Classic Poem

For the Loss of GRILDRIG

A P ASTORAL

Soon as Glumdalclitch miss'd her pleasing Care,
She wept, she blubber'd, and she tore her Hair.
No British Miss sincerer Grief has known,
Her Squirrel missing, or her Sparrow flown.
She furl'd her Sampler, and hawl'd in her Thread,
And stuck her Needle into Grildrig 's Bed;
Then spread her Hands, and with a Bounce let fall
Her Baby, like the Giant in Guildhall .
In Peals of Thunder now she roars, and now
She gently whimpers like a lowing Cow:
Yet lovely in her Sorrow still appears:
Her Locks dishevell'd, and her Flood of Tears
Seem like the lofty Barn of some rich Swain,
When from the Thatch drips fast a Show'r of Rain.

In vain she search'd each Cranny of the House,
Each gaping Chink impervious to a Mouse.
" Was it for this (she cry'd) with daily Care
Within thy reach I set the Vinegar?
And fill'd the Cruet with the acid Tide,
While Pepper-Water Worms thy Bait supply'd;
Where twin'd the Silver Eel around thy Hook,
And all the little Monsters of the Brook.
Sure in that Lake he dropt: My Grilly 's drown'd. — "
She dragg'd the Cruet, but no Grildrig found.
" Vain is thy Courage, Grilly , vain thy Boast:
But little Creatures enterprize the most.
Trembling, I've seen thee dare the Kitten's Paw,
Nay mix with Children, as they play'd at Taw
Nor fear the Marbles, as they bounding flew:
Marbles to them, but rolling Rocks to you.

Why did I trust thee with that giddy Youth?
Who from a Page can ever learn the Truth?
Vers'd in Court Tricks, that Money-loving Boy
To some Lord's Daughter sold the living Toy;
Or rent him Limb from Limb in cruel Play,
As Children tear the Wings of Flies away:
From Place to Place o'er Brobdingnag I'll roam,
And never will return, or bring thee home.
But who hath Eyes to trace the passing Wind?
How then, thy fairy Footsteps can I find?
Dost thou bewildred wander all alone,
In the green Thicket of a Mossy Stone,
Or tumbled from the Toadstool's slipp'ry Round
Perhaps all maim'd, lie groveling on the Ground?
Dost thou, imbosom'd in the lovely Rose,
Or sunk within the Peach's Down, repose?
Within the King-Cup if thy Limbs are spread,
Or in the golden Cowslip's velvet Head,
O shew me, Flora , 'midst those Sweets, the Flow'r
Where sleeps my Grildrig in his fragrant Bow'r!

But ah! I fear thy little Fancy roves
On little Females, and on little Loves;
Thy Pigmy Children, and thy tiny Spouse,
The Baby Playthings that adorn thy House,
Doors, Windows, Chimneys, and the spacious Rooms
Equal in Size to Cells of Honeycombs.
Hast thou for these now ventur'd from the Shore,
Thy Bark a Bean-shell and a Straw thy Oar?
Or in thy Box, now bounding on the Main?
Shall I ne'er bear thy self and House again?
And shall I set thee on my Hand no more,
To see thee leap the Lines, and traverse o'er
My spacious Palm? of Stature scarce a Span,
Mimick the Actions of a real Man?
No more behold thee turn my Watches Key,
As Seamen at a Capstern Anchors weigh?
How wert thou wont to walk with cautious Tread,
A Dish of Tea like Milk-Pail on thy Head?
How chase the Mite that bore thy Cheese away,
And keep the rolling Maggot at a Bay?"

She said; but broken Accents stopt her Voice,
Soft as the Speaking-Trumpet's mellow Noise:
She sobb'd a Storm, and wip'd her flowing Eyes,
Which seem'd like two broad Suns in misty Skies:
O! squander not thy Grief; those Tears command
To weep upon our Cod in Newfound-Land :
The plenteous Pickle shall preserve the Fish,
And Europe taste thy Sorrows in her Dish.