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"which I am decked, as the charms of "beauteous fimplicity. What you call "the weeds which darken and obfcure my waves, afford to the botanist a pleafing fpeculation of the works of nature; "and the poet and painter think the lustre "of my ftream greatly improved by glit"tering through them. The pebbles which diverfify my bottom, and make thefe "ripplings in my current, are pleafing 66 objects to the eye of tafte; and my fimple murmurs are more melodious to the "learned ear than all the rude noifes of 66 your banks,, or even the mufic that re"founds from your ftately barges. If "the unfeeling fons of Wealth and Com"merce judge of me by the mere ftandard "of usefulness, I may claim no undiftin"guifhed rank. While your waters, con"fined in deep channels, or lifted above "the valleys, roll on, a ufelefs burden to "the fields, and only fubfervient to the drudgery of bearing temporary merchandizes, my fream will beftow unvarying fertility on the meadows, during the fummers of future ages. Yet I fcorn to "fubmit my honours to the decifion of thofe whofe hearts are fhut up to taste "and fentiment: let me appeal to nobler "judges. The philofopher and poet, by "whofe labours the human mind is elevated and refined, and opened to plea"fures beyond the conception of vulgar "fouls, will acknowledge that the elegant "deities who prefide over fimple and na"tural beauty, have infpired them with "their charming and inftructive ideas. "The sweetest and most majestic bird that "ever fung, has taken a pride in owning "his affection to woods and streams; and, "while the ftupendous monuments of Roman grandeur, the columns which pierced "the skics, and the aqueducts which poured "their waves over mountains and vallies, "are funk in oblivion, the gently-winding "Mincius ftill retains his tranquil honours. "And when thy glories, proud Genius! "are loft and forgotten; when the flood of "commerce, which now fupplies thy urn, "is turned into another courfe, and has left thy channel dry and defolate; the "foftly flowing Avon fhall ftill murmur in fong, and his banks receive the homage "of all who are beloved by Phoebus and "the Mufes." Aikin's Mifcell.

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§ 11. The Story of a difabled Soldier. No obfervation is more common, and at the fame time more true, than, That

one half of the world are ignorant how the other half lives. The misfortunes of the great are held up to engage our attention; are enlarged upon in tones of declamation; and the world is called upon to gaze at the noble fufferers: the great, under the preffure of calamity, are confcious of feveral others fympathizing with their diftrefs; and have, at once, the comfort of admiration and pity.

There is nothing magnanimous in bearing misfortunes with fortitude, when the whole world is looking on: men in fuch circumstances will act bravely, even from motives of vanity; but he who, in the vale of obfcurity, can brave adverfity; who, without friends to encourage, acquaintances to pity, or even without hope to alleviate his misfortunes, can behave with tranquillity and indifference, is truly great; whether peafant or courtier, he deferves admiration, and should be held up for our imitation and respect.

While the flightest inconveniencies of the great are magnified into calamities; while tragedy mouths out their fufferings, in all the trains of eloquence; the miferies of the poor are entirely difregarded; and yet fome of the lower ranks of people undergo more real hardships in one day, than thote of a more exalted ftation fuffer in their whole lives. It is inconceivable what difficulties the meanest of our common failors and foldiers endure without murmuring or regret; without paffionately declaiming against Providence, or calling their fellows to be gazers on their intrepidity. Every day is to them a day of mifery, and yet they entertain their hard fate without repining.

With what indignation do I hear an Ovid, a Cicero, or a Rabutin, complain of their misfortunes and hardships, whofe greatest calamity was that of being unable to vifit a certain fpot of earth, to which they had foolishly attached an idea of happinefs! Their diftreffes were pleasures, compared to what many of the adventuring poor every day endure without murmuring. They ate, drank, and flept; they had flaves to attend them; and were fure of fubfiftence for life: while many of their fellow-creatures are obliged to wander without a friend to comfort or affift them, and even without shelter from the severity of the seafon.

I have been led into these reflections from accidentally meeting, fome days ago, a poor fellow, whom I knew when a boy, dreffed

dreffed in a failor's jacket, and begging at one of the outlets of the town with a wooden leg. I knew him to have been honeft and induftrious when in the country, and was carious to learn what had reduced him to his prefent fituation. Wherefore, after having given him what I thought proper, I defired to know the hiftory of his life and misfortunes, and the manner in which he was reduced to his prefent diftrefs. The difabled foldier, for fuch he was, though dreffed in a failor's habit, fcratching his head, and leaning on his crutch, put himself into an attitude to comply with my request, and gave me his hiftory as follows:

