Obrázky na stránke
PDF
ePub

THE FIRST SONG.

1.

write, and fancies that all he hath to do is to able, said she, to judge of gallantries of this take no pains. Thus he thinks, indeed simply, nature, if ever it should be my fortune to have but the thoughts, not being chosen with judge-a poetical lover. The gentleman complied; ment, are not beautiful: he, it is true, expresses and accordingly Mrs Annabella, the very next himself plainly, but flatly withal. Again, if a morning, when she was at her toilet, had the man of vivacity takes it in his head to write following packet delivered to her by a spruce this way, what self-denial must he undergo, valet de chambre. when bright points of wit occur to his fancy! How difficult will he find it to reject florid phrases, and pretty embellishments of style! So true it is, that simplicity of all things is the hardest to be copied, and ease to be acquired with the greatest labour. Our family knows very well how ill lady Flame looked, when she imitated Mrs. Jane in a plain black suit. And I remember, when Frank Courtly was saying the other day, that any man might write easy, I only asked him, if he thought it possible that squire Hawthorn should ever come into a room as he did? He made me a very handsome bow, and answered with a smile, 'Mr. Ironside, you have convinced me.'

I shall conclude this paper by observing that pastoral poetry, which is the most considerable kind of easy writing, hath the oftenest been attempted with ill success, of any sort whatsoever. I shall, therefore, in a little time, com municate my thoughts upon that subject to the public.

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

On Belvidera's bosom lying.
Wishing, panting, sighing, dying,
The cold regardless maid to move,
With unavailing prayers I sue:
You first have taught me how to love,
Ah teach me to be happy too!'
II.

But she, alas! unkindly wise,
To all my sighs and tears replies,
Tis every prudent maid's concern
Her lover's fondness to improve;
If to be happy you shall learn,
You quickly would forget to love.'

THE SECOND SONG.
I.

Boast not, mistaken swain, thy art
To please my partial eyes;
The charms that have subdued my heart,
Another may despise.

II.

Thy face is to my humour made,
Another it may fright:

Perhaps, by some ford whim betrayed,
In oddness I delight.

III.

Vain youth, to your confusion know,
Tis to my love's excess

You all your fancied beauties owe,
Which fade as that grows less.

IV.

For your own sake, if not for mine,
You should preserve my fire:
Since you, my swain, no more will shine,
When I no more admire.

V.

By me, indeed, you are allow'd

The wonder of your kind;
But be not of my judgement proud,
Whom love has render'd blind.

'To Mrs. Annabella Lizard.

MADAM,

Two mornings ago a gentleman came in to my lady Lizard's tea-table, who is distinguished in town by the good taste he is known to have in polite writings, especially such as relate to love and gallantry. The figure of the man had something odd and grotesque in it, though his air and manner were genteel and easy, and his wit agreeable. The ladies in complaisance to him turned the discourse to poetry. This soon gave him an occasion of producing two new songs to the company; which, he said. he would venture to recommend as complete performances. The first, continued he, is by a gentleman of an unrivalled reputation in every kind of writing; and the second by a lady who does me the honour to be in love with me, because I am not handsome. Mrs. Annabella upon this (who never lets slip an occasion of doing sprightly things) gives a twitch to the paper with a finger and a thumb, and snatches it out of the gentleman's hands: then casting her eye over it with a seeming impatience she In all ages, and in every nation where read us the songs; and in a very obliging poetry has been in fashion, the tribe of sonnetmanner desired the gentleman would let her teers have been very numerous. Every pert have a copy of them, together with his judge-young fellow that has a moving fancy, and the ment upon songs in general; that I may be least jingle of verse in his head, sets up for a

To let you see how absolute your commands are over me, and to convince you of the opinion I have of your good sense, I shall without any preamble of compliments, give you my thoughts upon song-writing, in the same order as they have occurred to me, only allow me, in my own defence to say, that I do not remember ever to have met with any piece of criticism upon this subject; so that if I err, or seem singular in my opinions, you will be the more at liberty to differ from them, since I do not pretend to support them by any authority.

"Love's pleasing cares, and the free joys of wine."

I shall conclude what I have to say upon this subject, by observing, that the French do very often confound the song and the epigram, and take the one reciprocally for the other. An instance of which I shall give you in a remarkable epigram which passes current abroad for an excellent song.

