ancient poems-第4章

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t　I　may　them　in　lawful　marriage　give：　They　being　young　when　I　am　laid　in　the　grave；　I　fear　they　will　be　wronged　of　what　they　have：　Although　of　me　you　will　no　pity　take；　Yet　spare　me　for　my　little　infants'　sake。

DEATH。

If　such　a　vain　excuse　as　this　might　do；　It　would　be　long　ere　mortals　would　go　through　The　shades　of　death；　for　every　man　would　find　Something　to　say　that　he　might　stay　behind。　Yet；　if　ten　thousand　arguments　they'd　use；　The　destiny　of　dying　to　excuse；　They'll　find　it　is　in　vain　with　me　to　strive；　For　why；　I　part　the　dearest　friends　alive；　Poor　parents　die；　and　leave　their　children　small　With　nothing　to　support　them　here　withal；　But　the　kind　hand　of　gracious　Providence；　Who　is　their　father；　friend；　and　sole　defence。　Though　I　have　held　you　long　in　disrepute；　Yet　after　all　here　with　a　sharp　salute　I'll　put　a　period　to　your　days　and　years；　Causing　your　eyes　to　flow　with　dying　tears。

RICH　MAN。

＇Then　with　a　groan　he　made　this　sad　complaint＇：　My　heart　is　dying；　and　my　spirits　faint；　To　my　close　chamber　let　me　be　conveyed；　Farewell；　false　world；　for　thou　hast　me　betrayed。　Would　I　had　never　wronged　the　fatherless；　Nor　mourning　widows　when　in　sad　distress；　Would　I　had　ne'er　been　guilty　of　that　sin；　Would　I　had　never　known　what　gold　had　been；　For　by　the　same　my　heart　was　drawn　away　To　search　for　gold：　but　now　this　very　day；　I　find　it　is　but　like　a　slender　reed；　Which　fails　me　most　when　most　I　stand　in　need；　For；　woe　is　me！　the　time　is　come　at　last；　Now　I　am　on　a　bed　of　sorrow　cast；　Where　in　lamenting　tears　I　weeping　lie；　Because　my　sins　make　me　afraid　to　die：　Oh！　Death；　be　pleased　to　spare　me　yet　awhile；　That　I　to　God　myself　may　reconcile；　For　true　repentance　some　small　time　allow；　I　never　feared　a　future　state　till　now！　My　bags　of　gold　and　land　I'd　freely　give；　For　to　obtain　the　favour　here　to　live；　Until　I　have　a　sure　foundation　laid。　Let　me　not　die　before　my　peace　be　made！

DEATH。

Thou　hast　not　many　minutes　here　to　stay；　Lift　up　your　heart　to　God　without　delay；　Implore　his　pardon　now　for　what　is　past；　Who　knows　but　He　may　save　your　soul　at　last？

RICH　MAN。

I'll　water　now　with　tears　my　dying　bed；　Before　the　Lord　my　sad　complaint　I'll　spread；　And　if　He　will　vouchsafe　to　pardon　me；　To　die　and　leave　this　world　I　could　be　free。　False　world！　false　world；　farewell！　farewell！　adieu！　I　find；　I　find；　there　is　no　trust　in　you！　For　when　upon　a　dying　bed　we　lie；　Your　gilded　baits　are　nought　but　misery。　My　youthful　son　and　loving　daughter　dear；　Take　warning　by　your　dying　father　here；　Let　not　the　world　deceive　you　at　this　rate；　For　fear　a　sad　repentance　comes　too　late。　Sweet　babes；　I　little　thought　the　other　day；　I　should　so　suddenly　be　snatched　away　By　Death；　and　leave　you　weeping　here　behind；　But　life's　a　most　uncertain　thing；　I　find。　When　in　the　grave　my　head　is　lain　full　low；　Pray　let　not　folly　prove　your　overthrow；　Serve　ye　the　Lord；　obey　his　holy　will；　That　he　may　have　a　blessing　for　you　still。　＇Having　saluted　them；　he　turned　aside；　These　were　the　very　words　before　he　died＇：

A　painful　life　I　ready　am　to　leave；　Wherefore；　in　mercy；　Lord；　my　soul　receive。



Poem：　A　DIALOGUE　BETWIXT　AN　EXCISEMAN　AND　DEATH。



＇TRANSCRIBED　from　a　copy　in　the　British　Museum；　printed　in　London　　by　J。　C＇larke＇。；　1659。　　The　idea　of　Death　being　employed　to　execute　　a　writ；　recalls　an　epitaph　which　we　remember　to　have　seen　in　a　　village　church…yard　at　the　foot　of　the　Wrekin；　in　Shropshire；　　commencing　thus：…

'The　King　of　Heaven　a　warrant　got；　And　sealed　it　without　delay；　And　he　did　give　the　same　to　Death；　For　him　to　serve　straightway；'　&c。＇


