A COMPLAINT OF THE DECAY OF BEGGARS IN THE METROPO
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.