"Tu parles mal par-tout de moi,
Je dis du bien par-tout de toi ;
Quel malheur est le nôtre?

L'on ne croit ni l'un ni l'autre."

writer of songs, and resolves to immortalize the most part, is to express (as my lord Roshis bottle or his mistress. What a world of common translates it from Horace) Insipid productions in this kind have we been pestered with since the revolution, to go no higher! This, no doubt, proceeds in a great measure from not forming a right judgment of the nature of these little compositions. It is true they do not require an elevation of hought, nor any extraordinary capacity, nor an extensive knowledge; but then they demand great regularity, and the utmost nicety; an exact purity of style, with the most easy and flowing numbers; an elegant and unaffected turn of wit, with one uniform and simple design. Greater works cannot well be without some inequalities and oversights, and they are in them pardonable; but a song loses all its lustre if it be not polished with the greatest accuracy. The smallest blemish in it, like a flaw in a jewel, takes off the whole value of it. A song is, as it were, a little image in enamel, that requires all the nice touches of the pencil, a gloss and a smoothness, with those delicate finishing strokes, which would be superfluous and thrown away upon larger figures, where the strength and boldness of a masterly hand gives all the grace.

[ocr errors]

'For the satisfaction of such of your friends as may not understand the original, I shall venture to translate it after my fashion, so as to keep strictly to the turn of thought, at the expense of losing something in the poetry and versification.

Thou speakest always ill of me,

I speak always well of thee:

But spite of all our noise and pother,

The world believes nor one nor t'other.'

'Thus, madam, I have endeavoured to com ply with your commands; not out of vanity of erecting myself into a critic, but out of an earnest desire of being thought, upon all occasions, 'Your most obedient servant.'

-Minimumque libidine peccant.-Juv. Sat. vi. 134.
Lust is the sinallest sin they own.

Since you may have recourse to the French and English translations, you will not accuse me of pedantry, when I tell you that Sappho, Anacreon, and Horace in some of his shorter lyrics, are the completest models for little odes No. 17.] Tuesday, March 31, 1713. or sonnets. You will find them generally pursuing a single thought in their songs, which is driven to a point, without those interruptions and deviations so frequent in the modern writers of this order. To do justice to the French, there is no living language that abounds so much in good songs. The genius of the people, and the idiom of their tongue, seems adapted to compositions of this sort. Our writers generally crowd into one song, materials enough for several; and so they starve every thought, by endeavouring to nurse up more than one at a time. They give you a string of imperfect sonnets, instead of one finished piece, which is a fault Mr. Waller (whose beauties cannot be too much admired) sometimes falls into. But, of all our country. men, none are more defective in their songs, through a redundency of wit, than Dr. Donne and Mr. Cowley. In them, one point of wit flashes so fast upon another, that the reader's attention is dazzled by the continual sparkling of their imagination; you find a new design started almost in every line, and you come to the end without the satisfaction of seeing any one of them executed.

'A song should be conducted like an epigram; and the only difference between them is, that one does not require the lyric numbers, and is usually employed upon satirical occasions; whereas the business of the other, for

Dryden.

If it were possible to bear up against the force of ridicule, which fashion has brought upon people for acknowledging a veneration for the most sacred things, a man might say that the time we now are in is set apart for humiliation; and all our actions should at present more particularly tend that way. I remember about thirty years ago an eminent divine, who was also most exactly well-bred, told his congregation at Whitehall, that if they did not vouchsafe to give their lives a new turn, they must certainly go to a place which he did not think fit to name in that courtly audience. It is with me as with that gentleman. I would, if possible, represent the errors of life, especially those arising from what we call gallantry, in such a manner as the people of pleasure may read me. In this case I must not be rough to gentlemen and ladies, but speak of sin as a gentleman. It might not perhaps be amiss, if, therefore, I should call my present precaution, A Criticism upon Fornication; and, by representing the unjust taste they have who affect that way of pleasure, bring a distaste upon it among all those who are judicious in I will be bold then to lay their satisfactions. down for a rule, that he who follows this kind of gratification, "ives up much greater

