing；　And　keep　her　within　call：　I've　little　else　to　give；　What　thou　canst　easy　try；　The　lesson　how　to　live；　Is　but　to　learn　to　die。



Poem：　THE　LIFE　AND　AGE　OF　MAN。



＇FROM　one　of　Thackeray's　Catalogues；　preserved　in　the　British　　Museum；　it　appears　that　THE　LIFE　AND　AGE　OF　MAN　was　one　of　the　　productions　printed　by　him　at　the　'Angel　in　Duck　Lane；　London。'　　　Thackeray's　imprint　is　found　attached　to　broadsides　published　　between　1672　and　1688；　and　he　probably　commenced　printing　soon　　after　the　accession　of　Charles　II。　　The　present　reprint；　the　　correctness　of　which　is　very　questionable；　is　taken　from　a　modern　　broadside；　the　editor　not　having　been　fortunate　enough　to　meet　with　　any　earlier　edition。　　This　old　poem　is　said　to　have　been　a　great　　favourite　with　the　father　of　Robert　Burns。＇


IN　prime　of　years；　when　I　was　young；　I　took　delight　in　youthful　ways；　Not　knowing　then　what　did　belong　Unto　the　pleasures　of　those　days。　At　seven　years　old　I　was　a　child；　And　subject　then　to　be　beguiled。

At　two　times　seven　I　went　to　learn　What　discipline　is　taught　at　school：　When　good　from　ill　I　could　discern；　I　thought　myself　no　more　a　fool：　My　parents　were　contriving　than；　How　I　might　live　when　I　were　man。

At　three　times　seven　I　waxed　wild；　When　manhood　led　me　to　be　bold；　I　thought　myself　no　more　a　child；　My　own　conceit　it　so　me　told：　Then　did　I　venture　far　and　near；　To　buy　delight　at　price　full　dear。

At　four　times　seven　I　take　a　wife；　And　leave　off　all　my　wanton　ways；　Thinking　thereby　perhaps　to　thrive；　And　save　myself　from　sad　disgrace。　So　farewell　my　companions　all；　For　other　business　doth　me　call。

At　five　times　seven　I　must　hard　strive；　What　I　could　gain　by　mighty　skill；　But　still　against　the　stream　I　drive；　And　bowl　up　stones　against　the　hill；　The　more　I　laboured　might　and　main；　The　more　I　strove　against　the　stream。

At　six　times　seven　all　covetise　Began　to　harbour　in　my　breast；　My　mind　still　then　contriving　was　How　I　might　gain　this　worldly　wealth；　To　purchase　lands　and　live　on　them；　So　make　my　children　mighty　men。

At　seven　times　seven　all　worldly　thought　Began　to　harbour　in　my　brain；　Then　did　I　drink　a　heavy　draught　Of　water　of　experience　plain；　There　none　so　ready　was　as　I；　To　purchase　bargains；　sell；　or　buy。

At　eight　times　seven　I　waxed　old；　And　took　myself　unto　my　rest；　Neighbours　then　sought　my　counsel　bold；　And　I　was　held　in　great　request；　But　age　did　so　abate　my　strength；　That　I　was　forced　to　yield　at　length。

At　nine　times　seven　take　my　leave　Of　former　vain　delights　must　I；　It　then　full　sorely　did　me　grieve　…　I　fetched　many　a　heavy　sigh；　To　rise　up　early；　and　sit　up　late；　My　former　life；　I　loathe　and　hate。

At　ten　times　seven　my　glass　is　run；　And　I　poor　silly　man　must　die；　I　looked　up；　and　saw　the　sun　Had　overcome　the　crystal　sky。　So　now　I　must　this　world　forsake；　Another　man　my　place　must　take。

Now　you　may　see；　as　in　a　glass；　The　whole　estate　of　mortal　men；　How　they　from　seven　to　seven　do　pass；　Until　they　are　threescore　and　ten；　And　when　their　glass　is　fully　run；　They　must　leave　off　as　they　begun。



Poem：　THE　YOUNG　MAN'S　WISH。



＇FROM　an　old　copy；　without　printer's　name；　probably　one　from　the　　Aldermary　Church…yard　press。　　Poems　in　triplets　were　very　popular　　during　the　reign　of　Charles　I。；　and　are　frequently　to　be　met　with　　during　the　Interregnum；　and　the　reign　of　Charles　II。＇


IF　I　could　but　attain　my　wish；　I'd　have　each　day　one　wholesome　dish；　Of　plain　meat；　or　fowl；　or　fish。

A　glass　of　port；　with　good　old　beer；　In　winter　time　a　fire　burnt　clear；　Tobacco；　pipes；　an　easy　chair。

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