ancient poems-第5章

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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　skill　to　cure。　How　freely　can　you　let　your　riches　fly　To　purchase　life；　rather　than　yield　to　die！　But　while　you　flourish　here　with　all　your　store；　You　will　not　give　one　penny　to　the　poor；　Though　in　God's　name　their　suit　to　you　they　make；　You　would　not　spare　one　penny　for　His　sake！　The　Lord　beheld　wherein　you　did　amiss；　And　calls　you　hence　to　give　account　for　this！

LADY。

Oh！　heavy　news！　must　I　no　longer　stay？　How　shall　I　stand　in　the　great　judgment…day？　＇Down　from　her　eyes　the　crystal　tears　did　flow：　She　said＇；　None　knows　what　I　do　undergo：　Upon　my　bed　of　sorrow　here　I　lie；　My　carnal　life　makes　me　afraid　to　die。　My　sins；　alas！　are　many；　gross　and　foul；　Oh；　righteous　Lord！　have　mercy　on　my　soul！　And　though　I　do　deserve　thy　righteous　frown；　Yet　pardon；　Lord；　and　pour　a　blessing　down。　＇Then　with　a　dying　sigh　her　heart　did　break；　And　did　the　pleasures　of　this　world　forsake。＇


Thus　may　we　see　the　high　and　mighty　fall；　For　cruel　Death　shows　no　respect　at　all　To　any　one　of　high　or　low　degree　Great　men　submit　to　Death　as　well　as　we。　Though　they　are　gay；　their　life　is　but　a　span　…　A　lump　of　clay　…　so　vile　a　creature's　man。　Then　happy　those　whom　Christ　has　made　his　care；　Who　die　in　the　Lord；　and　ever　blessed　are。　The　grave's　the　market…place　where　all　men　meet；　Both　rich　and　poor；　as　well　as　small　and　great。　If　life　were　merchandise　that　gold　could　buy；　The　rich　would　live；　the　poor　alone　would　die。



Poem：　ENGLAND'S　ALARM；　OR　THE　PIOUS　CHRISTIAN'S　SPEEDY　CALL　TO　　REPENTANCE

For　the　many　aggravating　sins　too　much　practised　in　our　present　　mournful　times：　as　Pride；　Drunkenness；　Blasphemous　Swearing；　　together　with　the　Profanation　of　the　Sabbath；　concluding　with　the　　sin　of　wantonness　and　disobedience；　that　upon　our　hearty　sorrow　and　　forsaking　the　same　the　Lord　may　save　us　for　his　mercy's　sake。



＇FROM　the　cluster　of　'ornaments'　alluded　to　in　the　ninth　verse　of　　the　following　poem；　we　are　inclined　to　fix　the　date　about　1653。　　　The　present　reprint　is　from　an　old　broadside；　without　printer's　　name　or　date；　in　possession　of　Mr。　J。　R。　Smith。＇


YOU　sober…minded　christians　now　draw　near；　Labour　to　learn　these　pious　lessons　here；　For　by　the　same　you　will　be　taught　to　know　What　is　the　cause　of　all　our　grief　and　woe。

We　have　a　God　who　sits　enthroned　above；　He　sends　us　many　tokens　of　his　love：　Yet　we；　like　disobedient　children；　still　Deny　to　yield　submission　to　His　will。

The　just　command　which　He　upon　us　lays；　We　must　confess　we　have　ten　thousand　ways　Transgressed；　for　see　how　men　their　sins　pursue；　As　if　they　did　not　fear　what　God　could　do。

Behold　the　wretched　sinner　void　of　shame；　He　values　not　how　he　blasphemes　the　name　Of　that　good　God　who　gave　him　life　and　breath；　And　who　can　strike　him　with　the　darts　of　death！

The　very　little　children　which　we　meet；　Amongst　the　sports　and　pastimes　in　the　street；　We　very　often　hear　them　curse　and　swear；　Before　they've　learned　a　word　of　any　prayer。

'Tis　much　to　be　lamented；　for　I　fear　The　same　they　learn　from　what　they　daily　hear；　Be　careful　then；　and　don't　instruct　them　so；　For　fear　you　prove　their　dismal　overthrow。

Both　young　and　old；　that　dreadful　sin　forbear；　The　tongue　of　man　was　never　made　to　swear；　But　to　adore　and　praise　the　blessed　name；　By　whom　alone　our　dear　salvation　came。

Pride　is　another　reigning　sin　likewise；　Let　us　behold　in　what　a　strange　disguise　Young　damsels　do　appear；　both　rich　and　poor；　The　like　was　ne'er　in　any　age　before。

What　artificial　ornaments　they　wear；　Black　patches；　paint；　and　locks　of　powdered　hair；　Likewise　in　lofty　hoops　they　are　arrayed；　As　if　they　would　correct　what　God　had　made。

