George Crabbe: Poems, Volume 1 (of 3)

In the present edition of Crabbe's Poems the general arrangement adopted is that of the chronological order of publication. The poem entitled _Midnight_ has been inserted at a c...

True Christian Resignation not frequently to be seen--The Register a melancholy Record--A dying Man, who at length sends for a Priest: for what Purpose? answered--Old Collett of...

But I was forced to feign delight, And joy in mirth and music sought; 30 And mem'ry now recalls the night, With such surprise and horror fraught, That reason felt a moment's fli...

The Child of the Miller's Daughter, and Relation of her Misfortune--A frugal Couple: their Kind of Frugality--Plea of the Mother of a natural Child: her Churching--Large Family...

There are found, amid the Evils of a laborious Life, some Views of Tranquillity and Happiness--The Repose and Pleasure of a Summer Sabbath: interrupted by Intoxication and Dispu...

To every class we have a school assign'd, Rules for all ranks and food for every mind; Yet one there is, that small regard to rule Or study pays, and still is deem'd a school: T...

Calvin grows gentle in this silent coast, Nor finds a single heretic to roast: Here, their fierce rage subdu'd, and lost their pride The Pope and Luther slumber side by side:

Previous Consideration necessary: yet not too long Delay--Imprudent Marriage of old Kirk and his Servant--Comparison between an ancient and youthful Partner to a young Man--Prud...

"Sects in Religion?"--Yes, of every race We nurse some portion in our favoured place; Not one warm preacher of one growing sect Can say our Borough treats him with neglect; Freq...

Yes! we've our Borough-vices, and I know How far they spread, how rapidly they grow; Yet think not virtue quits the busy place, Nor charity, the virtues' crown and grace. "Our p...

Old Peter Grimes made fishing his employ; } His wife he cabin'd with him and his boy, } And seem'd that life laborious to enjoy. } To town came quiet Peter with his fish, And ha...

"Trades and Professions"--these are themes the Muse, Left to her freedom, would forbear to choose; But to our Borough they in truth belong, And we, perforce, must take them in o...

You say you envy in your calm retreat Our social meetings;--'tis with joy we meet. In these our parties you are pleased to find Good sense and wit, with intercourse of mind; Com...

A quiet simple man was Abel Keene; He meant no harm, nor did he often mean. He kept a school of loud rebellious boys, And growing old, grew nervous with the noise; When a kind m...

Drawn by the annual call, we now behold } Our troop dramatic, heroes known of old, } And those, since last they march'd, inlisted and enroll'd: } Mounted on hacks or borne in wa...

Observe yon tenement, apart and small, Where the wet pebbles shine upon the wall; Where the low benches lean beside the door, And the red paling bounds the space before; Where t...

The Subject proposed--Remarks upon Pastoral Poetry--A Tract of Country near the Coast described--An impoverished Borough--Smugglers and their Assistants--Rude Manners of the Inh...

Leave now our streets, and in yon plain behold Those pleasant seats for the reduced and old; A merchant's gift, whose wife and children died, When he to saving all his powers ap...

Of our amusements ask you?--We amuse } Ourselves and friends with sea-side walks and views, } Or take a morning ride, a novel, or the news; } Or, seeking nothing, glide about th...

Where ends our chancel in a vaulted space, Sleep the departed vicars of the place; Of most, all mention, memory, thought are past-- But take a slight memorial of the last. To wh...

'Tis well that man to all the varying states Of good and ill his mind accommodates; He not alone progressive grief sustains, But soon submits to unexperienced pains. Change afte...

"What is a Church?"--Let Truth and Reason speak, They would reply, "The faithful, pure, and meek; From Christian folds the one selected race, Of all professions, and in every pl...

"Describe the Borough."--Though our idle tribe May love description, can we so describe, That you shall fairly streets and buildings trace, And all that gives distinction to a p...

Much do I need, and therefore will I ask, A Muse to aid me in my present task; For then with special cause we beg for aid, When of our subject we are most afraid: Inns are this...

With our late vicar, and his age the same, } His clerk, hight Jachin, to his office came: } The like slow speech was his, the like tall slender frame. } But Jachin was the grave...

Next, to a graver tribe we turn our view, And yield the praise to worth and science due; But this with serious words and sober style, For these are friends with whom we seldom s...

An ardent spirit dwells with Christian love, The eagle's vigour in the pitying dove; 'Tis not enough that we with sorrow sigh, That we the wants of pleading man supply; That we...

Of manufactures, trade, inventions rare, Steam-towers and looms, you'd know our Borough's share-- 'Tis small: we boast not these rich subjects here, Who hazard thrice ten thousa...

See yonder badgeman, with that glowing face, A meteor shining in this sober place! Vast sums were paid, and many years were past, Ere gems so rich around their radiance cast! Su...

