The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume IV Part 6

In a costly palace, when the brave gallants dine, They have store of good venison, with old canary wine, With singing and music to heighten the cheer; Coa.r.s.e bits, with grudging, are the pauper's best fare.

In a costly palace Youth is still carest By a train of attendants which laugh at my young Lord's jest; In a wretched workhouse the contrary prevails: Does Age begin to prattle?--no man heark'neth to his tales.

In a costly palace if the child with a pin Do but chance to p.r.i.c.k a finger, strait the doctor is called in; In a wretched workhouse men are left to perish For want of proper cordials, which their old age might cherish,

In a costly palace Youth enjoys his l.u.s.t; In a wretched workhouse Age, in corners thrust, Thinks upon the former days, when he was well to do, Had children to stand by him, both friends and kinsmen too.

In a costly palace Youth his temples hides With a new devised peruke that reaches to his sides; In a wretched workhouse Age's crown is bare, With a few thin locks just to fence out the cold air.

In peace, as in war, 'tis our young gallants' pride, To walk, each one i' the streets, with a rapier by his side, That none to do them injury may have pretence; Wretched Age, in poverty, must brook offence.

POEMS IN CHARLES LAMB'S _WORKS_ 1818, NOT PREVIOUSLY PRINTED IN THE PRESENT VOLUME; TOGETHER WITH REFERENCES TO THOSE POEMS THAT HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY PRINTED

HESTER

(_February, 1803_)

When maidens such as Hester die, Their place ye may not well supply, Though ye among a thousand try, With vain endeavour.

A month or more hath she been dead, Yet cannot I by force be led To think upon the wormy bed, And her together.

A springy motion in her gait, A rising step, did indicate Of pride and joy no common rate, That flush'd her spirit.

I know not by what name beside I shall it call:--if 'twas not pride, It was a joy to that allied, She did inherit.

Her parents held the Quaker rule, Which doth the human feeling cool, But she was train'd in Nature's school, Nature had blest her.

A waking eye, a prying mind, A heart that stirs, is hard to bind, A hawk's keen sight ye cannot blind, Ye could not Hester.

My sprightly neighbour, gone before To that unknown and silent sh.o.r.e, Shall we not meet, as heretofore, Some summer morning,

When from thy cheerful eyes a ray Hath struck a bliss upon the day, A bliss that would not go away, A sweet fore-warning?

_Here came "To Charles Lloyd" See page 12.

Here came "The Three Friends" followed by "To a River in which a Child was drowned," first printed in "Poetry for Children" 1809. See vol. iii.

of this edition, page 416.

Here came "The Old Familiar Faces." See page 25.

Here came "Helen" by Mary Lamb. See page 28.

Here came "A Vision of Repentance." See page 13._

DIALOGUE BETWEEN A MOTHER AND CHILD

(_By Mary Lamb. 1804_)

CHILD "O Lady, lay your costly robes aside, No longer may you glory in your pride."

MOTHER "Wherefore to-day art singing in mine ear Sad songs, were made so long ago, my dear; This day I am to be a bride, you know, Why sing sad songs, were made so long ago?"

CHILD "O, mother, lay your costly robes aside, For you may never be another's bride.

_That_ line I learn'd not in the old sad song."

MOTHER "I pray thee, pretty one, now hold thy tongue, Play with the bride-maids, and be glad, my boy, For thou shall be a second father's joy."

CHILD "One father fondled me upon his knee.

One father is enough, alone, for me."

_Here came "Queen Oriana's Dream" from "Poetry for Children" See vol.

iii. page 480.

Here came "A Ballad Noting the Difference of Rich and Poor." See page 30.

Here came "Hypochondriacus." See page 29._