UPON　a　time　when　Titan's　steeds　were　driven　To　drench　themselves　beneath　the　western　heaven；　And　sable　Morpheus　had　his　curtains　spread；　And　silent　night　had　laid　the　world　to　bed；　'Mongst　other　night…birds　which　did　seek　for　prey；　A　blunt　exciseman；　which　abhorred　the　day；　Was　rambling　forth　to　seek　himself　a　booty　'Mongst　merchant's　goods　which　had　not　paid　the　duty；　But　walking　all　alone；　Death　chanced　to　meet　him；　And　in　this　manner　did　begin　to　greet　him。

DEATH。

Stand；　who　comes　here？　what　means　this　knave　to　peep　And　skulk　abroad；　when　honest　men　should　sleep？　Speak；　what's　thy　name？　and　quickly　tell　me　this；　Whither　thou　goest；　and　what　thy　business　is？

EXCISEMAN。

Whate'er　my　business　is；　thou　foul…mouthed　scold；　I'd　have　you　know　I　scorn　to　be　controlled　By　any　man　that　lives；　much　less　by　thou；　Who　blurtest　out　thou　know'st　not　what；　nor　how；　I　go　about　my　lawful　business；　and　I'll　make　you　smart　for　bidding　of　me　stand。

DEATH。

Imperious　coxcomb！　is　your　stomach　vexed？　Pray　slack　your　rage；　and　hearken　what　comes　next：　I　have　a　writ　to　take　you　up；　therefore；　To　chafe　your　blood；　I　bid　you　stand；　once　more。

EXCISEMAN。

A　writ　to　take　ME　up！　excuse　me；　sir；　You　do　mistake；　I　am　an　officer　In　public　service；　for　my　private　wealth；　My　business　is；　if　any　seek　by　stealth　To　undermine　the　state；　I　do　discover　Their　falsehood；　therefore　hold　your　hand；　…　give　over。

DEATH。

Nay；　fair　and　soft！　'tis　not　so　quickly　done　As　you　conceive　it　is：　I　am　not　gone　A　jot　the　sooner　for　your　hasty　chat；　Nor　bragging　language；　for　I　tell　you　flat　'Tis　more　than　so；　though　fortune　seem　to　thwart　us；　Such　easy　terms　I　don't　intend　shall　part　us。　With　this　impartial　arm　I'll　make　you　feel　My　fingers　first；　and　with　this　shaft　of　steel　I'll　peck　thy　bones！　AS　THOU　ALIVE　WERT　HATED；　SO　DEAD；　TO　DOGS　THOU　SHALT　BE　SEGREGATED。

EXCISEMAN。

I'd　laugh　at　that；　I　would　thou　didst　but　dare　To　lay　thy　fingers　on　me；　I'd　not　spare　To　hack　thy　carcass　till　my　sword　was　broken；　I'd　make　thee　eat　the　words　which　thou　hast　spoken；　All　men　should　warning　take　by　thy　transgression；　How　they　molested　men　of　my　profession。　My　service　to　the　State　is　so　well　known；　That　should　I　but　complain；　they'd　quickly　own　My　public　grievances；　and　give　me　right　To　cut　your　ears；　before　tomorrow　night。

DEATH。

Well　said；　indeed！　but　bootless　all；　for　I　Am　well　acquainted　with　thy　villany；　I　know　thy　office；　and　thy　trade　is　such；　Thy　service　little；　and　thy　gains　are　much：　Thy　brags　are　many；　but　'tis　vain　to　swagger；　And　think　to　fight　me　with　thy　gilded　dagger：　AS　I　ABHOR　THY　PERSON；　PLACE；　AND　THREAT；　So　now　I'll　bring　thee　to　the　judgment…seat。

EXCISEMAN。

The　judgment…seat！　　I　must　confess　that　word　Doth　cut　my　heart；　like　any　sharpened　sword：　What！　come　t'　account！　methinks　the　dreadful　sound　Of　every　word　doth　make　a　mortal　wound；　Which　sticks　not　only　in　my　outward　skin；　But　penetrates　my　very　soul　within。　'Twas　least　of　all　my　thoughts　that　ever　Death　Would　once　attempt　to　stop　excisemen's　breath。　But　since　'tis　so；　that　now　I　do　perceive　You　are　in　earnest；　then　I　must　relieve　Myself　another　way：　come；　we'll　be　friends；　If　I　have　wronged　thee；　I'll　make　th'　amends。　Let's　join　together；　I'll　pass　my　word　this　night　Shall　yield　us　grub；　before　the　morning　light。　Or　otherwise　（to　mitigate　my　sorrow）；　Stay　here；　I'll　bring　you　gold　enough　to…morrow。

DEATH。

To…morrow's　gold　I　will　not　have；　and　thou　Shalt　have　no　gold　upon　to…morrow：　now　My　final　writ　shall　to　th'　execution　have　thee；　All　earthly　treasure　cannot　help　or　save　thee。

EXCISEMAN。

Then　woe　is　me！　ah！　how　was　I　befooled！　I　thought　that　gold　（which　answereth　all　things）　could　Have　stood　my　friend　at　any　time　to　bail　me！　But　grief　grows　great；　and　now　my　trust　doth　fail　me。　Oh！　that　my　conscience　were　but　clear　within；　Which　now　is　racked　with　my　former　sin；　With　horror　I　behold　my　secret　stealing；　My　bribes；　oppression；　and　my　graceless　dealing；　My　office…sins；　which　I　had　clean　forgotten；　Will　gnaw　my　soul　when　all　my　bones　are　rotten：　I　must　confess　it；　very　grief　doth　force　me；　Dead　or　alive；　both　God　and　man　doth　curse　me。　LET　ALL　EXCISEMEN　hereby　warning　take；　To　shun　their　practice　for　their　conscience　sake。



