The Borough Part 6

No, he in fact was rich! nor could he move, But he was follow'd by the looks of love; All he had suffer'd, every former grief, Made those around more studious in relief; He saw a cheerful smile in every face, And lost all thoughts of error and disgrace.

Pleasant it was to see them in their walk Round their small garden, and to hear them talk; Free are their children, but their love refrains From all offence--none murmurs, none complains; Whether a book amused them, speech or play, Their looks were lively, and their hearts were gay; There no forced efforts for delight were made, Joy came with prudence, and without parade; Their common comforts they had all in view, Light were their troubles, and their wishes few: Thrift made them easy for the coming day, Religion took the dread of death away; A cheerful spirit still ensured content, And love smiled round them wheresoe'er they went.

Walter, meantime, with all his wealth's increase, Gain'd many points, but could not purchase peace; When he withdrew from business for an hour, Some fled his presence, all confess'd his power; He sought affection, but received instead Fear undisguised, and love-repelling dread; He look'd around him--"Harriet, dost thou love?"

"I do my duty," said the timid dove; "Good Heav'n, your duty! prithee, tell me now - To love and honour--was not that your vow?

Come, my good Harriet, I would gladly seek Your inmost thought--Why can't the woman speak?

Have you not all things?"--"Sir, do I complain?" - "No, that's my part, which I perform in vain; I want a simple answer, and direct - But you evade; yes! 'tis as I suspect.

Come then, my children! Watt! upon your knees Vow that you love me."--"Yes, sir, if you please."

"Again! By Heav'n, it mads me; I require Love, and they'll do whatever I desire: Thus too my people shun me; I would spend A thousand pounds to get a single friend; I would be happy--I have means to pay For love and friendship, and you run away: Ungrateful creatures! why, you seem to dread My very looks; I know you wish me dead.

Come hither, Nancy! you must hold me dear; Hither, I say; why! what have you to fear?

You see I'm gentle--Come, you trifler, come: My G.o.d! she trembles!--Idiot, leave the room!

Madam; your children hate me; I suppose They know their cue; you make them all my foes: I've not a friend in all the world--not one: I'd be a bankrupt sooner; nay, 'tis done; In every better hope of life I fail, You're all tormentors, and my house a jail.

Out of my sight! I'll sit and make my will - What, glad to go? stay, devils, and be still; 'Tis to your Uncle's cot you wish to run, To learn to live at ease and be undone; Him you can love, who lost his whole estate, And I, who gain you fortunes, have your hate; 'Tis in my absence you yourselves enjoy: Tom! are you glad to lose me? tell me, boy: Yes! does he answer?--Yes! upon my soul; No awe, no fear, no duty, no control!

Away! away! ten thousand devils seize All I possess, and plunder where they please!

What's wealth to me?--yes, yes! it gives me sway, And you shall feel it--Go! begone, I say." {4}

LETTER IX.

Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis Ut possis animo quemvis sufferre laborem.

CATULLUS . . . . Nostra fatiscat Laxaturque chelys, vires instigat alitque Tempestiva quies, major post otia virtus.

STATIUS, Sylvae.

Jamque mare et tellus nullum discremen habebant; Omnia pontus erant: deerant quoque littora ponto.

OVID, Metamophoses.

AMUs.e.m.e.nTS.

Common Amus.e.m.e.nts of a Bathing-place--Morning Rides, Walks, &c.-- Company resorting to the Town--Different Choice of Lodgings--Cheap Indulgences--Seaside Walks--Wealthy Invalid--Summer evening on the Sands--Sea Productions--"Water parted from the Sea"--Winter Views serene--In what cases to be avoided--Sailing upon the River--A small Islet of Sand off the Coast--Visited by Company--Covered by the Flowing of the Tide--Adventure in that place.

OF our Amus.e.m.e.nts ask you?--We amuse Ourselves and friends with seaside walks and views, Or take a morning ride, a novel, or the news; Or, seeking nothing, glide about the street, And so engaged, with various parties meet; Awhile we stop, discourse of wind and tide Bathing and books, the raffle, and the ride; Thus, with the aid which shops and sailing give, Life pa.s.ses on; 'tis labour, but we live.

When evening comes, our invalids awake, Nerves cease to tremble, heads forbear to ache; Then cheerful meals the sunken spirits raise, Cards or the dance, wine, visiting, or plays.

Soon as the season comes, and crowds arrive, To their superior rooms the wealthy drive; Others look round for lodging snug and small, Such is their taste--they've hatred to a hall: Hence one his fav'rite habitation gets, The brick-floor'd parlour which the butcher lets; Where, through his single light, he may regard The various business of a common yard, Bounded by backs of buildings form'd of clay, By stable, sties, and coops, et caetera.

