A COMPLAINT OF THE DECAY OF BEGGARS IN THE METROPO

Theall-sweepingbesomofsocietarianreformation——youronlymodernAlcidesclubtoridthetimeofitsabuses——isupliftwithmany-handedswaytoextirpatethelastflutteringtattersofthebugbearMendicityfromthemetropolis.Scrips,wallets,bags——staves,dogs,andcrutches——thewholemendicantfraternitywithalltheirbaggagearefastpostingoutofthepurlieusofthiseleventhpersecution.Fromthecrowdedcrossing,fromthecornersofstreetsandturningsofallies,thepartingGeniusofBeggaryis"withsighingsent."

Idonotapproveofthiswholesalegoingtowork,thisimpertinentcrusado,orbellumadexterminationem,proclaimedagainstaspecies.MuchgoodmightbesuckedfromtheseBeggars.

Theyweretheoldestandthehonourablestformofpauperism.Theirappealsweretoourmonnature;lessrevoltingtoaningenuousmindthantobeasupplianttotheparticularhumoursorcapriceofanyfellow-creature,orsetoffellow-creatures,parochialorsocietarian.Theirsweretheonlyratesuninvidiousinthelevy,ungrudgedintheassessment.

Therewasadignityspringingfromtheverydepthoftheirdesolation;astobenakedistobesomuchnearertothebeingaman,thantogoinlivery.

Thegreatestspiritshavefeltthisintheirreverses;andwhenDionysiusfromkingturnedschoolmaster,dowefeelanythingtowardshimbutcontempt?CouldVandykehavemadeapictureofhim,swayingaferulaforasceptre,whichwouldhaveaffectedourmindswiththesameheroicpity,thesamepassionateadmiration,withwhichweregardhisBelisariusbeggingforanobolum?Wouldthemoralhavebeenmoregraceful,morepathetic?

TheBlindBeggarinthelegend——thefatherofprettyBessy——whosestorydoggrelrhymesandale-housesignscannotsodegradenorattenuate,butthatsomesparksofalustrousspiritwillshinethroughthedisguisements——thisnobleEarlofCornwall(asindeedhewas)andmemorablesportoffortune,fleeingfromtheunjustsentenceofhisliegelord,striptofall,andseatedonthefloweringgreenofBethnal,withhismorefreshandspringingdaughterbyhisside,illumininghisragsandhisbeggary——wouldthechildandparenthavecutabetterfigure,doingthehonoursofacounter,orexpiatingtheirfallenconditionuponthethree-footeminenceofsomesempsteringshop-board?

IntaleorhistoryyourBeggariseverthejustantipodetoyourKing.Thepoetsandromancicalwriters(asdearMargaretNewcastlewouldcallthem)whentheywouldmostsharplyandfeelinglypaintareverseoffortune,neverstoptilltheyhavebroughtdowntheirheroingoodearnesttoragsandthewallet.Thedepthofthedescentillustratestheheighthefallsfrom.Thereisnomediumwhichcanbepresentedtotheimaginationwithoutoffence.Thereisnobreakingthefall.Lear,thrownfromhispalace,mustdivesthimofhisgarments,tillheanswer"merenature;"andCresseid,fallenfromaprinceslove,mustextendherpalearms,palewithotherwhitenessthanofbeauty,supplicatinglazaralmswithbellandclap-dish.

TheLucianwitsknewthisverywell;and,withaconversepolicy,whentheywouldexpressscornofgreatnesswithoutthepity,theyshowusanAlexanderintheshadescobblingshoes,oraSemiramisgettingupfoullinen.

Howwoulditsoundinsong,thatagreatmonarchhaddeclinedhisaffectionsuponthedaughterofabaker!yetdowefeeltheimaginationatallviolatedwhenwereadthe"trueballad,"whereKingCophetuawooesthebeggarmaid?

