The sun-burnt tar that blisters on the planks, When tides were neap, and, in the sultry day, Through the tall bounding mud-banks made their way, Which on each side rose swelling, and below The dark warm flood ran silently and slow; There anchoring, Peter chose from man to hide, There hang his head, and view the lazy tide In its hot slimy channel slowly glide; Where the small eels that left the deeper way For the warm shore, within the shallows play; Where gaping muscles, left upon the mud, Slope their slow passage to the fallen flood ;Here dull and hopeless he'd lie down and trace How sidelong crabs had scrawl'd their crooked race; Or sadly listen to the tuneless cry Of fishing gull or clanging golden-eye; Besides these objects, there were places three, Which Peter seem'd with certain dread to see ; When he drew near them he would turn from each, And loudly whistle till he pass'd the reach. (1) A change of scene to him brought no relief, In town, 't was plain, men took him for a thief: The sailors' wives would stop him in the street, And say, 66 Now, Peter, thou'st no boy to beat: Infants at play, when they perceived him, ran, Warning each other "That's the wicked man: He growl'd an oath, and in an angry tone Alone he was, the same dull scenes in view, And still more gloomy in his sight they grew: Though man he hated, yet employ'd alone At bootless labour, he would swear and groan, Cursing the shoals that glided by the spot, And gulls that caught them when his arts could not. Cold nervous tremblings shook his sturdy frame, And strange disease - he couldn't say the name; Wild were his dreams, and oft he rose in fright, Waked by his view of horrors in the night, Horrors that would the sternest minds amaze, Horrors that demons might be proud to raise : (1) The reaches in a river are those parts which extend from point to point. Johnson has not the word precisely in this sense; but it is very common, and, I believe, used wheresoever a navigable river can be found in this country. --["A reach is the line or distance comprehended between any two points, or stations, on the banks of a river, wherein the current flows in a straight uninterrupted course, as Woolwich Reach," &c. BURNEY.] And though he felt forsaken, grieved at heart, Yet, if a man approach'd, in terrors he would start. A winter pass'd since Peter saw the town, One, up Or that some power had chain'd him for a time, This known, some curious, some in pity went, And others question'd-"Wretch, dost thou repent?" He heard, he trembled, and in fear resign'd His boat new terror fill'd his restless mind; Furious he grew, and up the country ran, And there they seized him—a distemper'd man: Him we received, and to a parish-bed, Follow'd and cursed, the groaning man was led. Here when they saw him, whom they used to shun, A lost, lone man, so harass'd and undone; Our gentle females, ever prompt to feel, Perceived compassion on their anger steal; His crimes they could not from their memories blot, But they were grieved, and trembled at his lot. A Priest too came, to whom his words are told; And all the signs they shudder'd to behold. "Look! look!" they cried; "his limbs with horror shake, "And as he grinds his teeth, what noise they make! "How glare his angry eyes, and yet he's not awake: "See! what cold drops upon his forehead stand, "And how he clenches that broad bony hand." The Priest attending, found he spoke at times As one alluding to his fears and crimes; "It was the fall," he mutter'd, "I can show "The manner how, I never struck a blow: And then aloud, "Unhand me, free my chain; "On oath he fell 66 66 - it struck him to the brain : — Why ask my father? that old man will swear Against my life; besides, he wasn't there: "What, all agreed? - Am I to die to-day? My Lord, in mercy give me time to pray." Then as they watch'd him, calmer he became, See the large dew-beads on his forehead rise, Nor yet he died, but with unwonted force He hid the knowledge, yet exposed his heart; "I'll tell you all," he said, "the very day "When the old man first placed them in my way: "My father's spirit- he who always tried "To give me trouble, when he lived and died ""T was one hot noon, all silent, still, serene, "No living being had I lately seen; "I paddled up and down and dipp'd my net, "But (such his pleasure) I could nothing get, "A father's pleasure, when his toil was done, "To plague and torture thus an only son! "And so I sat and look'd upon the stream, "How it ran on, and felt as in a dream: "But dream it was not: No! - I fix'd my eyes "On the mid stream and saw the spirits rise : "I saw my father on the water stand, "And hold a thin pale boy in either hand; "And there they glided ghastly on the top "Of the salt flood, and never touch'd a drop: "I would have struck them, but they knew th' intent, "And smiled upon the oar, and down they went. |