The needy-vain, themselves awhile to shun, For dissipation to these dog-holes run; Where each (a.s.suming petty pomp) appears, And quite forgets the s...o...b..ard and the shears.

For them are cheap amus.e.m.e.nts: they may slip Beyond the town and take a private dip; When they may urge that, to be safe they mean, They've heard there's danger in a light machine; They too can gratis move the quays about, And gather kind replies to every doubt; There they a pacing, lounging tribe may view, The stranger's guides, who've little else to do; The Borough's placemen, where no more they gain Than keeps them idle, civil, poor, and vain.

Then may the poorest with the wealthy look On ocean, glorious page of Nature's book!

May see its varying views in every hour, All softness now, then rising with all power, As sleeping to invite, or threat'ning to devour: 'Tis this which gives us all our choicest views; Its waters heal us, and its sh.o.r.es amuse.

See! those fair nymphs upon that rising strand, Yon long salt lake has parted from the land; Well pleased to press that path, so clean, so pure, To seem in danger, yet to feel secure; Trifling with terror, while they strive to shun The curling billows; laughing as they run; They know the neck that joins the sh.o.r.e and sea, Or, ah! how changed that fearless laugh would be.

Observe how various Parties take their way, By seaside walks, or make the sand-hills gay; There group'd are laughing maids and sighing swains, And some apart who feel unpitied pains; Pains from diseases, pains which those who feel, To the physician, not the fair, reveal: For nymphs (propitious to the lover's sigh) Leave these poor patients to complain and die.

Lo! where on that huge anchor sadly leans That sick tall figure, lost in other scenes; He late from India's clime impatient sail'd, There, as his fortune grew, his spirits fail'd; For each delight, in search of wealth he went, For ease alone, the wealth acquired is spent - And spent in vain; enrich'd, aggrieved, he sees The envied poor possess'd of joy and ease: And now he flies from place to place, to gain Strength for enjoyment, and still flies in vain: Mark! with what sadness, of that pleasant crew, Boist'rous in mirth, he takes a transient view; And fixing then his eye upon the sea, Thinks what has been and what must shortly be: Is it not strange that man should health destroy, For joys that come when he is dead to joy?

Now is it pleasant in the Summer-eve, When a broad sh.o.r.e retiring waters leave, Awhile to wait upon the firm fair sand, When all is calm at sea, all still at land; And there the ocean's produce to explore, As floating by, or rolling on the sh.o.r.e: Those living jellies which the flesh inflame, Fierce as a nettle, and from that its name; Some in huge ma.s.ses, some that you may bring In the small compa.s.s of a lady's ring; Figured by hand divine--there's not a gem Wrought by man's art to be compared to them; Soft, brilliant, tender, through the wave they glow, And make the moonbeam brighter where they flow.

Involved in sea-wrack, here you find a race Which science, doubting, knows not where to place; On sh.e.l.l or stone is dropp'd the embryo-seed, And quickly vegetates a vital breed.

While thus with pleasing wonder you inspect Treasures the vulgar in their scorn reject, See as they float along th' entangled weeds Slowly approach, upborne on bladdery beads; Wait till they land, and you shall then behold The fiery sparks those tangled fronds infold, Myriads of living points; th' unaided eye Can but the fire and not the form descry.

And now your view upon the ocean turn, And there the splendour of the waves discern; Cast but a stone, or strike them with an oar, And you shall flames within the deep explore; Or scoop the stream phosphoric as you stand, And the cold flames shall flash along your hand; When, lost in wonder, you shall walk and gaze On weeds that sparkle, and on waves that blaze.

The ocean too has Winter views serene, When all you see through densest fog is seen; When you can hear the fishers near at hand Distinctly speak, yet see not where they stand; Or sometimes them and not their boat discern; Or half-conceal'd some figure at the stern; The view's all bounded, and from side to side Your utmost prospect but a few ells wide; Boys who, on sh.o.r.e, to sea the pebble cast, Will hear it strike against the viewless mast; While the stern boatman growls his fierce disdain, At whom he knows not, whom he threats in vain.

Tis pleasant then to view the nets float past, Net after net till you have seen the last: And as you wait till all beyond you slip, A boat comes gliding from an anchor'd ship, Breaking the silence with the dipping oar, And their own tones, as labouring for the sh.o.r.e; Those measured tones which with the scene agree, And give a sadness to serenity.

