The Poetical Works of George Crabbe

TALE XI. EDWARD SHORE

Seem they grave and learned?

Why, so didst thou... Seem they religious? Why, so didst thou; or are they spare in diet, Free from gross passion, or of mirth or anger, Constant in spirit, not swerving with the blood,

Garnish'd and deck'd in modest complement, Not working with the eye without the ear, And but in purged judgment trusting neither Such and so finely bolted didst thou seem. Henry V, Act ii, Scene 2.

Better I were distract, So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,

And woes by wrong imaginations lose
The knowledge of themselves.

King Lear, Act iv, Scene 6.

GENIUS! thou gift of Heav'n! thou light divine!

Amid what dangers art thou doom'd to shine!
Oft will the body's weakness check thy force,
Oft damp thy vigour, and impede thy course;
And trembling nerves compel thee to restrain
Thy nobler efforts, to contend with pain;
Or Want (sad guest!) will in thy presence
come,

And breathe around her melancholy gloom; To life's low cares will thy proud thought confine,

And make her sufferings, her impatience, thine.

Evil and strong, seducing passions prey On soaring minds, and win them from their way;

Who then to vice the subject spirits give,
And in the service of the conqu❜ror live;
Like captive Samson making sport for all,
Who fear'd their strength, and glory in their
fall.

Genius, with virtue, still may lack the aid Implored by humbler minds and hearts afraid;

May leave to timid souls the shield and sword Of the tried faith, and the resistless word; Amid a world of dangers venturing forth, Frail, but yet fearless, proud in conscious worth,

Till strong temptation, in some fatal time, Assails the heart, and wins the soul to crime;

When EDWARD SHORE had reach'd his twentieth year,

He felt his bosom light, his conscience clear; Applause at school the youthful hero gain'd, And trials there with manly strength sustain'd:

With prospects bright upon the world he came,

Pure love of virtue, strong desire of fame : Men watch'd the way his lofty mind would take,

And all foretold the progress he would make.
Boast of these friends, to older men a guide,
Proud of his parts, but gracious in his pride;
He bore a gay good-nature in his face,
And in his air were dignity and grace;
Dress that became his state and years he wore,
And sense and spirit shone in Edward Shore.
Thus while admiring friends the youth
beheld,

His own disgust their forward hopes repell'd;
For he unfix'd, unfixing, look'd around,
And no employment but in seeking found;
He gave his restless thoughts to views refined,
And shrank from worldly cares with wounded
mind.

Rejecting trade, awhile he dwelt on laws, 'But who could plead, if unapproved the cause?

A doubting, dismal tribe physicians seem'd ;
Divines o'er texts and disputations dream'd ;
War and its glory he perhaps could love,
But there again he must the cause approve.
Our hero thought no deed should gain
applause,

Where timid virtue found support in laws;
He to all good would soar, would fly all sin,
By the pure prompting of the will within ;
'Who needs a law that binds him not to

steal,'

Ask'd the young teacher,' can he rightly feel?

To curb the will, or arm in honour's cause,
Or aid the weak-are these enforced by laws?
Should we a foul, ungenerous action dread,
Because a law condemns th' adulterous bed?
Or fly pollution, not for fear of stain,
But that some statute tells us to refrain ?
The grosser herd in ties like these we bind,
In virtue's freedom moves th' enlighten'd
mind.'

'Man's heart deceives him,' said a friend: 'Of course,'

Replied the youth,' but, has it power to force? Unless it forces, call it as you will, It is but wish, and proneness to the ill.' 'Art thou not tempted? Do I fall ? ' said Shore:

'The pure have fallen.'-' Then are pure no

While reason guides me, I shall walk aright, Nor need a steadier hand, or stronger light; Nor this in dread of awful threats, design'd For the weak spirit and the grov'ling mind; But that, engaged by thoughts and views sublime,

I wage free war with grossness and with crime.'

Thus look'd he proudly on the vulgar crew, Whom statutes govern, and whom fears subdue.

Faith, with his virtue, he indeed profess'd, But doubts deprived his ardent mind of rest;

Vain and aspiring on the world he came ;
Yet was he studious, serious, moral, grave,
No passion's victim, and no system's slave;
Vice he opposed, indulgence he disdained,
And o'er each sense in conscious triumph
reign'd.

Who often reads, will sometimes wish to
write,

And Shore would yield instruction and delight:

A serious drama he design'd, but found
'Twas tedious travelling in that gloomy
ground;

A deep and solemn story he would try,
But grew ashamed of ghosts, and laid it by ;
Sermons he wrote, but they who knew his
creed,

Or knew it not, were ill disposed to read;
And he would lastly be the nation's guide,
But, studying, fail'd to fix upon a side;
Fame he desired, and talents he possess'd,
But loved not labour, though he could not
rest,

Nor firmly fix the vacillating mind,
That, ever working, could no centre find.