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"I was born in Shropshire; my father was a labourer, and died when I was five years old; fo I was put upon the parish. "As he had been a wandering fort of a 66 man, the parishioners were not able to "tell to what parish I belonged, or where "I was born, fo they fent me to another "parish, and that parish fent me to a third. "I thought in my heart, they kept fend. ing me about io long, that they would "not let me be born in any parish at all; "but at last, however, they fixed me. "had fome difpofition to be a fcholar, and "was refolved, at leaft, to know my let"ters; but the mafter of the workhouse

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put me to bufinefs as foon as I was able "to handle a mallet; and here I lived an eafy kind of life for five years. I only "wrought ten hours in the day, and had "my meat and drink provided for my la"bour It is true, I was not fuffered to "ftir out of the houfe, for fear, as they faid, "I should run away; but what of that, I "had the liberty of the whole houfe, and "the yard before the door, and that was "enough for me. I was then bound out "to a farmer, where I was up both early "and late; but I ate and drank well, and "liked my business well enough, till he "died, when I was obliged to provide for "myself; fo I was refolved to go feek my << fortune.

"In this manner I went from town to

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"town, worked when I could get employsment, and starved when I could get none: "when happening one day to go through "a field belonging to a juftice of peace, I "fpyed a hare croffing the path just before me; and I believe the devil put it in my "head to fling my ftick at it:-well, what "will you have o'nt? I killed the hare, "and was bringing it away, when the juf "tice himfelf met me; he called me a "poacher and a villain; and, collaring me, "defired I would give an account of my"felf. I fell upon my knees, begged his "worship's pardon, and began to give a "full account of all that I knew of my "breed, feed, and generation; but, though "I gave a very true account, the juftice "faid I could give no account; so I was "indicted at feflions, found guilty of being poor, and fent up to London to Newgate, in order to be tranfported as "a vagabond.

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People may fay this and that of being "in jail, but, for my part, I found Newgate as agreeable a place as ever I was "in in all my life. I had my belly-full to "eat and drink, and did no work at all. "This kind of life was too good to last "for ever; fo I was taken out of prifon, "after five months, put on board a fhip, "and fent off, with two hundred more, to "the plantations. We had but an indif"ferent paffage, for, being all confined in "the hold, more than a hundred of our

people died for want of fweet air; and "thofe that remained were fickly enough, "God knows. When we came-athore, we

were fold to the planters, and I was "bound for feven years more. As I was "no fcholar, for I did not know my let"ters, I was obliged to work among the "negroes; and I ferved out my time, as "in duty bound to do.

"When my time was expired, I worked "my paffage home, and glad I was to fee Old England again, becaufe I loved my "country. I was afraid, however, that i "fhould be indicted for a vagabond once "more, fo I did not much care to go down "into the country, but kept about the "town, and did little jobs when I could "get them.

"I was very happy in this manner for "fome time, till one evening, coming home "from work, two men knocked me down, " and then defired me to ftand. They be"longed to a prefs-gang: I was carried "before the juftice, and, as I could give "no account of myself, I had my choice 3 F4

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"When the peace came on I was difcharged; and, as I could not work, be"caufe my wound was fometimes trouble"fome, I lifted for a landman in the Eaft "India company's fervice. I have fought "the French in fix pitched battles; and I "verily believe that, if I could read or

write, our captain would have made me "a corporal. But it was not my good "fortune to have any promotion, for I "foon fell fick, and fo got leave to return home again with forty pounds in my "pocket. This was at the beginning of "the prefent war, and I hoped to be fet "on fhore, and to have the pleasure of fpending my money; but the govern "ment wanted men, and fo I was preffed "for a failor before ever I could fet foot "on fhore.

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"The boatfwain found me, as he said, "an obftinate fellow: he fwore he knew "that I understood my business well, but "that I fhammed Abraham, to be idle: "but, God knows, I knew nothing of fea"bufinefs, and he beat me without con«fidering what he was about. I had flill, however, my forty pounds, and that "was fome comfort to me under every beating; and the money I might have "had to this day, but that our fhip "was taken by the French, and fo I loft "my money.

"Our crew was carried into Breft, and 66 many of them died, becaufe they were "not used to live in a jail; but, for my part, it was nothing to me, for I was "feafoned. One night, as I was asleep on "the bed of boards, with a warm blanket "about me, for I always loved to lie well, "I was awakened by the boatfwain, who "had a dark lanthorn in his hand : ‹ Jack,' "fays he to me, will you knock out the "French centries brains?' I don't care,' "fays I, ftriving to keep myself awake, if "I lend a hand.' Then follow me,' fays 66 he, and I hope we fhall do business.' "So up I got, and tied my blanket, which "was all the cloaths I had, about my mid

die, and went with him to fight the "Frenchmen. I hate the French, because

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Though we had no arms, one English"man is able to beat five French at any "time; fo we went down to the door, "where both the centries were pofted, and, ruthing upon them, seized their arms in "a moment, and knocked them down. From thence nine of us ran together to "the quay, and feizing the first boat we "met, got out of the harbour, and put to "fea. We had not been here three days "before we were taken up by the Dorfet privateer, who were glad of so many