Yet　let　'em　know；　for　all　those　youthful　charms；　They　must　lie　down　in　death's　cold　frozen　arms！　Oh　think　on　this；　and　raise　your　thoughts　above　The　sin　of　pride；　which　you　so　dearly　love。

Likewise；　the　wilful　sinners　that　transgress　The　righteous　laws　of　God　by　drunkenness；　They　do　abuse　the　creatures　which　were　sent　Purely　for　man's　refreshing　nourishment。

Many　diseases　doth　that　sin　attend；　But　what　is　worst　of　all；　the　fatal　end：　Let　not　the　pleasures　of　a　quaffing　bowl　Destroy　and　stupify　thy　active　soul。

Perhaps　the　jovial　drunkard　over　night；　May　seem　to　reap　the　pleasures　of　delight；　While　for　his　wine　he　doth　in　plenty　call；　But　oh！　the　sting　of　conscience；　after　all；

Is　like　a　gnawing　worm　upon　the　mind。　Then　if　you　would　the　peace　of　conscience　find；　A　sober　conversation　learn　with　speed；　For　that's　the　sweetest　life　that　man　can　lead。

Be　careful　that　thou　art　not　drawn　away；　By　foolishness；　to　break　the　Sabbath…day；　Be　constant　at　the　pious　house　of　prayer；　That　thou　mayst　learn　the　christian　duties　there。

For　tell　me；　wherefore　should　we　carp　and　care　For　what　we　eat　and　drink；　and　what　we　wear；　And　the　meanwhile　our　fainting　souls　exclude　From　that　refreshing　sweet　celestial　food？

Yet　so　it　is；　we；　by　experience；　find　Many　young　wanton　gallants　seldom　mind　The　church　of　God；　but　scornfully　deride　That　sacred　word　by　which　they　must　be　tried。

A　tavern；　or　an　alehouse；　they　adore；　And　will　not　come　within　the　church　before　They're　brought　to　lodge　under　a　silent　tomb；　And　then　who　knows　how　dismal　is　their　doom！

Though　for　awhile；　perhaps；　they　flourish　here；　And　seem　to　scorn　the　very　thoughts　of　fear；　Yet　when　they're　summoned　to　resign　their　breath；　They　can't　outbrave　the　bitter　stroke　of　death！

Consider　this；　young　gallants；　whilst　you　may；　Swift…winged　time　and　tide　for　none　will　stay；　And　therefore　let　it　be　your　christian　care；　To　serve　the　Lord；　and　for　your　death　prepare。

There　is　another　crying　sin　likewise：　Behold　young　gallants　cast　their　wanton　eyes　On　painted　harlots；　which　they　often　meet　At　every　creek　and　corner　of　the　street；

By　whom　they　are　like　dismal　captives　led　To　their　destruction；　grace　and　fear　is　fled；　Till　at　the　length　they　find　themselves　betrayed；　And　for　that　sin　most　sad　examples　made。

Then；　then；　perhaps；　in　bitter　tears　they'll　cry；　With　wringing　hands；　against　their　company；　Which　did　betray　them　to　that　dismal　state！　Consider　this　before　it　is　too　late。

Likewise；　sons　and　daughters；　far　and　near；　Honour　your　loving　friends；　and　parents　dear；　Let　not　your　disobedience　grieve　them　so；　Nor　cause　their　aged　eyes　with　tears　to　flow。

What　a　heart…breaking　sorrow　it　must　be；　To　dear　indulgent　parents；　when　they　see　Their　stubborn　children　wilfully　run　on　Against　the　wholesome　laws　of　God　and　man！

Oh！　let　these　things　a　deep　impression　make　Upon　your　hearts；　with　speed　your　sins　forsake；　For；　true　it　is；　the　Lord　will　never　bless　Those　children　that　do　wilfully　transgress。

Now；　to　conclude；　both　young　and　old　I　pray；　Reform　your　sinful　lives　this　very　day；　That　God　in　mercy　may　his　love　extend；　And　bring　the　nation's　troubles　to　an　end。