'Tis thus a sanguine reader loves to trace The Nile forth rushing on his glorious race; Calm and secure the fancied traveller goes Through sterile deserts and by threat'ning foes;

He thinks not then of Afric's scorching sands,
Th' Arabian sea, the Abyssinian bands;
Fasils and Michaels, and the robbers all,
Whom we politely chiefs and heroes call:
He of success alone delights to think,
He views that fount, he stands upon the
brink,

Reason, his sovereign mistress, failed to show
Light through the mazes of the world below;
Questions arose, and they surpass'd the skill
Of his sole aid, and would be dubious still;
These to discuss he sought no common guide,
But to the doubters in his doubts applied;
When all together might in freedom speak,
And their loved truth with mutual ardour And drinks a fancied draught, exulting so to

seek.

drink.

In his own room, and with his books around, His lively mind its chief employment found; Then idly busy, quietly employ'd, And, lost to life, his visions were enjoy'd :

* Fasil was a rebel chief, and Michael the general of the royal army in Abyssinia, when Mr. Bruce visited that country. In all other reare both represented as cruel and treacherous spects their characters were nearly similar. They and even the apparently strong distinction of loyal and rebellious is in a great measure set aside, when we are informed that Fasil was an open enemy, and Michael an insolent and ambitious controller of the royal person and family.

Yet still he took a keen inquiring view
Of all that crowds neglect, desire, pursue;
And thus abstracted, curious, still, serene,
He, unemploy'd, beheld life's shifting scene;
Still more averse from vulgar joys and cares,
Still more unfitted for the world's affairs.
There was a house where Edward ofttimes

went,

And social hours in pleasant trifling spent ;
He read, conversed and reason'd, sang and
play'd,

And all were happy while the idler stay'd;
Too happy one, for thence arose the pain,
Till this engaging trifler came again.

But did he love? We answer, day by day, The loving feet would take th' accustom'd way,

The amorous eye would rove as if in quest
Of something rare, and on the mansion rest;
The same soft passion touch'd the gentle
tongue,

And Anna's charms in tender notes were
sung;

The ear too seem'd to feel the common flame,
Sooth'd and delighted with the fair one's

name;

And thus as love each other part possess'd, The heart, no doubt, its sovereign power confessed.

The youthful friend, dissentient, reason'd
still

Of the soul's prowess, and the subject will;
Of virtue's beauty, and of honour's force,
And a warm zeal gave life to his discourse:
Since from his feelings all his fire arose
And he had interest in the themes he chose.
The friend, indulging a sarcastic smile,
Dear enthusiast! thou wilt change
thy style,

Said
When man's delusions, errors, crimes, deceit,
No more distress thee, and no longer cheat.
Yet lo! this cautious man, so coolly wise,
On a young beauty fix'd unguarded eyes;
And her he married: Edward at the view
Bade to his cheerful visits long adieu;
But haply err'd, for this engaging bride
No mirth suppress'd, but other cause sup-
plied:

And when she saw the friends, by reasoning
long,

Confused if right, and positive if wrong, With playful speech and smile, that spoke delight,

She made them careless both of wrong and right.

This gentle damsel gave consent to wed, With school and school-day dinners in her head:

Pleased in her sight, the youth required no She now was promised choice of daintiest

more;

Not rich himself, he saw the damsel poor;
And he too wisely, nay, too kindly loved,
To pain the being whom his soul approved.
A serious friend our cautious youth pos-
sess'd,

And at his table sat a welcome guest;
Both unemploy'd, it was their chief delight
To read what free and daring authors write;
Authors who loved from common views to soar,
And seek the fountains never traced before;
Truth they profess'd, yet often left the true
And beaten prospect, for the wild and new.
His chosen friend his fiftieth year had seen,
His fortune easy, and his air serene;
Deist and atheist call'd; for few agreed
What were his notions, principles, or creed;
His mind reposed not, for he hated rest,
But all things made a query or a jest ;
Perplex'd himself, he ever sought to prove
That man is doom'd in endless doubt to rove;
Himself in darkness he profess'd to be,
And would maintain that not a man could see.

food,

And costly dress, that made her sovereign

good;

With walks on hilly heath to banish spleen,
And summer-visits when the roads were clean.
All these she loved, to these she gave consent,
And she was married to her heart's content.
Their manner this-the friends together

read,

Till books a cause for disputation bred;
Debate then follow'd, and the vapour'd child
Declared they argued till her head was wild ;
And strange to her it was that mortal brain
Could seek the trial, or endure the pain.

Then as the friend reposed, the younger

pair

Sat down to cards, and play'd beside his chair
Till he awaking, to his books applied,

Or heard the music of th' obedient bride:
If mild the evening, in the fields they stray'd,
And their own flock with partial eye survey'd ;
But oft the husband, to indulgence prone,
Resumed his book, and bade them walk alone.

What insects flutter, as you walk along ; Teach her to fix the roving thoughts, to bind The wandering sense, and methodize the mind.'

This was obey'd; and oft when this was done,

They calmly gazed on the declining sun;
In silence saw the glowing landscape fade,
Or, sitting, sang beneath the arbour's shade:
Till rose the moon, and on each youthful
face

Shed a soft beauty, and a dangerous grace.

