PART THE FIRST. DEATH. I. AND Peter Bell, when he had been. With fresh-imported Hell-fire warmed, Grew serious-from his dress and mien 'Twas very plainly to be seen Peter was quite reformed. II. His eyes turned up, his mouth turned down; He oiled his hair,1 there might be heard Which Peter said or sang. III. But Peter now grew old, and had His torments almost drove him mad;- Some swore it was the gravel. IV. His holy friends then came about, And with long preaching and persuasion, To those who have not duly appreciated the distinction between Whale and Russia oil, this attribute might rather seem to belong to the Dandy than the Evangelic. The effect, when to the windward, is indeed so similar, that it requires a subtle naturalist to discriminate the animals. They belong, however, to distinct genera. [SHELLEY'S NOTE.] Convinced the patient that, without The smallest shadow of a doubt, He was predestined to damnation. V. They said "Thy name is Peter Bell; VI. Then Peter set up such a yell!— The nurse, who with some water gruel Was climbing up the stairs, as well As her old legs could climb them—fell, And broke them both-the fall was cruel. VII. The Parson from the casement leapt VIII. And all the rest rushed through the door, And broke their skulls.-Upon the floor And cursed his father and his mother; IX. And raved of God, and sin, and death, And said, that with his clenched teeth, X. As he was speaking came a spasm, And wrenched his gnashing teeth asunder; Like one who sees a strange phantasm He lay, there was a silent chasm Between his upper jaw and under. XI. And yellow death lay on his face; And a fixed smile that was not human That he was gone to the wrong place:- XII. Then there came down from Langdale Pike A cloud, with lightning, wind and hail; It swept over the mountains like An ocean, and I heard it strike The woods and crags of Grasmere vale. XIII. And I saw the black storm come Its thunder made the cataracts dumb; XIV. The Devil was in it :-he had bought The storm which bore him vanished, nought That in the house that storm had caught Was ever seen again. XV. The gaping neighbours came next day- Smashed glass-and nothing more! PART THE SECOND. THE DEVIL. I. THE DEVIL, I safely can aver, Has neither hoof, nor tail, nor sting; Nor is he, as some sages swear, A spirit, neither here nor there, In nothing-yet in everything. II. He is what we are; for sometimes At others a bard bartering rhymes III. A thief, who cometh in the night, With whole boots and net pantaloons, Like some one whom it were not right To mention; or the luckless wight, From whom he steals nine silver spoons. IV. But in this case he did appear Like a slop-merchant from Wapping, And with smug face, and eye severe, On every side did perk and peer Till he saw Peter dead or napping. |