Poem：　THE　MESSENGER　OF　MORTALITY；　OR　LIFE　AND　DEATH　CONTRASTED　IN　A　　DIALOGUE　BETWIXT　DEATH　AND　A　LADY。



＇ONE　of　Charles　Lamb's　most　beautiful　and　plaintive　poems　was　　suggested　by　this　old　dialogue。　　The　tune　is　given　in　Chappell's　　POPULAR　MUSIC；　p。　167。　　In　Carey's　MUSICAL　CENTURY；　1738；　it　is　　called　the　'Old　tune　of　DEATH　AND　THE　LADY。'　　The　four　concluding　　lines　of　the　present　copy　of　DEATH　AND　THE　LADY　are　found　inscribed　　on　tomb…stones　in　village　church…yards　in　every　part　of　England。　　　They　are　not　contained；　however；　in　the　broadside　with　which　our　　reprint　has　been　carefully　collated。＇


DEATH。

FAIR　lady；　lay　your　costly　robes　aside；　No　longer　may　you　glory　in　your　pride；　Take　leave　of　all　your　carnal　vain　delight；　I'm　come　to　summon　you　away　this　night！

LADY。

What　bold　attempt　is　this？　pray　let　me　know　From　whence　you　come；　and　whither　I　must　go？　Must　I；　who　am　a　lady；　stoop　or　bow　To　such　a　pale…faced　visage？　　Who　art　thou？

DEATH。

Do　you　not　know　me？　well！　I　tell　thee；　then；　It's　I　that　conquer　all　the　sons　of　men！　No　pitch　of　honour　from　my　dart　is　free；　My　name　is　Death！　have　you　not　heard　of　me？

LADY。

Yes！　　I　have　heard　of　thee　time　after　time；　But　being　in　the　glory　of　my　prime；　I　did　not　think　you　would　have　called　so　soon。　Why　must　my　morning　sun　go　down　at　noon？

DEATH。

Talk　not　of　noon！　you　may　as　well　be　mute；　This　is　no　time　at　all　for　to　dispute：　Your　riches；　garments；　gold；　and　jewels　brave；　Houses　and　lands　must　all　new　owners　have；　Though　thy　vain　heart　to　riches　was　inclined；　Yet　thou　must　die　and　leave　them　all　behind。

LADY。

My　heart　is　cold；　I　tremble　at　the　news；　There's　bags　of　gold；　if　thou　wilt　me　excuse；　And　seize　on　them；　and　finish　thou　the　strife　Of　those　that　are　aweary　of　their　life。　Are　there　not　many　bound　in　prison　strong；　In　bitter　grief　of　soul　have　languished　long；　Who　could　but　find　the　grave　a　place　of　rest；　From　all　the　grief　in　which　they　are　oppressed？　Besides；　there's　many　with　a　hoary　head；　And　palsy　joints；　by　which　their　joys　are　fled；　Release　thou　them　whose　sorrows　are　so　great；　But　spare　my　life　to　have　a　longer　date。

DEATH。

Though　some　by　age　be　full　of　grief　and　pain；　Yet　their　appointed　time　they　must　remain：　I　come　to　none　before　their　warrant's　sealed；　And　when　it　is；　they　must　submit　and　yield。　I　take　no　bribe；　believe　me；　this　is　true；　Prepare　yourself　to　go；　I'm　come　for　you。

LADY。

Death；　be　not　so　severe；　let　me　obtain　A　little　longer　time　to　live　and　reign！　Fain　would　I　stay　if　thou　my　life　will　spare；　I　have　a　daughter　beautiful　and　fair；　I'd　live　to　see　her　wed　whom　I　adore：　Grant　me　but　this　and　I　will　ask　no　more。

DEATH。

This　is　a　slender　frivolous　excuse；　I　have　you　fast；　and　will　not　let　you　loose；　Leave　her　to　Providence；　for　you　must　go　Along　with　me；　whether　you　will　or　no；　I；　Death；　command　the　King　to　leave　his　crown；　And　at　my　feet　he　lays　his　sceptre　down！　Then　if　to　kings　I　don't　this　favour　give；　But　cut　them　off；　can　you　expect　to　live　Beyond　the　limits　of　your　time　and　space！　No！　I　must　send　you　to　another　place。

LADY。

You　learned　doctors；　now　express　your　skill；　And　let　not　Death　of　me　obtain　his　will；　Prepare　your　cordials；　let　me　comfort　find；　My　gold　shall　fly　like　chaff　before　the　wind。

DEATH。

Forbear　to　call；　their　skill　will　never　do；　They　are　but　mortals　here　as　well　as　you：　I　give　the　fatal　wound；　my　dart　is　sure；　And　far　beyond　the　doctor's　skil