D

delight by pursuing it, than he can possibly enjoy from it. As to the common women and the stews, there is no one but will allow this assertion at first sight; but if it will appear, .hat they who deal with those of the sex who are less profligate, descend to greater basenesses than if they frequented brothels, it should, methinks, bring this iniquity under some discountenance. The rake who, without sense of character or decency, wallows and ranges in common houses, is guilty no farther thau of prostituting himself, and exposing his health to diseases: but the man of gallantry cannot pursue his pleasures without treachery to some man he ought to love, and making despicable the woman he admires. To live in a continual deceit; to reflect upon the dishonour you do some husband, father, or brother, who does not deserve this of you, and whom you would destroy did you know they did the like towards you, are circumstances which pall the appetite, and give a man of any sense of honour very painful mortification. What more need be said against a gentleman's delight, than that he himself thinks himself a base man in pursuing it; when it is thoroughly considered, he gives up his very being as a man of integrity who commences gallant? Let him or her who is guilty this way but weigh the matter a little, and the criminal will find that those whom they most esteemed are of a sudden become the most disagreeable companions: nay, their good qualities are grown odious and painful. It is said, people who have the plague have a delight in communicating the infection: in like manner, the sense of shame, which is never wholly overcome, inclines the guilty this way to contribute to the destruction of others. And women are pleased to introduce more women into the same condition, though they can have no other satisfaction from it, than that the infamy is shared among greater numbers, which they flatter themselves eases the burden of each particular person.

It is a most melancholy consideration, that for momentary sensations of joy, obtained by stealth, men are forced into a constraint of all their words and actions in the general and ordinary occurrences of life. It is an impossiDility in this case to be faithful to one person, without being false to all the rest of the world. The gay figures in which poetical men of loose morals have placed this kind of stealth are but feeble consolations, when a man is inclined to soliloquy or meditation upon his past life; flashes of wit can promote joy, but they cannot allay grief.

[blocks in formation]

Irreconcilable hatred to those they have injured, mean shifts to cover their offences, envy and malice to the innocent, and a general sacrifice of all that is good-natured or praiseworthy when it interrupts them, will possess all their faculties, and make them utter strangers to the noble pleasures which flow from honour and virtue. Happy are they, who from the visitation of sickness, or any other accident, are awakened from a course which leads to an insensibility of the greatest enjoyments in human life.

A French author, giving an account of a very agreeable man, in whose character he mingles good qualities and infirmities, rather than vices and virtues, tells the following story.

66

[ocr errors]

66

Our kinght,' says he,' was pretty much addicted to the most fashionable of all faults. He had a loose rogue for a lackey, not a little in his favour, though he had no other name for him when he spoke of him but the rascal," or, to him, but sirrab." One morning when he was dressing, "Sirrah," says he, be sure you bring home this evening a pretty wench." The fellow was a person of diligence and capacity, and had for some time addressed himself to a decayed old gentlewoman, who had a young maiden to her daughter, beauteous as an angel, not yet sixteen years of age. The mother's extreme poverty, and the insinuations of this artful lackey concerning the soft dispo sition and generosity of his master, made her consent to deliver up her daughter. But many were the entreaties and representations of the mother to gain her child's consent to an action, which she said she abhorred, at the same time she exhorted her to it; "but child," says she,

66

can you see your mother die for hunger?" The virgin argued no longer, but bursting into tears, said she would go any where. The lackey conveyed her with great obsequiousness and secrecy to his master's lodging, and placed her in a commodious apartment till he came home. The knight, who knew his man never failed of bringing in his prey, indulged his genius at a banquet, and was in high humour at an entertainment with ladies, expecting to be received in the evening by one as agreeable as the best of them. When he came home, his Disease, sickness, and misfortune, are what lackey met him with a saucy and joyful famiall men living are liable to; it is therefore liarity, crying out, She is as handsome as an ridiculous and mad to pursue, instead of shun-angel (for there is no other simile on these ning, what must add to our anguish under occasions,) but the tender fool has wept till disease, sickness, or misfortune. It is possible her eyes are swelled and bloated; for she is a there may be t maid and a gentlewoman." With that he

ose bloods are too warm

66

[ocr errors][ocr errors]

66

conducted his master to the room where she
was, and retired. The knight, when he saw
her bathed in tears, said in some surprise,
'Don't you know, young woman, why you
are brought hither? The unhappy maid fell
on her knees, and with many interruptions of
sighs and tears, said to him "I know, alas!
too well why I am brought hither; my mother,
to get bread for her and myself, has sent me
to do what you pleased; but would it would
please Heaven I could die, before I am added
to the number of those miserable wretches who
live without honour!" With this reflection she
wept anew, and beat her bosom. The knight,
stepping back from her, said, I am not so
abandoned as to hurt your innocence against
your will."

