ancient poems-第6部分

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Then；　then；　perhaps；　in　bitter　tears　they'll　cry；　With　wringing　hands；　against　their　company；　Which　did　betray　them　to　that　dismal　state！　Consider　this　before　it　is　too　late。

Likewise；　sons　and　daughters；　far　and　near；　Honour　your　loving　friends；　and　parents　dear；　Let　not　your　disobedience　grieve　them　so；　Nor　cause　their　aged　eyes　with　tears　to　flow。

What　a　heart…breaking　sorrow　it　must　be；　To　dear　indulgent　parents；　when　they　see　Their　stubborn　children　wilfully　run　on　Against　the　wholesome　laws　of　God　and　man！

Oh！　let　these　things　a　deep　impression　make　Upon　your　hearts；　with　speed　your　sins　forsake；　For；　true　it　is；　the　Lord　will　never　bless　Those　children　that　do　wilfully　transgress。

Now；　to　conclude；　both　young　and　old　I　pray；　Reform　your　sinful　lives　this　very　day；　That　God　in　mercy　may　his　love　extend；　And　bring　the　nation's　troubles　to　an　end。



Poem：　SMOKING　SPIRITUALIZED。



＇THE　following　old　poem　was　long　ascribed；　on　apparently　sufficient　　grounds；　to　the　Rev。　Ralph　Erskine；　or；　as　he　designated　himself；　　'Ralph　Erskine；　V。D。M。'　　The　peasantry　throughout　the　north　of　　England　always　call　it　'Erskine's　song；'　and　not　only　is　his　name　　given　as　the　author　in　numerous　chap…books；　but　in　his　own　volume　　of　GOSPEL　SONNETS；　from　an　early　copy　of　which　our　version　is　　transcribed。　　The　discovery　however；　by　Mr。　Collier；　of　the　First　　Part　in　a　MS。　temp。　Jac。　I。；　with　the　initials　G。　W。　affixed　to　it；　　has　disposed　of　Erskine's　claim　to　the　honour　of　the　entire　　authorship。　　G。　W。　is　supposed　to　be　George　Withers；　but　this　is　　purely　conjectural；　and　it　is　not　at　all　improbable　that　G。　W。　　really　stands　for　W。　G。；　as　it　was　a　common　practice　amongst　　anonymous　writers　to　reverse　their　initials。　　The　history；　then；　of　　the　poem；　seems　to　be　this：　that　the　First　Part；　as　it　is　now　　printed；　originally　constituted　the　whole　production；　being　　complete　in　itself；　that　the　Second　Part　was　afterwards　added　by　　the　Rev。　　Ralph　Erskine；　and　that　both　parts　came　subsequently　to　　be　ascribed　to　him；　as　his　was　the　only　name　published　in　connexion　　with　the　song。　　The　Rev。　Ralph　Erskine　was　born　at　Monilaws；　　Northumberland；　on　the　15th　March；　1685。　　He　was　one　of　the　thirty…　three　children　of　Ralph　Erskine　of　Shieldfield；　a　family　of　repute　　descended　from　the　ancient　house　of　Marr。　　He　was　educated　at　the　　college　in　Edinburgh；　obtained　his　licence　to　preach　in　June；　1709；　　and　was　ordained；　on　an　unanimous　invitation；　over　the　church　at　　Dunfermline　in　August；　1711。　　He　was　twice　married：　in　1714　to　　Margaret　Dewar；　daughter　of　the　Laird　of　Lassodie；　by　whom　he　had　　five　sons　and　five　daughters；　all　of　whom　died　in　the　prime　of　　life；　and　in　1732　to　Margaret；　daughter　of　Mr。　Simson　of　Edinburgh；　　by　whom　he　had　four　sons；　one　of　whom；　with　his　wife；　survived　him。　　　He　died　in　November；　1752。　　Erskine　was　the　author　of　a　great　　number　of　SERMONS；　A　PARAPHRASE　ON　THE　CANTICLES；　SCRIPTURE　SONGS；　　A　TREATISE　ON　MENTAL　IMAGES；　and　GOSPEL　SONNETS。