All scenes like these the tender Maid should shun, Nor to a misty beach in autumn run; Much should she guard against the evening cold, And her slight shape with fleecy warmth infold; This she admits, but not with so much ease Gives up the night-walk when th' attendants please: Her have I seen, pale, vapour'd through the day, With crowded parties at the midnight play; Faint in the morn, no powers could she exert; At night with Pam delighted and alert; In a small shop she's raffled with a crowd, Breath'd the thick air, and cough'd and laugh'd aloud; She who will tremble if her eye explore "The smallest monstrous mouse that creeps on floor;"

Whom the kind doctor charged, with shaking head, At early hour to quit the beaux for bed; She has, contemning fear, gone down the dance, Till she perceived the rosy morn advance; Then has she wonder'd, fainting o'er her tea, Her drops and julep should so useless be: Ah! sure her joys must ravish every sense, Who buys a portion at such vast expense.

Among those joys, 'tis one at eve to sail On the broad River with a favourite gale; When no rough waves upon the bosom ride, But the keel cuts, nor rises on the tide; Safe from the stream the nearer gunwale stands, Where playful children trail their idle hands: Or strive to catch long gra.s.sy leaves that float On either side of the impeded boat; What time the moon arising shows the mud, A shining border to the silver flood: When, by her dubious light, the meanest views, Chalk, stones, and stakes, obtain the richest hues; And when the cattle, as they gazing stand, Seem n.o.bler objects than when view'd from land: Then anchor'd vessels in the way appear, And sea-boys greet them as they pa.s.s--"What cheer?"

The sleeping sh.e.l.l-ducks at the sound arise, And utter loud their unharmonious cries; Fluttering they move their weedy beds among, Or instant diving, hide their plumeless young.

Along the wall, returning from the town, The weary rustic homeward wanders down: Who stops and gazes at such joyous crew, And feels his envy rising at the view; He the light speech and laugh indignant hears, And feels more press'd by want, more vex'd by fears.

Ah! go in peace, good fellow, to thine home, Nor fancy these escape the general doom: Gay as they seem, be sure with them are hearts With sorrow tried; there's sadness in their parts: If thou couldst see them when they think alone, Mirth, music, friends, and these amus.e.m.e.nts gone; Couldst thou discover every secret ill That pains their spirit, or resists their will; Couldst thou behold forsaken Love's distress, Or Envy's pang at glory and success, Or Beauty, conscious of the spoils of Time, Or Guilt alarm'd when Memory shows the crime; All that gives sorrow, terror, grief, and gloom; Content would cheer thee trudging to thine home.

There are, 'tis true, who lay their cares aside, And bid some hours in calm enjoyment glide; Perchance some fair one to the sober night Adds (by the sweetness of her song) delight; And as the music on the water floats, Some bolder sh.o.r.e returns the soften'd notes; Then, youth, beware, for all around conspire To banish caution and to wake desire; The day's amus.e.m.e.nt, feasting, beauty, wine, These accents sweet and this soft hour combine, When most unguarded, then to win that heart of thine: But see, they land! the fond enchantment flies, And in its place life's common views arise.

Sometimes a Party, row'd from town will land On a small islet form'd of sh.e.l.ly sand, Left by the water when the tides are low, But which the floods in their return o'erflow: There will they anchor, pleased awhile to view The watery waste, a prospect wild and new; The now receding billows give them s.p.a.ce, On either side the growing sh.o.r.es to pace; And then returning, they contract the scene, Till small and smaller grows the walk between; As sea to sea approaches, sh.o.r.e to sh.o.r.es, Till the next ebb the sandy isle restores.

Then what alarm! what danger and dismay, If all their trust, their boat, should drift away; And once it happen'd--Gay the friends advanced, They walk'd, they ran, they play'd, they sang, they danced; The urns were boiling, and the cups went round, And not a grave or thoughtful face was found; On the bright sand they trod with nimble feet, Dry sh.e.l.ly sand that made the summer-seat; The wondering mews flew fluttering o'er the head, And waves ran softly up their shining bed.

Some form'd a party from the rest to stray, Pleased to collect the trifles in their way; These to behold they call their friends around, No friends can hear, or hear another sound; Alarm'd, they hasten, yet perceive not why, But catch the fear that quickens as they fly.

For lo! a lady sage, who paced the sand With her fair children, one in either hand, Intent on home, had turn'd, and saw the boat Slipp'd from her moorings, and now far afloat; She gazed, she trembled, and though faint her call, It seem'd, like thunder, to confound them all.

Their sailor-guides, the boatman and his mate, Had drank, and slept regardless of their state: "Awake!" they cried aloud; "Alarm the sh.o.r.e!

Shout all, or never shall we reach it more!"

Alas! no shout the distant land can reach, Nor eye behold them from the foggy beach: Again they join in one loud powerful cry, Then cease, and eager listen for reply; None came--the rising wind blew sadly by: They shout once more, and then they turn aside, To see how quickly flow'd the coming tide; Between each cry they find the waters steal On their strange prison, and new horrors feel; Foot after foot on the contracted ground The billows fall, and dreadful is the sound; Less and yet less the sinking isle became, And there was wailing, weeping, wrath, and blame.

