ancient poems-第4部分

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DEATH。

I　come　from　ranging　round　the　universe；　Through　courts　and　kingdoms　far　and　near　I　pass；　Where　rich　and　poor；　distressed；　bond　and　free；　Fall　soon　or　late　a　sacrifice　to　me。　From　crowned　kings　to　captives　bound　in　chains　My　power　reaches；　sir；　the　longest　reigns　That　ever　were；　I　put　a　period　to；　And　now　I'm　come　in　fine　to　conquer　you。

RICH　MAN。

I　can't　nor　won't　believe　that　you；　pale　Death；　Were　sent　this　day　to　stop　my　vital　breath；　By　reason　I　in　perfect　health　remain；　Free　from　diseases；　sorrow；　grief；　and　pain；　No　heavy　heart；　nor　fainting　fits　have　I；　And　do　you　say　that　I　am　drawing　nigh　The　latter　minute？　sure　it　cannot　be；　Depart；　therefore；　you　are　not　sent　for　me！

DEATH。

Yes；　yes；　I　am；　for　did　you　never　know；　The　tender　grass　and　pleasant　flowers　that　grow　Perhaps　one　minute；　are　the　next　cut　down？　And　so　is　man；　though　famed　with　high　renown。　Have　you　not　heard　the　doleful　passing　bell　Ring　out　for　those　that　were　alive　and　well　The　other　day；　in　health　and　pleasure　too；　And　had　as　little　thoughts　of　death　as　you？　For　let　me　tell　you；　when　my　warrant's　sealed；　The　sweetest　beauty　that　the　earth　doth　yield　At　my　approach　shall　turn　as　pale　as　lead；　'Tis　I　that　lay　them　on　their　dying　bed。

I　kill　with　dropsy；　phthisic；　stone；　and　gout；　But　when　my　raging　fevers　fly　about；　I　strike　the　man；　perhaps；　but　over…night；　Who　hardly　lives　to　see　the　morning　light；　I'm　sent　each　hour；　like　to　a　nimble　page；　To　infant；　hoary　heads；　and　middle　age；　Time　after　time　I　sweep　the　world　quite　through；　Then　it's　in　vain　to　think　I'll　favour　you。

RICH　MAN。

Proud　Death；　you　see　what　awful　sway　I　bear；　For　when　I　frown　none　of　my　servants　dare　Approach　my　presence；　but　in　corners　hide　Until　I　am　appeased　and　pacified。　Nay；　men　of　greater　rank　I　keep　in　awe　Nor　did　I　ever　fear　the　force　of　law；　But　ever　did　my　enemies　subdue；　And　must　I　after　all　submit　to　you？

DEATH。

'Tis　very　true；　for　why　thy　daring　soul；　Which　never　could　endure　the　least　control；　I'll　thrust　thee　from　this　earthly　tenement；　And　thou　shalt　to　another　world　be　sent。

RICH　MAN。

What！　must　I　die　and　leave　a　vast　estate；　Which；　with　my　gold；　I　purchased　but　of　late？　Besides　what　I　had　many　years　ago？　…　What！　must　my　wealth　and　I　be　parted　so？　If　you　your　darts　and　arrows　must　let　fly；　Go　search　the　jails；　where　mourning　debtors　lie；　Release　them　from　their　sorrow；　grief；　and　woe；　For　I　am　rich　and　therefore　loth　to　go。

DEATH。

I'll　search　no　jails；　but　the　right　mark　I'll　hit；　And　though　you　are　unwilling　to　submit；　Yet　die　you　must；　no　other　friend　can　do；　…　Prepare　yourself　to　go；　I'm　come　for　you。　If　you　had　all　the　world　and　ten　times　more；　Yet　die　you　must；　…　there's　millions　gone　before；　The　greatest　kings　on　earth　yield　and　obey；　And　at　my　feet　their　crowns　and　sceptres　lay：　If　crowned　heads　and　right　renowned　peers　Die　in　the　prime　and　blossoms　of　their　years；　Can　you　suppose　to　gain　a　longer　space？　No！　　I　will　send　you　to　another　place。

RICH　MAN。

Oh！　stay　thy　hand　and　be　not　so　severe；　I　have　a　hopeful　son　and　daughter　dear；　All　that　I　beg　is　but　to　let　me　live　That　I　may　them　in　lawful　marriage　give：　They　being　young　when　I　am　laid　in　the　grave；　I　fear　they　will　be　wronged　of　what　they　have：　Although　of　me　you　will　no　pity　take；　Yet　spare　me　for　my　little　infants'　sake。