SMOKING　SPIRITUALIZED　is；　at　the　present　day；　a　standard　　publication　with　modern　ballad…printers；　but　their　copies　are　　exceedingly　corrupt。　　Many　versions　and　paraphrases　of　the　song　　exist。　　Several　are　referred　to　in　NOTES　AND　QUERIES；　and；　amongst　　them；　a　broadside　of　the　date　of　1670；　and　another　dated　1672　（both　　printed　before　Erskine　was　born）；　presenting　different　readings　of　　the　First　Part；　or　original　poem。　　In　both　these　the　burthen；　or　　refrain；　differs　from　that　of　our　copy　by　the　employment　of　the　　expression　'DRINK　tobacco；'　instead　of　'SMOKE　tobacco。'　　The　former　　was　the　ancient　term　for　drawing　in　the　smoke；　swallowing　it；　and　　emitting　it　through　the　nostrils。　　A　correspondent　of　NOTES　AND　　QUERIES　says；　that　the　natives　of　India　to　this　day　use　the　phrase　　'hooka　peue；'　to　DRINK　the　hooka。＇


PART　I。

THIS　Indian　weed；　now　withered　quite；　Though　green　at　noon；　cut　down　at　night；　Shows　thy　decay；　All　flesh　is　hay：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　pipe　so　lily…like　and　weak；　Does　thus　thy　mortal　state　bespeak；　Thou　art　e'en　such；　…　Gone　with　a　touch：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　when　the　smoke　ascends　on　high；　Then　thou　behold'st　the　vanity　Of　worldly　stuff；　Gone　with　a　puff：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　when　the　pipe　grows　foul　within；　Think　on　thy　soul　defiled　with　sin；　For　then　the　fire　It　does　require：　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

And　seest　the　ashes　cast　away；　Then　to　thyself　thou　mayest　say；　That　to　the　dust　Return　thou　must。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

PART　II。

Was　this　small　plant　for　thee　cut　down？　So　was　the　plant　of　great　renown；　Which　Mercy　sends　For　nobler　ends。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

Doth　juice　medicinal　proceed　From　such　a　naughty　foreign　weed？　Then　what's　the　power　Of　Jesse's　flower？　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　promise；　like　the　pipe；　inlays；　And　by　the　mouth　of　faith　conveys；　What　virtue　flows　From　Sharon's　rose。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

In　vain　the　unlighted　pipe　you　blow；　Your　pains　in　outward　means　are　so；　Till　heavenly　fire　Your　heart　inspire。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。

The　smoke；　like　burning　incense；　towers；　So　should　a　praying　heart　of　yours；　With　ardent　cries；　Surmount　the　skies。　Thus　think；　and　smoke　tobacco。



Poem：　THE　MASONIC　HYMN。



＇THIS　is　a　very　ancient　production；　though　given　from　a　modern　　copy；　it　has　always　been　popular　amongst　the　poor　'brethren　of　the　　mystic　tie。'　　The　late　Henry　O'Brien；　A。B。；　quotes　the　seventh　　verse　in　his　essay　ON　THE　ROUND　TOWERS　OF　IRELAND。　　He　generally　　had　a　common　copy　of　the　hymn　in　his　pocket；　and　on　meeting　with　　any　of　his　antiquarian　friends　who　were　not　Masons；　was　in　the　　habit　of　thrusting　it　into　their　hands；　and　telling　them　that　if　　they　understood　the　mystic　allusions　it　contained；　they　would　be　in　　possession　of　a　key　which　would　unlock　the　pyramids　of　Egypt！　　The　　tune　to　the　hymn　is　peculiar　to　it；　and　is　of　a　plaintive　and　　solemn　character。＇


COME　all　you　freemasons　that　dwell　around　the　globe；　That　wear　the　badge　of　innocence；　I　mean　the　royal　robe；　Which　Noah　he　did　wear　when　in　the　ark　he　stood；　When　the　world　was　destroyed　by　a　deluging　flood。

Noah　he　was　virtuous　in　the　sight　of　the　Lord；　He　loved　a　freemason　that　kept　the　secret　word；　For　he　built　the　ark；　and　he　planted　the　first　vine；　Now　his　soul　in　heaven　like　an　angel　doth　shine。

Once　I　was　blind；　and　could　not　see　the　light；　Then　up　to　Jerusalem　I　took　my　flight；　I　was　led　by　the　evangelist　through　a　wilderness　of　care；　You　may　see　by　the　sign　and　the　badge　that　I　wear。

On　the　13th　rose　the　ark；　let　us　join　hand　in　hand；　For　the　Lord　spake　to　Moses　by　water　and　by　land；　Unto　the　pleasant　river　where　by　Eden　it　did　rin；　And　Eve　tempted　Adam　by　the　serpent　of　sin。

When　I　think　of　Moses　it　makes　me　to　blush；　All　on　mount　Horeb　where　I　saw　the　burning　bush；　My　shoes　I'll　throw　off；　and　my　staff　I'll　cast　away；　And　I'll　wander　like　a　pilgrim　unto　my　dying　day。

