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<div style="background:#fff;border:#bbb dashed 1px;padding:5px"><a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=395897" style="color:#000;text-decoration:none"><div style="margin:10px 0"><strong>Tale XI</strong></div><div style="margin:10px 0">ARABELLA.</div><div style="margin:10px 0">Of a fair town where Doctor Rack was guide,<br>His only daughter was the boast and pride -<br>Wise Arabella, yet not wise alone,<br>She like a bright and polish'd brilliant shone;<br>Her father own'd her for his prop and stay,<br>Able to guide, yet willing to obey;<br>Pleased with her learning while discourse could </div><div style="margin:10px 0">please,<br>And with her love in languor and disease:<br>To every mother were her virtues known,<br>And to their daughters as a pattern shown;<br>Who in her youth had all that age requires,<br>And with her prudence all that youth admires:<br>These odious praises made the damsels try<br>Not to obtain such merits, but deny;<br>For, whatsoever wise mammas might say,<br>To guide a daughter, this was not the way;<br>From such applause disdain and anger rise,<br>And envy lives where emulation dies.<br>In all his strength contends the noble horse<br>With one who just precedes him on the course,<br>But when the rival flies too far before,<br>His spirit fails, and he attempts no more.<br>This reasoning Maid, above her sex's dread,<br>Had dared to read, and dared to say she read;<br>Not the last novel, not the new-born play;<br>Not the mere trash and scandal of the day;<br>But (though her young companions felt the shock)<br>She studied Berkeley, Bacon, Hobbes and Locke:<br>Her mind within the maze of history dwelt,<br>And of the moral Muse the beauty felt;<br>The merits of the Roman page she knew,<br>And could converse with More and Montague:<br>Thus she became the wonder of the town,<br>From that she reap'd, to that she gave renown;<br>And strangers coming, all were taught t'admire<br>The learned lady, and the lofty spire.<br>Thus fame in public fix'd the Maid where all<br>Might throw their darts, and see the idol fall:<br>A hundred arrows came with vengeance keen,<br>From tongues envenom'd, and from arms unseen;<br>A thousand eyes were fix'd upon the place,<br>That, if she fell, she might not fly disgrace:<br>But malice vainly throws the poison'd dart,<br>Unless our frailty shows the peccant part;<br>And Arabella still preserved her name<br>Untouch'd, and shone with undisputed fame;<br>Her very notice some respect would cause,<br>And her esteem was honour and applause.<br>Men she avoided; not in childish fear,<br>As if she thought some savage foe was near;<br>Not as a prude, who hides that man should seek,<br>Or who by silence hints that they should speak;<br>But with discretion all the sex she view'd,<br>Ere yet engaged pursuing or pursued;<br>Ere love had made her to his vices blind,<br>Or hid the favourite's failings from her mind.<br>Thus was the picture of the man portray'd,<br>By merit destined for so rare a maid;<br>At whose request she might exchange her state,<br>Or still be happy in a virgin's fate: -<br>He must be one with manners like her own,<br>His life unquestion'd, his opinions known;<br>His stainless virtue must all tests endure,<br>His honour spotless, and his bosom pure;<br>She no allowance made for sex or times,<br>Of lax opinion--crimes were ever crimes;<br>No wretch forsaken must his frailty curse,<br>No spurious offspring drain his private purse;<br>He at all times his passions must command,<br>And yet possess--or be refused her hand.<br>All this without reserve the maiden told,<br>And some began to weigh the rector's gold;<br>To ask what sum a prudent man might gain,<br>Who had such store of virtues to maintain?