Pauperism,pauper,poorman,areexpressionsofpity,butpityalloyedwithcontempt.Nooneproperlycontemnsabeggar.Povertyisaparativething,andeachdegreeofitismockedbyits"neighbourgrice."Itspoorrentsandings-inaresoonsummedupandtold.Itspretencestopropertyarealmostludicrous.Itspitifulattemptstosaveexciteasmile.Everyscornfulpanioncanweighhistrifle-biggerpurseagainstit.Poormanreproachespoormaninthestreetswithimpoliticmentionofhiscondition,hisownbeingashadebetter,whiletherichpassbyandjeeratboth.NorascallyparativeinsultsaBeggar,orthinksofweighingpurseswithhim.Heisnotinthescaleofparison.Heisnotunderthemeasureofproperty.Heconfessedlyhathnone,anymorethanadogorasheep.Noonetwittethhimwithostentationabovehismeans.Nooneaccuseshimofpride,orupbraidethhimwithmockhumility.Nonejostlewithhimforthewall,orpickquarrelsforprecedency.Nowealthyneighbourseekethtoejecthimfromhistenement.Nomansueshim.Nomangoestolawwithhim.IfIwerenottheindependentgentlemanthatIam,ratherthanIwouldbearetainertothegreat,aledcaptain,orapoorrelation,Iwouldchoose,outofthedelicacyandtruegreatnessofmymind,tobeaBeggar.

Rags,whicharethereproachofpoverty,aretheBeggarsrobes,andgracefulinsigniaofhisprofession,histenure,hisfulldress,thesuitinwhichheisexpectedtoshowhimselfinpublic.Heisneveroutofthefashion,orlimpethawkwardlybehindit.Heisnotrequiredtoputoncourtmourning.Hewearethallcolours,fearingnone.Hiscostumehathundergonelesschangethanthequakers.Heistheonlymanintheuniversewhoisnotobligedtostudyappearances.Theupsanddownsoftheworldconcernhimnolonger.Healonecontinuethinonestay.Thepriceofstockorlandaffectethhimnot.Thefluctuationsofagriculturalormercialprosperitytouchhimnot,oratworstbutchangehiscustomers.Heisnotexpectedtobeebailorsuretyforanyone.Nomantroublethhimwithquestioninghisreligionorpolitics.Heistheonlyfreemanintheuniverse.

TheMendicantsofthisgreatcityweresomanyofhersights,herlions.Icannomoresparethen,thanIcouldtheCriesofLondon.Noerofastreetispletewithoutthem.TheyareasindispensableastheBalladSinger;andintheirpicturesqueattireasornamentalastheSignsofoldLondon.Theywerethestandingmorals,emblems,mementos,dial-mottos,thespitalsermons,thebooksforchildren,thesalutarychecksandpausestothehighandrushingtideofgreasycitizenry——

Look

Uponthatpoorandbrokenbankruptthere.

Aboveall,thoseoldblindTobitsthatusedtolinethewallofLincolnsInnGarden,beforemodernfastidiousnesshadexpelledthem,castinguptheirruinedorbstocatcharayofpity,and(ifpossible)oflight,withtheirfaithfulDogGuideattheirfeet,——whitheraretheyfled?orintowhatcorners,blindasthemselves,havetheybeendriven,outofthewholesomeairandsun-warmth?immersedbetweenfourwalls,inwhatwitheringpoor-housedotheyendurethepenaltyofdoubledarkness,wherethechinkofthedropthalfpennynomoreconsolestheirforlornbereavement,farfromthesoundofthecheerfulandhope-stirringtreadofthepassenger?Wherehangtheiruselessstaves?andwhowillfarmtheirdogsHavetheoverseersofSt.L——causedthemtobeshot?orweretheytiedupinsacks,anddroptintotheThames,atthesuggestionofB——,themildrectorof——?

WellfarethesoulofunfastidiousVincentBourne,mostclassical,andatthesametime,mostEnglish,oftheLatinists——whohastreatedofthishumanandquadrupedalalliance,thisdogandmanfriendship,inthesweetestofhispoems,theEpitaphiuminCanem,or,DogsEpitaph.Reader,peruseit;andsay,ifcustomarysights,whichcouldcallupsuchgentlepoetryasthis,wereofanaturetodomoreharmorgoodtothemoralsenseofthepassengersthroughthedailythoroughfaresofavastandbusymetropolis.

PauperishicirirequiescoLyciscus,herilis,

Dumvixi,tutelavigilcolumenquesenectae,

Duxcaecofidus:nec,meducente,solebat,

Praetensohincatquehincbaculo,periniqualocorum

Incertamexplorareviam;sedfilasecutus,

Quaedubiosregerentpassus,vestigiatuta

Fixitinoffensogressu;gelidumquesedile

Innudonactussaxo,quapraetereuntium

Undafrequensconfluxit,ibimiserisquetenebras

Lamentis,noctemqueoculisploravitobortam.

Ploravitnecfrustra;obolumdeditalteretalter,

Queiscordaetmentemindideratnaturabenignam.