Poem：　SMOKING　SPIRITUALIZED。



＇THE　following　old　poem　was　long　ascribed；　on　apparently　sufficient　　grounds；　to　the　Rev。　Ralph　Erskine；　or；　as　he　designated　himself；　　'Ralph　Erskine；　V。D。M。'　　The　peasantry　throughout　the　north　of　　England　always　call　it　'Erskine's　song；'　and　not　only　is　his　name　　given　as　the　author　in　numerous　chap…books；　but　in　his　own　volume　　of　GOSPEL　SONNETS；　from　an　early　copy　of　which　our　version　is　　transcribed。　　The　discovery　however；　by　Mr。　Collier；　of　the　First　　Part　in　a　MS。　temp。　Jac。　I。；　with　the　initials　G。　W。　affixed　to　it；　　has　disposed　of　Erskine's　claim　to　the　honour　of　the　entire　　authorship。　　G。　W。　is　supposed　to　be　George　Withers；　but　this　is　　purely　conjectural；　and　it　is　not　at　all　improbable　that　G。　W。　　really　stands　for　W。　G。；　as　it　was　a　common　practice　amongst　　anonymous　writers　to　reverse　their　initials。　　The　history；　then；　of　　the　poem；　seems　to　be　this：　that　the　First　Part；　as　it　is　now　　printed；　originally　constituted　the　whole　production；　being　　complete　in　itself；　that　the　Second　Part　was　afterwards　added　by　　the　Rev。　　Ralph　Erskine；　and　that　both　parts　came　subsequently　to　　be　ascribed　to　him；　as　his　was　the　only　name　published　in　connexion　　with　the　song。　　The　Rev。　Ralph　Erskine　was　born　at　Monilaws；　　Northumberland；　on　the　15th　March；　1685。　　He　was　one　of　the　thirty…　three　children　of　Ralph　Erskine　of　Shieldfield；　a　family　of　repute　　descended　from　the　ancient　house　of　Marr。　　He　was　educated　at　the　　college　in　Edinburgh；　obtained　his　licence　to　preach　in　June；　1709；　　and　was　ordained；　on　an　unanimous　invitation；　over　the　church　at　　Dunfermline　in　August；　1711。　　He　was　twice　married：　in　1714　to　　Margaret　Dewar；　daughter　of　the　Laird　of　Lassodie；　by　whom　he　had　　five　sons　and　five　daughters；　all　of　whom　died　in　the　prime　of　　life；　and　in　1732　to　Margaret；　daughter　of　Mr。　Simson　of　Edinburgh；　　by　whom　he　had　four　sons；　one　of　whom；　with　his　wife；　survived　him。　　　He　died　in　November；　1752。　　Erskine　was　the　author　of　a　great　　number　of　SERMONS；　A　PARAPHRASE　ON　THE　CANTICLES；　SCRIPTURE　SONGS；　　A　TREATISE　ON　MENTAL　IMAGES；　and　GOSPEL　SONNETS。

SMOKING　SPIRITUALIZED　is；　at　the　present　day；　a　standard　　publication　with　modern　ballad…printers；　but　their　copies　are　　exceedingly　corrupt。　　Many　versions　and　paraphrases　of　the　song　　exist。　　Several　are　referred　to　in　NOTES　AND　QUERIES；　and；　amongst　　them；　a　broadside　of　the　date　of　1670；　and　another　dated　1672　（both　　printed　before　Erskine　was　born）；　presenting　different　readings　of　　the　First　Part；　or　original　poem。　　In　both　these　the　burthen；　or　　refrain；　differs　from　that　of　our　copy　by　the　employment　of　the　　expression　'DRINK　tobacco；'　instead　of　'SMOKE　tobacco。'　　The　former　　was　the　ancient　term　for　drawing　in　the　smoke；　swallowing　it；　and　　emitting　it　through　the　nostrils。　　A　correspondent　of　NOTES　AND　　QUERIES　says；　that　the　natives　of　India　to　this　day　use　the　phrase　　'hooka　peue；'　to　DRINK　the　hooka。＇


PART　I。

THIS　Indian　weed；　now　withered　quite；　Though　green　at　noon；　cut　down　at　night；　Shows　thy　decay；　All　flesh　is　hay：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　pipe　so　lily…like　and　weak；　Does　thus　thy　mortal　state　bespeak；　Thou　art　e'en　such；　…　Gone　with　a　touch：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　when　the　smoke　ascends　on　high；　Then　thou　behold'st　the　vanity　Of　worldly　stuff；　Gone　with　a　puff：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　when　the　pipe　grows　foul　within；　Think　on　thy　soul　defiled　with　sin；　For　then　the　fire　It　does　require：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　seest　the　ashes　cast　away；　Then　to　thyself　thou　mayest　say；　That　to　the　dust　Return　thou　must。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

PART　II。

Was　this　small　plant　for　thee　cut　down？　So　was　the　plant　of　great　renown；　Which　Mercy　sends　For　nobler　ends。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

Doth　juice　medicinal　proceed　From　such　a　naughty　foreign　weed？　Then　what's　the　power　Of　Jesse's　flower？　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　promise；　like　the　pipe；　inlays；　And　by　the　mouth　of　faith　conveys；　What　virtue　flows　From　Sharon's　rose。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

In　vain　the　unlighted　pipe　you　blow；　Your　pains　in　outward　means　are　so；　Till　heavenly　fire　Your　heart　inspire。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　smoke；　like　burning　incense；　towers；　So　should　a　praying　heart　of　yours；　With　ardent　cr