[ocr errors]

66

་་

should in their own hearts take upon them all the shame and sorrow they have escaped; and it would become them to make an oblation for their crimes, by charity to those upon whom vice appears in that utmost misery and deformity, which they themselves are free from by their better fortune, rather than greater innocence. It would quicken our compassion in this case, if we considered there may be objects there, who would now move horror and loathing, that we have once embraced with transport: and as we are men of honour (for

must not speak as we are Christians) let us not desert our friends for the loss of their

noses.

Mortis

Animæque capaces

Souls, undismay'd by death.

The novelty of the accident surprised him No. 18.] Wednesday, April 1, 1713. ·
into virtue; and, covering the young maid
with a cloak, he led her to a relation's house,
to whose care he recommended her for that
night. The next morning he sent for her
mother, and asked her if her daughter was a
maid? The mother assured him, that when
she delivered her to his servant, she was a
stranger to man. Are not you then," re-
plied the knight," a wicked woman to contrive
the debauchery of your own child?" She held
down her face with fear and shame, and in her
confusion uttered some broken words concern-
ing her poverty. Far be it," said the gen-
tleman, "that you should relieve yourself from
want by a much greater evil: your daughter is
a fine young creature; do you know of none
that ever spoke of her for a wife?" The mother
answered, "There is an honest man in our
neighbourhood that loves her, who has often
said he would marry her with two hundred
pounds." The knight ordered his man to
reckon out that sum, with an addition of fifty
to buy the bride clothes, and fifty more as a
help to her mother.'

[ocr errors]

Lucur.

THE prospect of death is so gloomy and dismal, that if it were constantly before our eyes, it would embitter all the sweets of life. The gracious Author of our being bath therefore so formed us, that we are capable of many pleasing sensations and reflections, and meet with so many amusements and solicitudes, as divert our thoughts from dwelling upon an evil, which, by reason of its seeming distance, makes but languid impressions upon the mind. But how distant soever the time of our death may be, since it is certain that we must die, it is necessary to allot some portion of our life to consider the end of it; and it is highly con venient to fix some stated times to meditate upon the final period of our existence here. The principle of self-love, as we are men, wil make us inquire, what is like to become of u after our dissolution; and our conscience, a we are Christians, will inform us, that accord

I appeal to all the gallants in the town, whe-ing to the good or evil of our actions here, we ther possessing all the beauties in Great Britain could give half the pleasure as this young gentleman had in the reflection of having relieved a miserable parent from guilt and poverty, an innocent virgin from public shame, and bestowing a virtuous wife upon an honest man?

As all men who are guilty this way have not fortunes or opportunities for making such atonements for their vices, yet all men may do what is certainly in their power at this good season. For my part, I do not care how ridiculous the mention of it may be, provided I hear it has any good consequence upon the wretched, that I recommend the most abandoned and miserable of mankind to the charity of all in prosperous conditions under the same guilt with those wretches. The Lock hospital in Kent street, Southwark, for men; that in Kingsland for women, is a receptacle for all sufferers mangled by this iniquity. Penitents

shall be translated to the mansions of eternal bliss or misery. When this is seriously weighed, we must think it madness to be unprepared against the black moment: but when we reflect that perhaps that black moment may be to-night, how watchful ought we to be!

I was wonderfully affected with a discourse I had lately with a clergyman of my acquaintance upon this head, which was to this effect: 'that The consideration,' said the good man, my being is precarious, moved me many years ago to make a resolution, which I have diligently kept, and to which I owe the greatest satisfaction that a mortal man can enjoy. Every night before I address myself in private to my Creator, I lay my hand upon my heart, and ask myself, whether if God should require my soul of me this night, I could hope for mercy from him? The bitter agonies I underwent in this my first acquaintance with myself