Adlatusintereajacuisopitusherile,

Velmediisvigilinsomnis;adheriliajussa

Auresqueatqueanimumarrectus,seufrustulaamice

Porrexitsociasquedapes,seulongadiei

Taediaperpessus,reditumsubnocteparabat.

Himores,haecvitafuit,dumfatasinebant,

Dumnequelanguebammorbis,necinertesenecta;

Quaetandemobrepsit,veteriquesatellitecascum

Orbavitdominumpriscisedgratiafacti

Netotaintereat,longosdeletaperannos,

ExiguumhuncIrustumulumdecespitefecit,

Etsiinopis,noningratae,munusculadextrae;

Carminesignavitquebrevi,dominumquecanemque

Quodmemoret,fidumquecanemdominumquebenignum.

PoorIrusfaithfulwolf-doghereIlie,

Thatwonttotendmyoldblindmasterssteps,

Hisguideandguard:nor,whilemyservicelasted,

Hadheoccasionforthatstaff,withwhich

Henowgoespickingouthispathinfear

Overthehighwaysandcrossings;butwouldplant,

Safeintheconductofmyfriendlystring,

Afirmfootforwardstill,tillhehadreachd

Hispoorseatonsomestone,nighwherethetide

Ofpassersbyinthickestconfluenceflowd:

Towhomwithloudandpassionatelaments

Frommorntoevehisdarkestatehewaild.

Norwaildtoallinvain:somehereandthere,

Thewell-disposedandgood,theirpenniesgave.

Imeantimeathisfeetobsequiousslept;

Notall-asleepinsleep,hutheartandear

Prickdupathisleastmotion;toreceive

Athiskindhandmycustomarycrums,

Andmonportioninhisfeastofscraps;

Orwhennightwarndushomeward,tiredandspent

Withourlongdayandtediousbeggary.

Theseweremymanners,thismywayoflife,

Tillageandslowdiseasemeovertook,

Andseverdfrommysightlessmastersside.

Butlestthegraceofsogooddeedsshoulddie,

Throughtractofyearsinmuteoblivionlost,

ThisslendertombofturfhathIrusreared,

Cheapmonumentofnoungrudginghand,

Andwithshortverseinscribedit,toattest,

Inlongandlastinguniontoattest,

ThevirtuesoftheBeggarandhisDog.

Thesedimeyeshaveinvainexploredforsomemonthspastawell-knownfigure,orpartofthefigure,ofaman,whousedtoglidehiselyupperhalfoverthepavementsofLondon,wheelingalongwithmostingeniouscelerityuponamachineofwood;aspectacletonatives,toforeigners,andtochildren.Hewasofarobustmake,withafloridsailor-likeplexion,andhisheadwasbaretothestormandsunshine.Hewasanaturalcuriosity,aspeculationtothescientific,aprodigytothesimple.Theinfantwouldstareatthemightymanbroughtdowntohisownlevel.Themoncripplewoulddespisehisownpusillanimity,viewingthehalestoutness,andheartyheart,ofthishalf-limbedgiant.Fewbutmusthavenoticedhim;fortheaccident,whichbroughthimlow,tookplaceduringtheriotsof1780,andhehasbeenagroundlingsolong.Heseemedearth-born,anAnteus,andtosuckinfreshvigourfromthesoilwhichheneighboured.Hewasagrandfragment;asgoodasanElginmarble.Thenature,whichshouldhaverecruitedhisreftlegsandthighs,wasnotlost,butonlyretiredintohisupperparts,andhewashalfaHercules.Iheardatremendousvoicethunderingandgrowling,asbeforeanearthquake,andcastingdownmyeyes,itwasthismandrakerevilingasteedthathadstartedathisportentousappearance.Heseemedtowantbuthisjuststaturetohaverenttheoffendingquadrupedinshivers.Hewasastheman-partofaCentaur,fromwhichthehorse-halfhadbeencloveninsomedireLapithancontroversy.Hemovedon,asifhecouldhavemadeshiftwithyethalfofthebody-portionwhichwaslefthim.Theossublimewasnotwanting;andhethrewoutyetajollycountenanceupontheheavens.Forty-and-twoyearshadhedriventhisoutofdoortrade,andnowthathishairisgrizzledintheservice,buthisgoodspiritsnowayimpaired,becauseheisnotcontenttoexchangehisfreeairandexercisefortherestraintsofapoor-house,heisexpiatinghiscontumacyinoneofthosehouses(ironicallychristened)ofCorrection.