<br>A Doctor Campbell, north of Tweed, came forth,<br>Declared his passion, and proclaim'd his worth;<br>Not unapproved, for he had much to say<br>On every cause, and in a pleasant way;<br>Not all his trust was in a pliant tongue,<br>His form was good, and ruddy he, and young:<br>But though the doctor was a man of parts,<br>He read not deeply male or female hearts;<br>But judged that all whom he esteem'd as wise<br>Must think alike, though some assumed disguise;<br>That every reasoning Brahmin, Christian, Jew,<br>Of all religions took their liberal view;<br>And of her own, no doubt, this learned Maid<br>Denied the substance, and the forms obey'd:<br>And thus persuaded, he his thoughts express'd<br>Of her opinions, and his own profess'd:<br>'All states demand this aid, the vulgar need<br>Their priests and prayers, their sermons and their </div><div style="margin:10px 0">creed;<br>And those of stronger minds should never speak<br>(In his opinion) what might hurt the weak:<br>A man may smile, but still he should attend<br>His hour at church, and be the Church's friend,<br>What there he thinks conceal, and what he hears </div><div style="margin:10px 0">commend.'<br>Frank was the speech, but heard with high </div><div style="margin:10px 0">disdain,<br>Nor had the doctor leave to speak again;<br>A man who own'd, nay gloried in deceit,<br>'He might despise her, but he should not cheat.'<br>The Vicar Holmes appear'd: he heard it said<br>That ancient men best pleased the prudent maid;<br>And true it was her ancient friends she loved,<br>Servants when old she favour'd and approved;<br>Age in her pious parents she revered,<br>And neighbours were by length of days endear'd;<br>But, if her husband too must ancient be,<br>The good old vicar found it was not he.<br>On Captain Bligh her mind in balance hung -<br>Though valiant, modest; and reserved, though young:<br>Against these merits must defects be set -<br>Though poor, imprudent; and though proud, in debt:<br>In vain the captain close attention paid;<br>She found him wanting, whom she fairly weigh'd.<br>Then came a youth, and all their friends agreed<br>That Edward Huntly was the man indeed;<br>Respectful duty he had paid awhile,<br>Then ask'd her hand, and had a gracious smile:<br>A lover now declared, he led the fair<br>To woods and fields, to visits, and to pray'r;<br>Then whisper'd softly--'Will you name the day?'<br>She softly whisper'd--'If you love me, stay.'<br>'Oh! try me not beyond my strength,' he cried:<br>'Oh! be not weak,' the prudent Maid replied;<br>'But by some trial your affection prove -<br>Respect, and not impatience, argues love:<br>And love no more is by impatience known,<br>Than ocean's depth is by its tempests shown:<br>He whom a weak and fond impatience sways,<br>But for himself with all his fervour prays,<br>And not the maid he woos, but his own will obeys;<br>And will she love the being who prefers,<br>With so much ardour, his desire to hers?'<br>Young Edward grieved, but let not grief be seen;<br>He knew obedience pleased his fancy's queen:<br>Awhile he waited, and then cried--'Behold!<br>The year advancing, be no longer cold!'<br>For she had promised--'Let the flowers appear,<br>And I will pass with thee the smiling year:'<br>Then pressing grew the youth; the more he press'd,<br>The less inclined the maid to his request:<br>'Let June arrive.' Alas! when April came,<br>It brought a stranger, and the stranger, shame;<br>Nor could the Lover from his house persuade<br>A stubborn lass whom he had mournful made;<br>Angry and weak, by thoughtless vengeance moved,<br>She told her story to the Fair beloved;<br>In strongest words th' unwelcome truth was shown,<br>To blight his prospects, careless of her own.<br>Our heroine grieved, but had too firm a heart<br>For him to soften, when she swore to part;<br>In vain his seeming penitence and pray'r,<br>His vows, his tears; she left him in despair:<br>His mother fondly laid her grief aside,<br>And to the reason of the nymph applied: -<br>'It well becomes thee, lady, to appear,<br>But not to be, in very truth, severe;<br>Although the crime be odious in thy sight,<br>That daring sex is taught such things to slight,<br>His heart is thine, although it once was frail;<br>Think of his grief, and let his love prevail!'<br>'Plead thou no more, 'the lofty lass return'd;<br>'Forgiving woman is deceived and spurn'd:<br>Say that the crime is common--shall I take<br>A common man my wedded lord to make?<br>See? a weak woman by his arts betray'd,<br>An infant born his father to upbraid;<br>Shall I forgive his vileness, take his name,<br>Sanction his error, and partake his shame?<br>No! this assent would kindred frailty prove,<br>A love for him would be a vicious love:<br>Can a chaste maiden secret counsel hold<br>With one whose crime by every mouth is told?