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George Crabbe: Poems, Volume 3 (of 3) cover

George Crabbe: Poems, Volume 3 (of 3)

Chapter 111: [DAVID AND SAUL.]
By George Crabbe
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British LiteraturePoetry

About This Book

The volume gathers later narrative and miscellaneous poems, presenting a sequence of Tales of the Hall followed by posthumous pieces and shorter lyrics. An editor’s preface and textual notes outline manuscript sources and variant readings. The poems offer realistic portraits of rural and domestic life, closely observed scenes, and moral reflection on passions such as pride, grief, revenge, and belated refinement, delivered through narrative sketches and reflective commentary. Tone alternates between anecdotal storytelling, satirical observation, and sober moralizing.

[JACOB AND RACHEL.]

When Jacob with his Rachel fed
The flock from year to year,
To him how sweet the Seasons fled;
And so it seem’d to her.
But wretched was the Shepherd’s fate,
And sorely was he tried,
When he beheld, in sober state,
That Leah was his Bride.
But Leah, who to Jacob seem’d
A Wife he could not prize, 10 
Had yet the Virtues that redeem’d
The weakness of her Eyes.
But Jacob’s love, and Laban’s flock,
And Labours for their Sake,
Took all the Terror from the Shock
That Care and Time could take.
It was poor Rachel’s harder part
Her Love, her Lord to [lose],
And in an Instant rob her Heart
Of Life’s delicious Views. 20 
She ofttimes up the mountain went,
With bitter thoughts opprest,
And weeping saw the Shepherd’s Tent
Her Sister now possess’d.
Leah, she knew, would faithful prove,
And Jacob would give Truth applause;
And, when he once had vow’d to love,
He for his vow would find a Cause.—
Thou too art wed to Duty stern,
And to thy Vow wilt prove sincere; 30 
And I, like Rachel, doom’d to [yearn],
Victim to Virtues I revere.
But she had Hope the Time would come,
And Jacob would for her be free;
Mine is an ever-during Doom,
And not a Hope remains for me.

[DAVID AND SAUL.]

When David fled from Saul oppress’d,
Who should have held the Shepherd dear,
He carried Patience in his breast,
And Conscience light, a heavenly Guest;
He fear’d not, nor had Cause of fear.
But, when he fled the holy Place
In horror from his rebel Son,
He carried Terror and Disgrace;
Nor could a gleam of Comfort trace
In all the battles he had won. 10 
But, as upon his Throne he shook,
With present Love and Glory crown’d,
The one stern word the Prophet spoke
At once into his Bosom broke
To fright, alarm him, and confound.
Thus injur’d, I my Peace retain
And feel from Guilt and Terror free;
But, should I injure Man again,
I should in fear and Dread remain,
Tho’ cheer’d with wealth and blest by thee. 20