Had one been there, with spirit strong and high, Who could observe, as he prepared to die, He might have seen of hearts the varying kind, And traced the movement of each different mind: He might have seen, that not the gentle maid Was more than stern and haughty man afraid; Such, calmly grieving, will their fears suppress, And silent prayers to Mercy's throne address; While fiercer minds, impatient, angry, loud, Force their vain grief on the reluctant crowd: The party's patron, sorely sighing, cried, "Why would you urge me? I at first denied."

Fiercely they answer'd, "Why will you complain, Who saw no danger, or was warn'd in vain?"

A few essay'd the troubled soul to calm, But dread prevail'd, and anguish and alarm.

Now rose the water through the lessening sand, And they seem'd sinking while they yet could stand.

The sun went down, they look'd from side to side, Nor aught except the gathering sea descried; Dark and more dark, more wet, more cold it grew, And the most lively bade to hope adieu: Children by love then lifted from the seas, Felt not the waters at the parent's knees, But wept aloud; the wind increased the sound, And the cold billows as they broke around.

"Once more, yet once again, with all our strength, Cry to the land--we may be heard at length."

Vain hope if yet unseen! but hark! an oar, That sound of bliss! comes dashing to their sh.o.r.e; Still, still the water rises; "Haste!" they cry, "Oh! hurry, seamen; in delay we die;"

(Seamen were these, who in their ship perceived The drifted boat, and thus her crew relieved.) And now the keel just cuts the cover'd sand, Now to the gunwale stretches every hand: With trembling pleasure all confused embark, And kiss the tackling of their welcome ark; While the most giddy, as they reach the sh.o.r.e, Think of their danger, and their G.o.d adore.

LETTER X.

Non iter lances mensasque nitentes, c.u.m stupet insanis acies fulgoribus, et c.u.m Acclinis falsis animus meliora recusat: Verum hic impransi mec.u.m disquirite.

HORACE, Satires.

O prodiga rerum Luxuries, nunquam parvo contenta paratu, Est quaesitorum terra pelagoque ciborum Ambitiosa fames, et lautae gloria mensae.

LUCAN, Pharsalia.

CLUBS AND SOCIAL MEETINGS.

Desire of Country Gentlemen for Town a.s.sociations--Book Clubs--Too much of literary Character expected from them--Literary Conversation prevented; by Feasting, by Cards--Good, notwithstanding, results-- Card Club with Eagerness resorted to--Players--Umpires at the Whist Table--Petulances of Temper there discovered--Free and Easy Club; not perfectly easy or free--Freedom, how interrupted--The superior Member--Termination of the Evening--Drinking and Smoking Clubs--The Midnight Conversation of the delaying Members--Society of the poorer Inhabitants; its Use; gives Pride and Consequence to the humble Character--Pleasant Habitations of the frugal Poor--Sailor returning to his Family--Freemasons' Club--The Mystery--What its Origin--Its professed Advantages--Griggs and Gregorians--A kind of Masons-- Reflections on these various Societies.

YOU say you envy in your calm retreat Our social Meetings;--'tis with joy we meet.

In these our parties you are pleased to find Good sense and wit, with intercourse of mind; Composed of men who read, reflect, and write, Who, when they meet, must yield and share delight.

To you our Book-club has peculiar charm, For which you sicken in your quiet farm; Here you suppose us at our leisure placed, Enjoying freedom, and displaying taste: With wisdom cheerful, temperately gay, Pleased to enjoy, and willing to display.

If thus your envy gives your ease its gloom, Give wings to fancy, and among us come.

We're now a.s.sembled; you may soon attend - I'll introduce you--"Gentlemen, my friend."

"Now are you happy? you have pa.s.s'd a night In gay discourse, and rational delight."

"Alas! not so: for how can mortals think, Or thoughts exchange, if thus they eat and drink?

No! I confess when we had fairly dined, That was no time for intercourse of mind; There was each dish prepared with skill t'invite, And to detain the struggling appet.i.te; On such occasions minds with one consent Are to the comforts of the body lent; There was no pause--the wine went quickly round, Till struggling Fancy was by Bacchus bound; Wine is to wit as water thrown on fire, By duly sprinkling both are raised the higher; Thus largely dealt, the vivid blaze they choke, And all the genial flame goes off in smoke."

"But when no more your boards these loads contain, When wine no more o'erwhelms the labouring brain, But serves, a gentle stimulus; we know How wit must sparkle, and how fancy flow."