<br>Forbid it spirit, prudence, virtuous pride;<br>He must despise me, were he not denied:<br>The way from vice the erring mind to win<br>Is with presuming sinners to begin,<br>And show, by scorning them, a just contempt for </div><div style="margin:10px 0">sin.'<br>The youth, repulsed, to one more mild convey'd<br>His heart, and smiled on the remorseless maid;<br>The maid, remorseless, in her pride, the while<br>Despised the insult, and return'd the smile.<br>First to admire, to praise her, and defend,<br>Was (now in years advanced) a virgin-friend:<br>Much she preferr'd, she cried the single state,<br>'It was her choice'--it surely was her fate;<br>And much it pleased her in the train to view<br>A maiden vot'ress, wise and lovely too.<br>Time to the yielding mind his change imparts,<br>He varies notions, and he alters hearts;<br>'Tis right, 'tis just to feel contempt for vice,<br>But he that shows it may be over-nice:<br>There are who feel, when young, the false sublime,<br>And proudly love to show disdain for crime;<br>To whom the future will new thoughts supply,<br>The pride will soften, and the scorn will die;<br>Nay, where they still the vice itself condemn,<br>They bear the vicious, and consort with them:<br>Young Captain Grove, when one had changed his side,<br>Despised the venal turncoat, and defied;<br>Old Colonel Grove now shakes him by the hand,<br>Though he who bribes may still his vote command.<br>Why would not Ellen to Belinda speak,<br>When she had flown to London for a week,<br>And then return'd, to every friend's surprise,<br>With twice the spirit, and with half the size?<br>She spoke not then--but, after years had flown,<br>A better friend had Ellen never known:<br>Was it the lady her mistake had seen?<br>Or had she too on such a journey been?<br>No: 'twas the gradual change in human hearts,<br>That time, in commerce with the world, imparts;<br>That on the roughest temper throws disguise,<br>And steals from virtue her asperities.<br>The young and ardent, who with glowing zeal<br>Felt wrath for trifles, and were proud to feel,<br>Now find those trifles all the mind engage,<br>To soothe dull hours, and cheat the cares of age;<br>As young Zelinda, in her quaker-dress,<br>Disdain'd each varying fashion's vile excess,<br>And now her friends on old Zelinda gaze,<br>Pleased in rich silks and orient gems to blaze:<br>Changes like these 'tis folly to condemn,<br>So virtue yields not, nor is changed with them.<br>Let us proceed: --Twelve brilliant years were </div><div style="margin:10px 0">past,<br>Yet each with less of glory than the last.<br>Whether these years to this fair virgin gave<br>A softer mind--effect they often have;<br>Whether the virgin-state was not so bless'd<br>As that good maiden in her zeal profess'd;<br>Or whether lovers falling from her train,<br>Gave greater price to those she could retain,<br>Is all unknown;--but Arabella now<br>Was kindly listening to a Merchant's vow,<br>Who offer'd terms so fair, against his love<br>To strive was folly, so she never strove. -<br>Man in his earlier days we often find<br>With a too easy and unguarded mind;<br>But by increasing years and prudence taught,<br>He grows reserved, and locks up every thought:<br>Not thus the maiden, for in blooming youth<br>She hides her thought and guards the tender truth:<br>This, when no longer young, no more she hides,<br>But frankly in the favour'd swain confides:<br>Man, stubborn man, is like the growing tree,<br>That, longer standing, still will harder be;<br>And like its fruit, the virgin, first austere,<br>Then kindly softening with the ripening year.<br>Now was the lover urgent, and the kind<br>And yielding lady to his suit inclined:<br>'A little time, my friend, is just, is right;<br>We must be decent in our neighbours' sight:'<br>Still she allow'd him of his hopes to speak,<br>And in compassion took off week by week;<br>Till few remain'd, when, wearied with delay,<br>She kindly meant to take off day by day.<br>That female Friend who gave our virgin praise<br>For flying man and all his treacherous ways,<br>Now heard with mingled anger, shame, and fear<br>Of one accepted, and a wedding near;<br>But she resolved again with friendly zeal<br>To make the maid her scorn of wedlock feel;<br>For she was grieved to find her work undone,<br>And like a sister mourn'd the failing nun.<br>Why are these gentle maidens prone to make<br>Their sister-doves the tempting world forsake?