The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume IV Part 15

_Of the Parish of Saint Margaret's, Westminster, Watchman_

For much good-natured verse received from thee, A loving verse take in return from me.

"Good morrow to my masters," is your cry; And to our David "twice as good," say I.

Not Peter's monitor, shrill chanticleer, Crows the approach of dawn in notes more clear, Or tells the hours more faithfully. While night Fills half the world with shadows of affright, You with your lantern, partner of your round, Traverse the paths of Margaret's hallow'd bound.

The tales of ghosts which old wives' ears drink up, The drunkard reeling home from tavern cup, Nor prowling robber, your firm soul appal; Arm'd with thy faithful staff thou slight'st them all.

But if the market gard'ner chance to pa.s.s, Bringing to town his fruit, or early gra.s.s, The gentle salesman you with candour greet, And with reit'rated "good mornings" meet.

Announcing your approach by formal bell, Of nightly weather you the changes tell; Whether the Moon shines, or her head doth steep In rain-portending clouds. When mortals sleep In downy rest, you brave the snows and sleet Of winter; and in alley, or in street, Relieve your midnight progress with a verse.

What though fastidious Phoebus frown averse On your didactic strain--indulgent Night With caution hath seal'd up both ears of Spite, And critics sleep while you in staves do sound The praise of long-dead Saints, whose Days abound In wintry months; but Crispen chief proclaim: Who stirs not at that Prince of Coblers' name?

Profuse in loyalty some couplets shine, And wish long days to all the Brunswick line!

To youths and virgins they chaste lessons read; Teach wives and husbands how their lives to lead; Maids to be cleanly, footmen free from vice; How death at last all ranks doth equalise; And, in conclusion, pray good years befal, With store of wealth, your "worthy masters all."

For this and other tokens of good will, On boxing day may store of shillings fill Your Christmas purse; no householder give less, When at each door your blameless suit you press: And what you wish to us (it is but reason) Receive in turn--the compliments o' th' season!

VI

ON A DEAF AND DUMB ARTIST[9]

And hath thy blameless life become A prey to the devouring tomb?

A more mute silence hast thou known, A deafness deeper than thine own, While Time was? and no friendly Muse, That mark'd thy life, and knows thy dues, Repair with quickening verse the breach, And write thee into light and speech?

The Power, that made the Tongue, restrain'd Thy lips from lies, and speeches feign'd; Who made the Hearing, without wrong Did rescue thine from Siren's song.

He let thee _see_ the ways of men, Which thou with pencil, not with pen, Careful Beholder, down did'st note, And all their motley actions quote, Thyself unstain'd the while. From look Or gesture reading, more than _book_, In letter'd pride thou took'st no part, Contented with the Silent Art, Thyself as silent. Might I be As speechless, deaf, and good, as He!

[Footnote 9: Benjamin Ferrers--died A.D. 1732.]

VII

NEWTON'S PRINCIPIA

Great Newton's self, to whom the world's in debt, Owed to School Mistress sage his Alphabet; But quickly wiser than his Teacher grown, Discover'd properties to her unknown; Of A _plus_ B, or _minus_, learn'd the use, Known Quant.i.ties from unknown to educe; And made--no doubt to that old dame's surprise-- The Christ-Cross-Row his Ladder to the skies.

Yet, whatsoe'er Geometricians say, Her Lessons were his true PRINCIPIA!

VIII

THE HOUSE-KEEPER

The frugal snail, with fore-cast of repose, Carries his house with him, where'er he goes; Peeps out--and if there comes a shower of rain, Retreats to his small domicile amain.

Touch but a tip of him, a horn--'tis well-- He curls up in his sanctuary sh.e.l.l.

He's his own landlord, his own tenant; stay Long as he will, he dreads no Quarter Day.

Himself he boards and lodges; both invites, And feasts, himself; sleeps with himself o' nights.

He spares the upholsterer trouble to procure Chattles; himself is his own furniture, And his sole riches. Wheresoe'er he roam-- Knock when you will--he's sure to be at home.

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THE FEMALE ORATORS

Nigh London's famous Bridge, a Gate more famed Stands, or once stood, from old Belinus named, So judged Antiquity; and therein wrongs A name, allusive strictly to _two Tongues_[10].

Her School hard by the G.o.ddess Rhetoric opes, And _gratis_ deals to Oyster-wives her Tropes.

With Nereid green, green Nereid disputes, Replies, rejoins, confutes, and still confutes.

One her coa.r.s.e sense by metaphors expounds, And one in literalities abounds; In mood and figure these keep up the din: Words multiply, and every word tells in.

Her hundred throats here bawling Slander strains; And unclothed Venus to her tongue gives reins In terms, which Demosthenic force outgo, And baldest jests of foul-mouth'd Cicero.

Right in the midst great Ate keeps her stand, And from her sovereign station taints the land.

Hence Pulpits rail; grave Senates learn to jar; Quacks scold; and Billinsgate infects the Bar.

[Footnote 10: _Billingis_ in the Latin.]

PINDARIC ODE TO THE TREAD MILL

(1825)

I

Inspire my spirit, Spirit of De Foe, That sang the Pillory, In loftier strains to show A more sublime Machine Than that, where them wert seen, With neck out-stretcht and shoulders ill awry, Courting coa.r.s.e plaudits from vile crowds below-- A most unseemly show!

II

In such a place Who could expose thy face, Historiographer of deathless Crusoe!

That paint'st the strife And all the naked ills of savage life, Far above Rousseau?

Rather myself had stood In that ign.o.ble wood, Bare to the mob, on holyday or high day.

If nought else could atone For waggish libel, I swear on bible, I would have spared him for thy sake alone, Man Friday!

III

Our ancestors' were sour days, Great Master of Romance!

A milder doom had fallen to thy chance In our days: Thy sole a.s.signment Some solitary confinement, (Not worth thy care a carrot,) Where in world-hidden cell Thou thy own Crusoe might have acted well, Only without the parrot; By sure experience taught to know, Whether the qualms thou mak'st him feel were truly such or no.

IV

But stay! methinks in statelier measure-- A more companionable pleasure-- I see thy steps the mighty Tread Mill trace, (The subject of my song Delay'd however long,) And some of thine own race, To keep thee company, thou bring'st with thee along.

There with thee go, Link'd in like sentence, With regulated pace and footing slow, Each old acquaintance, Rogue--harlot--thief--that live to future ages; Through many a labour'd tome, Rankly embalm'd in thy too natural pages.

Faith, friend De Foe, thou art quite at home!

Not one of thy great offspring thou dost lack, From pirate Singleton to pilfering Jack.

Here Flandrian Moll her brazen incest brags; Vice-stript Roxana, penitent in rags, There points to Amy, treading equal chimes, The faithful handmaid to her faithless crimes.

V