When　I　think　of　Aaron　it　makes　me　to　weep；　Likewise　of　the　Virgin　Mary　who　lay　at　our　Saviour's　feet；　'Twas　in　the　garden　of　Gethsemane　where　he　had　the　bloody　sweat；　Repent；　my　dearest　brethren；　before　it　is　too　late。

I　thought　I　saw　twelve　dazzling　lights；　which　put　me　in　surprise；　And　gazing　all　around　me　I　heard　a　dismal　noise；　The　serpent　passed　by　me　which　fell　unto　the　ground；　With　great　joy　and　comfort　the　secret　word　I　found。

Some　say　it　is　lost；　but　surely　it　is　found；　And　so　is　our　Saviour；　it　is　known　to　all　around；　Search　all　the　Scriptures　over；　and　there　it　will　be　shown；　The　tree　that　will　bear　no　fruit　must　be　cut　down。

Abraham　was　a　man　well　beloved　by　the　Lord；　He　was　true　to　be　found　in　great　Jehovah's　word；　He　stretched　forth　his　hand；　and　took　a　knife　to　slay　his　son；　An　angel　appearing　said；　The　Lord's　will　be　done！

O；　Abraham！　O；　Abraham！　lay　no　hand　upon　the　lad；　He　sent　him　unto　thee　to　make　thy　heart　glad；　Thy　seed　shall　increase　like　stars　in　the　sky；　And　thy　soul　into　heaven　like　Gabriel　shall　fly。

O；　never；　O；　never　will　I　hear　an　orphan　cry；　Nor　yet　a　gentle　virgin　until　the　day　I　die；　You　wandering　Jews　that　travel　the　wide　world　round；　May　knock　at　the　door　where　truth　is　to　be　found。

Often　against　the　Turks　and　Infidels　we　fight；　To　let　the　wandering　world　know　we're　in　the　right；　For　in　heaven　there's　a　lodge；　and　St。　Peter　keeps　the　door；　And　none　can　enter　in　but　those　that　are　pure。

St。　Peter　he　opened；　and　so　we　entered　in；　Into　the　holy　seat　secure；　which　is　all　free　from　sin；　St。　Peter　he　opened；　and　so　we　entered　there；　And　the　glory　of　the　temple　no　man　can　compare。



Poem：　GOD　SPEED　THE　PLOW；　AND　BLESS　THE　CORN…MOW。　　A　DIALOGUE　　BETWEEN　THE　HUSBANDMAN　AND　SERVINGMAN。

The　tune　is；　I　AM　THE　DUKE　OF　NORFOLK。



＇THIS　ancient　dialogue；　though　in　a　somewhat　altered　form　（see　the　　ensuing　poem）；　has　long　been　used　at　country　merry…makings。　　It　is　　transcribed　from　a　black…letter　copy　in　the　third　volume　of　the　　Roxburgh　collection；　apparently　one　of　the　imprints　of　Peter　　Brooksby；　which　would　make　the　composition　at　least　as　old　as　the　　close　of　the　fifteenth　century。　　There　are　several　dialogues　of　a　　similar　character。＇


ARGUMENT。

The　servingman　the　plowman　would　invite　To　leave　his　calling　and　to　take　delight；　But　he　to　that　by　no　means　will　agree；　Lest　he　thereby　should　come　to　beggary。　He　makes　it　plain　appear　a　country　life　Doth　far　excel：　and　so　they　end　the　strife。


MY　noble　friends　give　ear；　if　mirth　you　love　to　hear；　I'll　tell　you　as　fast　as　I　can；　A　story　very　true；　then　mark　what　doth　ensue；　Concerning　of　a　husbandman。　A　servingman　did　meet　a　husbandman　in　the　street；　And　thus　unto　him　began：

SERVINGMAN。

I　pray　you　tell　to　me　of　what　calling　you　be；　Or　if　you　be　a　servingman？

HUSBANDMAN。

Quoth　he；　my　brother　dear；　the　coast　I　mean　to　clear；　And　the　truth　you　shall　understand：　I　do　no　one　disdain；　but　this　I　tell　you　plain；　I　am　an　honest　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

If　a　husbandman　you　be；　then　come　along　with　me；　I'll　help　you　as　soon　as　I　can　Unto　a　gallant　place；　where　in　a　little　space；　You　shall　be　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

Sir；　for　your　diligence　I　give　you　many　thanks；　These　things　I　receive　at　your　hand；　I　pray　you　to　me　show；　whereby　tha