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good hands, and we confented to run our "chance. However, we had not as much "luck as we expected. In three days we fell in with the Pompadour privateer, "of forty guns, while we had but twenty-three; fo to it we went, yard arm "and yard-arm. The fight lafted for "three hours, and I verily believe we "fhould have taken the Frenchman, had "we but had fome more men left be"hind; but, unfortunately, we lost all our "men just as we were going to get the "victory.

"I was once more in the power of the "French, and I believe it would have gone "hard with me had I been brought back "to Breft; but, by good fortune, we were "retaken by the Viper. I had almost for66 got to tell you that, in that engagement, "I was wounded in two placcs: 1 loft four

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fingers off the left hand, and my leg was "fhot off. If I had had the good fortune "to have loft my leg and ufe of my hand on board a king's fhip, and not on board " a privateer, I should have been entitled "to cloathing and maintenance during the "reft of my life! but that was not my "chance: one man is born with a filver

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fpoon in his mouth, and another with a "wooden ladle. However, bleffed be God, "I enjoy good health, and will for ever "love liberty and Old England. Liberty, property, and Old England for ever, "huzza!"

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Thus faying, he limped off, leaving me in admiration at his intrepidity and content; nor could I avoid acknowledging, that an habitual acquaintance with mifery ferves better than philosophy to teach us to defpife it. Goldsmith.

$ 12. A Dialogue between ULYSSES and CIRCE, in CIRCE's Island. Circe. You will go then, Ulyffes; but

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Circe. This is not all. I perceive you are afraid to declare your whole mind: but what do you fear? my terrors are gone. The proudest goddess on earth, when the has favoured a mortal as I have favoured you, has laid her divinity and power at his feet.

Ulyffes. It may be fo, while there ftill remains in her heart the fondness of love, or in her mind the fear of fhame. But you, Circe, are above thofe vulgar fenfations.

Circe. I understand your caution, it belongs to your character; and, therefore, to take all diffidence from you, I fwear by Styx, I will do no harm to you or your friends for any thing which you fay, though it should offend me ever fo much, but will fend you away with all the marks of my friendship. Tell me now, truly, what pleasures you hope to enjoy in the barren ifland of Ithaca, which can compenfate for thofe you leave in this paradife, exempt from all cares, and overflowing with all delights?

Ulyffes. The pleasures of virtue; the fupreme happiness of doing good. Here I do nothing: my mind is in a palfy; its faculties are benumbed. I long to return into action again, that I may employ thofe talents and virtues which I have cultivated from the earliest days of my youth. Toils and cares fright not me: they are the exercife of my foul; they keep it in health and in vigour. Give me again the fields of Troy, rather than thofe vacant groves; there I could reap the bright harvest of glory; here I am hid from the eyes of mankind, and begin to appear contemptible in my own. The image of my former felf haunts and feems to upbraid me wherever go: I meet it under the gloom of every fhade; it even intrudes itself into your prefence, and chides me from your arms. O goddefs! unless you have power to lay that troublesome spirit, unless you can make me forget myself, I cannot be happy here, I fhall every day be more

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wretched.

Circe. May not a wife and good man

who has spent all his youth in active life and honourable danger, when he begins to decline, have leave to retire, and enjoy the rest of his days in quiet and pleafure?

Ulyffes. No retreat can be honourable to a wife and good man, but in company with the Mufes; I am deprived of that facred fociety here. The Mufes will not inhabit the abodes of voluptuousness and fenfual pleasure. How can I ftudy, how can I think, while fo many beafts (and the worst beafts I know are men turned into beasts) are howling, or roaring, or grunting about

me?

Circe. There is fomething in this; but this is not all: you fupprefs the strongest reafon that draws you to Ithaca. There is another image, befides that of your former felf, which appears to you in all parts of this ifland, which follows your walks, which interpofes itself between you and me, and chides you from my arms: it is Penelope, Ulyffes: I know it is.-Do not pretend to deny it: you figh for her in my bofom itself. And yet fhe is not an immortal.-She is not, as I am, endowed with the gift of unfading youth: feveral years have paft fince her's has been faded. I think, without vanity, that he was never fo handfome as I. But what is fhe now?