DEATH。

If　such　a　vain　excuse　as　this　might　do；　It　would　be　long　ere　mortals　would　go　through　The　shades　of　death；　for　every　man　would　find　Something　to　say　that　he　might　stay　behind。　Yet；　if　ten　thousand　arguments　they'd　use；　The　destiny　of　dying　to　excuse；　They'll　find　it　is　in　vain　with　me　to　strive；　For　why；　I　part　the　dearest　friends　alive；　Poor　parents　die；　and　leave　their　children　small　With　nothing　to　support　them　here　withal；　But　the　kind　hand　of　gracious　Providence；　Who　is　their　father；　friend；　and　sole　defence。　Though　I　have　held　you　long　in　disrepute；　Yet　after　all　here　with　a　sharp　salute　I'll　put　a　period　to　your　days　and　years；　Causing　your　eyes　to　flow　with　dying　tears。

RICH　MAN。

＇Then　with　a　groan　he　made　this　sad　complaint＇：　My　heart　is　dying；　and　my　spirits　faint；　To　my　close　chamber　let　me　be　conveyed；　Farewell；　false　world；　for　thou　hast　me　betrayed。　Would　I　had　never　wronged　the　fatherless；　Nor　mourning　widows　when　in　sad　distress；　Would　I　had　ne'er　been　guilty　of　that　sin；　Would　I　had　never　known　what　gold　had　been；　For　by　the　same　my　heart　was　drawn　away　To　search　for　gold：　but　now　this　very　day；　I　find　it　is　but　like　a　slender　reed；　Which　fails　me　most　when　most　I　stand　in　need；　For；　woe　is　me！　the　time　is　come　at　last；　Now　I　am　on　a　bed　of　sorrow　cast；　Where　in　lamenting　tears　I　weeping　lie；　Because　my　sins　make　me　afraid　to　die：　Oh！　Death；　be　pleased　to　spare　me　yet　awhile；　That　I　to　God　myself　may　reconcile；　For　true　repentance　some　small　time　allow；　I　never　feared　a　future　state　till　now！　My　bags　of　gold　and　land　I'd　freely　give；　For　to　obtain　the　favour　here　to　live；　Until　I　have　a　sure　foundation　laid。　Let　me　not　die　before　my　peace　be　made！

DEATH。

Thou　hast　not　many　minutes　here　to　stay；　Lift　up　your　heart　to　God　without　delay；　Implore　his　pardon　now　for　what　is　past；　Who　knows　but　He　may　save　your　soul　at　last？

RICH　MAN。

I'll　water　now　with　tears　my　dying　bed；　Before　the　Lord　my　sad　complaint　I'll　spread；　And　if　He　will　vouchsafe　to　pardon　me；　To　die　and　leave　this　world　I　could　be　free。　False　world！　false　world；　farewell！　farewell！　adieu！　I　find；　I　find；　there　is　no　trust　in　you！　For　when　upon　a　dying　bed　we　lie；　Your　gilded　baits　are　nought　but　misery。　My　youthful　son　and　loving　daughter　dear；　Take　warning　by　your　dying　father　here；　Let　not　the　world　deceive　you　at　this　rate；　For　fear　a　sad　repentance　comes　too　late。　Sweet　babes；　I　little　thought　the　other　day；　I　should　so　suddenly　be　snatched　away　By　Death；　and　leave　you　weeping　here　behind；　But　life's　a　most　uncertain　thing；　I　find。　When　in　the　grave　my　head　is　lain　full　low；　Pray　let　not　folly　prove　your　overthrow；　Serve　ye　the　Lord；　obey　his　holy　will；　That　he　may　have　a　blessing　for　you　still。　＇Having　saluted　them；　he　turned　aside；　These　were　the　very　words　before　he　died＇：

A　painful　life　I　ready　am　to　leave；　Wherefore；　in　mercy；　Lord；　my　soul　receive。



Poem：　A　DIALOGUE　BETWIXT　AN　EXCISEMAN　AND　DEATH。



＇TRANSCRIBED　from　a　copy　in　the　British　Museum；　printed　in　London　　by　J。　C＇larke＇。；　1659。　　The　idea　of　Death　being　employed　to　execute　　a　writ；　recalls　an　epitaph　which　we　remember　to　have　seen　in　a　　village　church…yard　at　the　foot　of　the　Wrekin；　in　Shropshire；　　commencing　thus：…

'The　King　of　Heaven　a　warrant　got；　And　sealed　it　without　delay；　And　he　did　give　the　same　to　Death；　For　him　to　serve　straightway；'　&c。＇


