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Poetry for children

Chapter 16: A BALLAD: NOTING THE DIFFERENCE OF RICH AND POOR, IN THE WAYS OF A RICH NOBLE’S PALACE AND A POOR WORKHOUSE To the tune of the “Old and Young Courtier.”
By Charles Lamb
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British LiteratureChildren & Young Adult ReadingPoetry

About This Book

This collection assembles short, simple poems and dialogues written for young readers, many by Mary with contributions from Charles, presenting playful scenes of childhood, sibling banter, moral fables, religious reflections, and observations of nature and daily life. Pieces range from light verse about losing baby teeth, toys, and first sights of green fields to didactic fables and tender portraits of family affection, occasionally adapting biblical or anecdotal material. Language is plain and rhythmic, with occasional ballads and moral lessons aimed at cultivating kindness, cleanliness, courage, and sympathy while celebrating imagination and domestic intimacy.

A BALLAD:
NOTING THE DIFFERENCE OF RICH
AND POOR, IN THE WAYS OF A RICH
NOBLE’S PALACE AND A POOR
WORKHOUSE
To the tune of the
“Old and Young Courtier.”

XIV

In a costly palace Youth goes clad in gold;
In a wretched workhouse Age’s limbs are cold:
There they sit, the old men by a shivering fire,
Still close and closer cowering, warmth is their desire.
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;
Coarse bits, with grudging, are the pauper’s best fare.
In a costly palace Youth is still caress’d
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 hearkeneth to his tales.
In a costly palace if the child with a pin
Do but chance to prick a finger, straight the doctor is call’d 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 lust;
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.