were so far from throwing me into despair of | I am particularly pleased to find that he hath that mercy which is over all God's works, that translated the whole book of Psalms into Engthey rather proved motives to greater circum-lish verse. A friend of mine informs me, that spection in my future conduct. The oftener he hath the manuscript by him, which is said I exercised myself in meditations of this kind, in the title to have been done,' By the most the less was my anxiety; and by making the noble and virtuous Gent. Sir Philip Sidney, thoughts of death familiar, what was at first Knight.' They having been never printed. I so terrible and shocking, is become the sweetest shall present the public with one of them, of my enjoyments. These contemplations have which my correspondent assures me he hath indeed made me serious, but not sullen; nay, faithfully transcribed, and wherein I have taken they are so far from having soured my temper, the liberty only to alter one word. that as I have a mind perfectly composed, and a secret spring of joy in my heart, so my conversation is pleasant, and my countenance serene; I taste all the innocent satisfactions of life pure and sincere; I have no share in pleasures that leave a sting behind them, nor am I cheated with that kind of mirth, "in the midst of which there is heaviness."'

Of all the professions of men, a soldier's, chiefly, should put him upon this religious vigilance. His duty exposes him to such hazards, that the evil which to men in other stations may seem far distant, to him is instant, and ever before his eyes. The consideration, that what men in a martial life purchase is gained with danger and labour, and must perhaps be parted with very speedily, is the cause of much licence and riot. As moreover it is necessary to keep up the spirits of those who are to encounter the most terrible dangers, offences of this nature meet with great indulgence. But there is a courage better founded than this animal fury. The secret assurance, that all is right within, that if he falls in battle, he will the more speedily be crowned with true glory, will add strength to a warrior's arm, and intrepidity to his heart.

One of the most successful stratagems whereby Mahomet became formidable, was the assurance that impostor gave his votaries, that whoever was slain in battle should be inomediately conveyed to that luxurious paradise his wanton fancy had invented. The ancient Druids taught a doctrine which had the same effect, though with this difference from Mahomet's, that the souls of the slain should transmigrate into other bodies, and in them be rewarded according to the degrees of their merit. This is told by Lucan with his usual spirit.

You teach that souls, from fleshy chains unbound,
Seek not pale shades and Erebus profound,

But fleeting hence to other regions stray,

Once more to mix with animated clay;

Hence death's a gap (if men may trust the lore)
'Twixt lives behind and ages yet before.

A blest mistake! which fate's dread power disarms;
And spars its vot'ries on to war's alarms;
Lavish of life, they rush with fierce delight
Amidst the legions, and provoke the fight;
O'er-matching death, and freely cast away
That loan of life the gods are bound to pay.'
Our gallant countryman, sir Philip Sidney,
was a noble example of courage and devotion.

PSALM CXXXVII.

I.

Nigh seated where the river flows,
That watereth Babel's thankful plain,
Which then our tears, in pearled rows,

Did help to water with the rain:
The thought of Sion bred such woes,
That though our harps we did retain.
Yet useless and untouched there,
On willows only bang'd they were.

II.

Now while our harps were hanged so,
The men whose captives then we lay,
Did on our griefs insulting go,
And more to grieve us thus did say;
You that of music make such show,
Come sing us now a Sion's lay:

Oh no! we have nor voice nor hand
For such a song in such a land.
II.

Though far I be, sweet Sion hill,

In foreign soil exil'd from thee,
Yet let my hand forget his skill

If ever thou forgotten be;
And let my tongue fast glewed still
Unto my roof, lie mute in me;
If thy neglect within me spring,
Or aught I do but Salem sing.

IV.

But thou, O Lord, shalt not forget
To quit the pains of Edom's race,
Who causelessly, yet hotly set
Thy holy city to deface,
Did thus the bloody victors whet,
What time they enter'd first the place,
Down, down with it at any haud,
Make all a waste, let nothing stand.'
V.

And Babylon, that didst as waste,
Thyself shalt one day wasted be:
And happy he, who what thou hast
Unto us done, shall do to thee;
Like bitterness shall make thee taste,
Like woeful objects make thee see:
Yea, happy who thy little ones
Shall take and dash against the stones.

No. 19.] Thursday, April 2, 1713.

Ne te semper inops agitet vexetque cupido;
Ne pavor, et rerum mediocriter utilium spes,
Hor. Lib. 1. Ep. xviii, 98.

Lest avarice, still poor, disturb thine ease;
Or fear should shake, or cares thy mind abuse,
Or ardent hope for things of little use. Creech.
Ir was prettily observed by somebody con
cerning the great vices, that there are three
which give pleasure, as covetousness, gluttony,

Dr. Donne's Poems, &c. Ps. 137, edit. 1719

« PredošláPokračovať »