Wasadailyspectaclelikethistobedeemedanuisance,whichcalledforlegalinterferencetoremove?ornotratherasalutaryandatouchingobject,tothepassers-byinagreatcity?——Amonghershows,hermuseums,andsuppliesforever-gapingcuriosity(andwhatelsebutanaccumulationofsights——endlesssights——isagreatcity;orforwhatelseisitdesirable?)wastherenotroomforoneLusus(notNaturae,indeed,but)Accidentium?Whatifinforty-and-twoyearsgoingabout,themanhadscrapedtogetherenoughtogiveaportiontohischild(astherumourran)ofafewhundreds——whomhadheinjured?——whomhadheimposedupon?Thecontributorshadenjoyedtheirsightfortheirpennies.Whatifafterbeingexposedalldaytotheheats,therains,andthefrostsofheaven——shufflinghisungainlytrunkalonginanelaborateandpainfulmotion——hewasenabledtoretireatnighttoenjoyhimselfataclubofhisfellowcripplesoveradishofhotmeatandvegetables,asthechargewasgravelybroughtagainsthimbyaclergymandeposingbeforeaHouseofCommonsCommittee——wasthis,orwashistrulypaternalconsideration,which(ifafact)deservedastatueratherthanawhipping-post,andisinconsistentatleastwiththeexaggerationofnocturnalorgieswhichhehasbeenslanderedwith——areasonthatheshouldbedeprivedofhischosen,harmless,nayedifying,wayoflife,andbemittedinhoaryageforasturdyvagabond?——

TherewasaYorickonce,whomitwouldnothaveshamedtohavesatedownatthecripplesfeast,andtohavethrowninhisbenediction,ay,andhismitetoo,forapanionablesymbol."Age,thouhastlostthybreed."-

Halfofthesestoriesabouttheprodigiousfortunesmadebybeggingare(Iverilybelieve)miserscalumnies.Onewasmuchtalkedofinthepublicpaperssometimesince,andtheusualcharitableinferencesdeduced.AclerkintheBankwassurprisedwiththeannouncementofafivehundredpoundlegacylefthimbyapersonwhosenamehewasastrangerto.ItseemsthatinhisdailymorningwalksfromPeckham(orsomevillagethereabouts)wherehelived,tohisoffice,ithadbeenhispracticeforthelasttwentyyearstodrophishalfpennydulyintothehatofsomeblindBartimeus,thatsatebeggingalmsbytheway-sideintheBorough.Thegoodoldbeggarrecognisedhisdailybenefactorbythevoiceonly;and,whenbedied,leftalltheamassingsofhisalms(that[p120]hadbeenhalfacenturyperhapsintheaccumulating)tohisoldBankfriend.Wasthisastorytopurseuppeopleshearts,andpennies,againstgivinganaimstotheblind?——ornotratherabeautifulmoralofwell-directedcharityontheonepart,andnoblegratitudeupontheother?

IsometimeswishIhadbeenthatBankclerk.

Iseemtorememberapooroldgratefulkindofcreature,blinking,andlookingupwithhisnoeyesinthesun——

IsitpossibleIcouldhavesteeledmypurseagainsthim?

PerhapsIhadnosmallchange.

Reader,donotbefrightenedatthehardwords,imposition,imposture——give,andasknoquestions.Castthybreaduponthewaters.Somehaveunawares(likethisBankclerk)entertainedangels.

Shutnotthypurse-stringsalwaysagainstpainteddistress.Actacharitysometimes.Whenapoorcreature(outwardlyandvisiblysuch)esbeforethee,donotstaytoinquirewhetherthe"sevensmallchildren,"inwhosenameheimploresthyassistance,haveaveritableexistence.Rakenotintothebowelsofunweletruth,tosaveahalfpenny.Itisgoodtobelievehim.Ifhebenotallthathepretendeth,give,andunderapersonatefatherofafamily,think(ifthoupleasest)thatthouhastrelievedanindigentbachelor.Whentheyewiththeircounterfeitlooks,andmumpingtones,thinkthemplayers.Youpayyourmoneytoseeaedianfeignthesethings,which,concerningthesepoorpeople,thoucanstnotcertainlytellwhethertheyarefeignedornot.

wwＷ．xiaＯshuo txt.nett。xt-小.说。天/堂