<br>Why all their triumph when a maid disdains<br>The tyrant sex, aud scorns to wear its chains?<br>Is it pure joy to see a sister flown<br>From the false pleasures they themselves have </div><div style="margin:10px 0">known:<br>Or do they, as the call-birds in the cage,<br>Try, in pure envy, others to engage?<br>And therefore paint their native woods and groves,<br>As scenes of dangerous joys and naughty loves?<br>Strong was the maiden's hope; her friend was </div><div style="margin:10px 0">proud,<br>And had her notions to the world avow'd;<br>And, could she find the Merchant weak and frail,<br>With power to prove it, then she must prevail:<br>For she aloud would publish his disgrace,<br>And save his victim from a man so base.<br>When all inquiries had been duly made,<br>Came the kind Friend her burthen to unlade: -<br>'Alas! my dear! not all our care and art<br>Can thread the maze of man's deceitful heart;<br>Look not surprised--nor let resentment swell<br>Those lovely features, all will yet be well;<br>And thou, from love's and man's deceptions free,<br>Wilt dwell in virgin-state, and walk to Heaven with </div><div style="margin:10px 0">me.'<br>The Maiden frown'd, and then conceived 'that </div><div style="margin:10px 0">wives<br>Could walk as well, and lead as holy lives,<br>As angry prudes who scorn'd the marriage-chain,<br>Or luckless maids, who sought it still in vain.'<br>The Friend was vex'd--she paused; at length she </div><div style="margin:10px 0">cried,<br>'Know your own danger, then your lot decide:<br>That traitor Beswell, while he seeks your hand,<br>Has, I affirm, a wanton at command;<br>A slave, a creature from a foreign place,<br>The nurse and mother of a spurious race;<br>Brown ugly bastards (Heaven the word forgive,<br>And the deed punish!) in his cottage live;<br>To town if business calls him, there he stays<br>In sinful pleasures wasting countless days.<br>Nor doubt the facts, for I can witness call,<br>For every crime, and prove them one and all.'<br>Here ceased th' informer; Arabella's look<br>Was like a schoolboy's puzzled by his book;<br>Intent she cast her eyes upon the floor,<br>Paused--then replied -<br>'I wish to know no more:<br>I question not your motive, zeal, or love,<br>But must decline such dubious points to prove.<br>All is not true, I judge, for who can guess<br>Those deeds of darkness men with care suppress?<br>He brought a slave perhaps to England's coast,<br>And made her free; it is our country's boast!<br>And she perchance too grateful--good and ill<br>Were sown at first, and grow together still;<br>The colour'd infants on the village green,<br>What are they more than we have often seen?<br>Children half-clothed who round their village </div><div style="margin:10px 0">stray,<br>In sun or rain, now starved, now beaten, they<br>Will the dark colour of their fate betray:<br>Let us in Christian love for all account,<br>And then behold to what such tales amount.'<br>'His heart is evil,' said the impatient Friend:<br>'My duty bids me try that heart to mend,'<br>Replied the virgin; 'we may be too nice<br>And lose a soul in our contempt of vice;<br>If false the charge, I then shall show regard<br>For a good man, and be his just reward:<br>And what for virtue can I better do<br>Than to reclaim him, if the charge be true?'<br>She spoke, nor more her holy work delay'd;<br>'Twas time to lend an erring mortal aid:<br>'The noblest way,' she judged, 'a soul to win,<br>Was with an act of kindness to begin,<br>To make the sinner sure, and then t'attack the sin.'</div><div style="margin:10px 0"><br /></a><br />poem by <a href="http://en.citatepedia.ro/by.php?a=George+Crabbe">George Crabbe</a><div class=q>
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<script type="text/javascript" src="//s7.addthis.com/js/300/addthis_widget.js#pubid=citatepedia" async="async"></script><div style="display:inline-block" class="addthis_sharing_toolbox" data-url="http://en.citatepedia.ro/comments.php?id=395897" data-title="Tale XI de George Crabbe" data-description="ARABELLA.

Of a fair town where Doctor Rack was guide,
His only daughter was the boast and pride -
Wise Arabella, yet not wise alone,
She like a bright and polish'd brilliant shone;
Her father own'd her for his prop and stay,
Able to guide, yet wi..."></div>
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