UPON　a　time　when　Titan's　steeds　were　driven　To　drench　themselves　beneath　the　western　heaven；　And　sable　Morpheus　had　his　curtains　spread；　And　silent　night　had　laid　the　world　to　bed；　'Mongst　other　night…birds　which　did　seek　for　prey；　A　blunt　exciseman；　which　abhorred　the　day；　Was　rambling　forth　to　seek　himself　a　booty　'Mongst　merchant's　goods　which　had　not　paid　the　duty；　But　walking　all　alone；　Death　chanced　to　meet　him；　And　in　this　manner　did　begin　to　greet　him。

DEATH。

Stand；　who　comes　here？　what　means　this　knave　to　peep　And　skulk　abroad；　when　honest　men　should　sleep？　Speak；　what's　thy　name？　and　quickly　tell　me　this；　Whither　thou　goest；　and　what　thy　business　is？

EXCISEMAN。

Whate'er　my　business　is；　thou　foul…mouthed　scold；　I'd　have　you　know　I　scorn　to　be　controlled　By　any　man　that　lives；　much　less　by　thou；　Who　blurtest　out　thou　know'st　not　what；　nor　how；　I　go　about　my　lawful　business；　and　I'll　make　you　smart　for　bidding　of　me　stand。

DEATH。

Imperious　coxcomb！　is　your　stomach　vexed？　Pray　slack　your　rage；　and　hearken　what　comes　next：　I　have　a　writ　to　take　you　up；　therefore；　To　chafe　your　blood；　I　bid　you　stand；　once　more。

EXCISEMAN。

A　writ　to　take　ME　up！　excuse　me；　sir；　You　do　mistake；　I　am　an　officer　In　public　service；　for　my　private　wealth；　My　business　is；　if　any　seek　by　stealth　To　undermine　the　state；　I　do　discover　Their　falsehood；　therefore　hold　your　hand；　…　give　over。

DEATH。

Nay；　fair　and　soft！　'tis　not　so　quickly　done　As　you　conceive　it　is：　I　am　not　gone　A　jot　the　sooner　for　your　hasty　chat；　Nor　bragging　language；　for　I　tell　you　flat　'Tis　more　than　so；　though　fortune　seem　to　thwart　us；　Such　easy　terms　I　don't　intend　shall　part　us。　With　this　impartial　arm　I'll　make　you　feel　My　fingers　first；　and　with　this　shaft　of　steel　I'll　peck　thy　bones！　AS　THOU　ALIVE　WERT　HATED；　SO　DEAD；　TO　DOGS　THOU　SHALT　BE　SEGREGATED。

EXCISEMAN。

I'd　laugh　at　that；　I　would　thou　didst　but　dare　To　lay　thy　fingers　on　me；　I'd　not　spare　To　hack　thy　carcass　till　my　sword　was　broken；　I'd　make　thee　eat　the　words　which　thou　hast　spoken；　All　men　should　warning　take　by　thy　transgression；　How　they　molested　men　of　my　profession。　My　service　to　the　State　is　so　well　known；　That　should　I　but　complain；　they'd　quickly　own　My　public　grievances；　and　give　me　right　To　cut　your　ears；　before　tomorrow　night。

DEATH。

Well　said；　indeed！　but　bootless　all；　for　I　Am　well　acquainted　with　thy　villany；　I　know　thy　office；　and　thy　trade　is　such；　Thy　service　little；　and　thy　gains　are　much：　Thy　brags　are　many；　but　'tis　vain　to　swagger；　And　think　to　fight　me　with　thy　gilded　dagger：　AS　I　ABHOR　THY　PERSON；　PLACE；　AND　THREAT；　So　now　I'll　bring　thee　to　the　judgment…seat。

EXCISEMAN。

The　judgment…seat！　　I　must　confess　that　word　Doth　cut　my　heart；　like　any　sharpened　sword：　What！　come　t'　account！　methinks　the　dreadful　sound　Of　every　word　doth　make　a　mortal　wound；　Which　sticks　not　only　in　my　outward　skin；　But　penetrates　my　very　soul　within。　'Twas　least　of　all　my　thoughts　that　ever　Death　Would　once　attempt　to　stop　excisemen's　breath。　But　since　'tis　so；　that　now　I　do　perceive　You　are　in　earnest；　then　I　must　relieve　Myself　another　way：　come；　we'll　be　friends；　If　I　have　wronged　thee；　I'll　make　th'　amends。　Let's　join　together；　I'll　pass　my　word　this　night　Shall　yield　us　grub；　before　the　morning　light。　Or　otherwise　（to　mitigate　my　sorrow）；　Stay　here；　I'll　bring　you　gold　enough　to…morrow。

DEATH。

To…morrow's　gold　I　will　not　have；　and　thou　Shalt　have　no　gold　upon　to…morrow：　now　My　final　writ　shall　to　th'　execution　have　thee；　All　earthly　treasure