Yes, our Election's past, and we've been free, Somewhat as madmen without keepers be; And such desire of freedom has been shown, That both the parties wish'd her all their own:...

Observe that tall pale veteran! what a look Of shame and guilt! who cannot read that book? Misery and mirth are blended in his face, Much innate vileness and some outward grace;...

We had a sprightly nymph--in every town Are some such sprights, who wander up and down; She had her useful arts, and could contrive, In time's despite, to stay at twenty-five;--...

In this, th' adopted babe I hold With anxious fondness to my breast, My heart's sole comfort I behold, More dear than life, when life was bless'd; 20 I saw her pining, fainting,...

All the comforts of life in a tavern are known, 'Tis his home who possesses not one of his own; And to him who has rather too much of that one, 'Tis the house of a friend where...

Tu quoque ne metuas, quamvis schola verbere multo Increpet et truculenta senex geret ora magister; Degeneres animos timor arguit; at tibi consta Intrepidus, nec te clamor, plagæ...

Show not to the poor thy pride, Let their home a cottage be; Nor the feeble body hide In a palace fit for thee; Let him not about him see Lofty ceilings, ample halls, Or a gate...

"No charms she now can boast,"--'tis true, But other charmers wither too: "And she is old,"--the fact I know, And old will other heroines grow; But not like them has she been la...

... But cast your eyes again, And view those errors which new sects maintain, Or which of old disturb'd the [Church's] peaceful reign: And we can point each period of the time W...

Be brave, for your [captain] is brave, and vows reformation; there shall be in England seven halfpenny loaves sold for a penny; the three-hooped pot shall have ten hoops[; and]...

----Was a sordid soul, Such as does murder for a meed; Who but for fear knows no control, Because his conscience, sear'd and foul, Feels not the import of the deed; One whose br...

Thou art the Knight of the Burning Lamp[....] ... If thou [wert] any way given to virtue, I would swear by thy face; my oath should be by this fire. [....] a perpetual triumph,...

Much are the precious hours of youth mispent In climbing learning's rugged, steep ascent: When to the top the bold adventurer's got, He reigns, vain monarch[, o'er] a barren spo...

There are a sort of men whose visages Do cream and mantle like a standing [pond,] And do a wilful stillness entertain, With purpose to be dress'd in an opinion[...] As who shoul...

Desire of Country Gentlemen for Town Associations--Book-clubs--Too much of literary Character expected from them--Literary Conversation prevented: by Feasting: by Cards--Good, n...

Nocte brevem si forte indulsit cura soporem, Et toto versata thoro jam membra quiescunt, Continuò templum et violati Numinis aras, Et, quod præcipuis mentem sudoribus urget, Te...

The Difficulty of describing Town Scenery--A Comparison with certain Views in the Country--The River and Quay--The Shipping and Business--Ship-Building--Sea-Boys and Port-Views-...

These are monarchs none respect; Heroes, yet an humbled crew; Nobles, whom the crowd correct; Wealthy men, whom duns pursue; Beauties, shrinking from the view Of the day's detec...

She early found herself mistress of herself. All she did was right: all she said was admired. Early, very early, did she dismiss blushes from her cheek: she could not blush, bec...

He fell to juggle, cant, and cheat---- For as those fowls that live in water Are never wet, he did but smatter; Whate'er he labour'd to appear, His understanding still was clear...

Blaney, a wealthy Heir, dissipated, and reduced to Poverty--His Fortune restored by Marriage: again consumed--His Manner of living in the West Indies--Recalled to a larger Inher...

Abel, a poor Man, Teacher of a School of the lower Order; is placed in the Office of a Merchant; is alarmed by Discourses of the Clerks; unable to reply; becomes a Convert; dres...

Think [our] former state a happy dream, From which awaked, the truth of what we are Shows us but this,--I am sworn brother now To grim Necessity, and he and I Will keep a league...

Several Meanings of the word _Church_--The Building so called, here intended--Its Antiquity and Grandeur--Columns and Ailes--The Tower: the Stains made by Time compared with the...

No extensive Manufactories in the Borough: yet considerable Fortunes made there--Ill Judgment of Parents in disposing of their Sons--The best educated not the most likely to suc...

Christian Charity anxious to provide for future as well as present Miseries--Hence the Hospital for the Diseased--Description of a recovered Patient--The Building: how erected--...

Common Amusements of a Bathing-place--Morning Rides, Walks, &c.--Company resorting to the Town--Different Choice of Lodgings--Cheap Indulgences--Sea-side Walks--Wealthy Invalid-...

Trades and Professions of every Kind to be found in the Borough--Its Seamen and Soldiers--Law, the Danger of the Subject--Coddrington's Offence--Attorneys increased; their splen...