When the young wife beheld in long debate The friends, all careless as she seeming sate; It soon appear'd, there was in one combined The nobler person and the richer mind : He wore no wig, no grisly beard was seen, And none beheld him careless or unclean; Or watch'd him sleeping :-we indeed have heard

Of sleeping beauty, and it has appear'd; 'Tis seen in infants-there indeed we find The features soften'd by the slumbering mind;

But other beauties, when disposed to sleep,
Should from the eye of keen inspector keep :
The lovely nymph who would her swain sur-Small
prise,

May close her mouth, but not conceal her

eyes;

Sleep from the fairest face some beauty takes, And all the homely features homelier makes; So thought our wife, beholding with a sigh Her sleeping spouse, and Edward smiling by.

A sick relation for the husband sent, Without delay the friendly sceptic went; Nor fear'd the youthful pair, for he had seen The wife untroubled, and the friend serene: No selfish purpose in his roving eyes, No vile deception in her fond replies: So judged the husband, and with judgment true,

For neither yet the guilt or danger knew. What now remain'd? but they again should play

Th' accustom'd game, and walk th' accustom'd way;

is his native strength; man needs the
stay,

The strength imparted in the trying day;
For all that honour brings against the force
Of headlong passion, aids its rapid course;
Its slight resistance but provokes the fire,
As wood-work stops the flame, and then con-
veys it higher.

The husband came; a wife by guilt made

bold

Had, meeting, sooth'd him, as in days of old; But soon this fact transpired; her strong distress,

And his friend's absence, left him nought to guess.

Still cool, though grieved, thus prudence bade him write

'I cannot pardon, and I will not fight;
Thou art too poor a culprit for the laws,
And I too faulty to support my cause:
All must be punish'd; I must sigh alone,
At home thy victim for her guilt atone;

And thou, unhappy! virtuous now no more,
Must loss of fame, peace, purity deplore;
Sinners with praise will pierce thee to the
heart,

And saints deriding, tell thee what thou art.'
Such was his fall; and Edward, from that

time,

Felt in full force the censure and the crime--
Despised, ashamed; his noble views before,
And his proud thoughts, degraded him the

Should he repent-would that conceal his shame ?

Could peace be his? It perish'd with his fame:

And from associates pleased to find a friend, With powers to lead them, gladden, and defend,

In all those scenes where transient ease is found,

For minds whom sins oppress, and sorrows wound.

Wine is like anger; for it makes us strong, Blind and impatient, and it leads us wrong; The strength is quickly lost, we feel the error long:

Thus led, thus strengthen'd in an evil cause, For folly pleading, sought the youth applause;

Sad for a time, then eloquently wild,

Himself he scorn'd, nor could his crime for- He gaily spoke as his companions smiled;

give;

He fear'd to die, yet felt ashamed to live;
Grieved, but not contrite was his heart;
oppress'd,

Not broken; not converted, but distress'd;
He wanted will to bend the stubborn knee,
He wanted light the cause of ill to see,

To learn how frail is man, how humble then
should be;

For faith he had not, or a faith too weak
To gain the help that humbled sinners seek;
Else had he pray'd-to an offended God
His tears had flown a penitential flood

Lightly he rose, and with his former grace
Proposed some doubt, and argued on the case;
Fate and fore-knowledge were his favourite
themes-

How vain man's purpose, how absurd his
schemes:

'Whatever is, was ere our birth decreed ;
We think our actions from ourselves proceed,
And idly we lament th' inevitable deed;
It seems our own, but there's a power above
Directs the motion, nay, that makes us move;
Nor good nor evil can you beings name,
Who are but rooks and castles in the game;

Though far astray, he would have heard the Superior natures with their puppets play,

call

Of mercy- Come! return, thou prodigal ; ' Then, though confused, distress'd, ashamed, afraid,

Still had the trembling penitent obey'd;
Though faith had fainted, when assail'd by
fear,

Hope to the soul had whisper'd, ' Persevere !'
Till in his Father's house an humbled guest,
He would have found forgiveness, comfort,
rest.

But all this joy was to our youth denied
By his fierce passions and his daring pride;
And shame and doubt impell'd him in a

course,

Once so abhorr'd, with unresisted force.
Proud minds and guilty, whom their crimes
oppress,

Fly to new crimes for comfort and redress;
So found our fallen youth a short relief
In wine, the opiate guilt applies to grief,-
From fleeting mirth that o'er the bottle lives,
From the false joy its inspiration gives;

Till, bagg'd or buried, all are swept away.'

Such were the notions of a mind to ill
Now prone, but ardent, and determined still :
Of joy now eager, as before of fame,
And screen'd by folly when assail'd by shame,
Deeply he sank; obey'd each passion's call,
And used his reason to defend them all.

Shall I proceed, and step by step relate
The odious progress of a sinner's fate?
No-let me rather hasten to the time
(Sure to arrive) when misery waits on crime.
With virtue, prudence fled; what Shore
possess'd

Was sold, was spent, and he was now distress'd:

And Want, unwelcome stranger pale and

wan,

Met with her haggard looks the hurried man ;
His pride felt keenly what he must expect
From useless pity and from cold neglect.

Struck by new terrors, from his friends he

fled,

And wept his woes upon a restless bed;

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