Ulyffes. You have told me yourself, in a former converfation, when I enquired of you about her, that he is true to my bed, and as fond of me now, after twenty years abfence, as when I left her to go to Troy. I left her in the bloom of her youth and her beauty. How much must her conftancy have been tried fince that time! how meritorious is her fidelity! Shall I reward her with falfhood! fhall I forget her who cannot forget me? who has nothing fo dear to her as my remembrance?

Circe. Her love is preferved by the continual hope of your speedy return. Take that hope from her: let your companions return, and let her know that you have fixed your abode here with me; that you have fixed it for ever: let her know that fhe is free to difpofe of her heart and her hand as the pleafes. Send my picture to her; bid her compare it with her own face. If all this does not cure her of the remains of her paffion, if you do not hear of her marrying Eurymachus in a twelvemonth, I understand nothing of woman

kind.

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force me to tell you thofe truths I wish to conceal? If by fuch unjust, fuch barbarous ufage, I could lofe her heart, it would break mine. How should I endure the torment of thinking that I had wronged fuch a wife? what could make me amends for her not being mine, for her being another's? Do not frown, Circe; I own, (fince you will have me speak) I own you could not: with all your pride of immortal beauty, with all your magical charms to affift thofe of nature, you are not fuch a powerful charmer as the. You feel defire, and you give it; but you never felt love, nor can you infpire it. How can I love one who would have degraded me into a beaft? Penelope raifed me into a hero: her love enobled, invigorated, exalted my mind. She bid me go to the fiege of Troy, though the parting with me was worse than death to herfelf: fhe bid me expofe myself there to all perils among the foremost heroes of Greece, though her poor heart trembled to think of the leaft I should meet, and would have given all its own blood to fave a drop of mine. Then there was fuch a conformity in all our inclinations! when Minerva taught me the lefions of wisdom, the loved to be prefent; he heard, the retained the moral inftructions, the fublime truths of nature, he gave them back to me, foftened and sweetened with the peculiar graces of her own mind. When we unbent our thoughts with the charms of poetry, when we read together the poems of Orpheus, Mufæus, and Linus, with what tafte did fhe mark every excellence in them? My feelings were dull, compared to her's. She feemed herself to be the Mufe who had infpired thofe verfes, and had tuned their lyres to infufe into the hearts of mankind the love of wifdom and virtue, and the fear of the gods. How beneficent was fhe, how good to my people! what care did she take to inftruct them in the finer and more elegant arts; to relieve the neceflities of the fick and the aged: to fuperintend the education of children; to do my fubjects every good office of kind interceffion; to lay before me their wants; to affift their petitions; to mediate for thofe who were objects of mercy; to fue for those who deferved the favours of the crown! And fhall I banish myself for ever from fuch a confort? fhall I give up her fociety for the brutal joys of a fenfual life, keeping indeed the form of a man, but having loft the human foul, or at least all its noble and god

like powers? Oh, Circe, forgive me; I cannot bear the thought.

Circe. Be gone-do not imagine I ask you to ftay. The daughter of the Sun is not fo mean-fpirited as to folicit a mortal to fhare her happiness with her. It is a happinefs which I find you cannot enjoy. I pity you and defpife you. That which you feem to value fo much, I have no notion of. All you have faid feems to me a jargon of fentiments fitter for a filly woman than for a great man. Go, read, and spin too, if you pleafe, with your wife. I forbid you to remain another day in my ifland. You shall have a fair wind to carry you from it. After that, may every storm that Neptune can raife purfue and overwhelm you! Be gone, I fay; quit my fight. Ulyffes. Great goddess, I obey-but remember your oath.

13. Love and Joy, a Tale. In the happy period of the golden age, when all the celeftial inhabitants defcended to the earth, and converfed familiarly with mortals, among the most cherished of the heavenly powers were twins, the offfpring of Jupiter, Love and Joy. Where they appeared the flowers fprung up beneath their feet, the fun ihone with a brighter radiance, and all nature feemed embellished by their prefence. They were infeparable companions, and their growing attachment was favoured by Jupiter, who had decreed that a lafting union should be folemnized between them fo foon as they were arrived at maturer years: but in the mean time the fons of men deviated from their native innocence; vice and ruin overran the earth with giant ftrides; and Aftrea, with her train of celestial vifitants, forfook their polluted abodes: Love alone remained, having been ftolen away by Hope, who was his nurse, and conveyed by her to the forests of Arcadia, where he was brought up among the thepherds. But Jupiter affigned him a different partner, and commanded him to efpouse Sorrow, the daughter of Até: he complied with reluctance; for her features were harsh and difagreeable; her eyes funk, her forehead contracted into perpetual wrinkles, and her temples were covered with a wreath of cypress and wormwood. From this union fprung a virgin, in whom might be traced a strong refemblance to both her parents; but the fullen and unamiable features of her mother were fo mixed and blended with the

sweetness

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