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Moral Emblems
by Robert Louis Stevenson
Contents
NOT I； AND OTHER POEMS
I。 Some like drink
II。 Here； perfect to a wish
III。 As seamen on the seas
IV。 The pamphlet here presented
MORAL EMBLEMS： A COLLECTION OF CUTS AND VERSES
I。 See how the children in the print
II。 Reader； your soul upraise to see
III。 A PEAK IN DARIEN … Broad…gazing on untrodden lands
IV。 See in the print how； moved by whim
V。 Mark； printed on the opposing page
MORAL EMBLEMS： A SECOND COLLECTION OF CUTS AND VERSES
I。 With storms a…weather； rocks…a…lee
II。 The careful angler chose his nook
III。 The Abbot for a walk went out
IV。 The frozen peaks he once explored
V。 Industrious pirate！ see him sweep
A MARTIAL ELEGY FOR SOME LEAD SOLDIERS
For certain soldiers lately dead
THE GRAVER AND THE PEN： OR； SCENES FROM NATURE； WITH APPROPRIATE
VERSES
I。 PROEM … Unlike the common run of men
II。 THE PRECARIOUS MILL … Alone above the stream it stands
III。 THE DISPUTATIOUS PINES … The first pine to the second said
IV。 THE TRAMPS … Now long enough had day endured
V。 THE FOOLHARDY GEOGRAPHER … The howling desert miles around
VI。 THE ANGLER AND THE CLOWN … The echoing bridge you here may
see
MORAL TALES
I。 ROBIN AND BEN： OR； THE PIRATE AND THE APOTHECARY … Come； lend
me an attentive ear
II。 THE BUILDER'S DOOM … In eighteen…twenty Deacon Thin
***
NOT I； AND OTHER POEMS
Poem： NOT I
Some like drink
In a pint pot；
Some like to think；
Some not。
Strong Dutch cheese；
Old Kentucky rye；
Some like these；
Not I。
Some like Poe；
And others like Scott；
Some like Mrs。 Stowe；
Some not。
Some like to laugh；
Some like to cry；
Some like chaff；
Not I。
Poem： II
Here； perfect to a wish；
We offer； not a dish；
But just the platter：
A book that's not a book；
A pamphlet in the look
But not the matter。
I own in disarray：
As to the flowers of May
The frosts of Winter；
To my poetic rage；
The smallness of the page
And of the printer。
Poem： III
As seamen on the seas
With song and dance descry
Adown the morning breeze
An islet in the sky：
In Araby the dry；
As o'er the sandy plain
The panting camels cry
To smell the coming rain：
So all things over earth
A common law obey；
And rarity and worth
Pass； arm in arm； away；
And even so； to…day；
The printer and the bard；
In pressless Davos； pray
Their sixpenny reward。
Poem： IV
The pamphlet here presented
Was planned and printed by
A printer unindented；
A bard whom all decry。
The author and the printer；
With various kinds of skill；
Concocted it in Winter
At Davos on the Hill。
They burned the nightly taper；
But now the work is ripe …
Observe the costly paper；
Remark the perfect type！
MORAL EMBLEMS I
Poem： I
See how the children in the print
Bound on the book to see what's in 't！
O； like these pretty babes； may you
Seize and APPLY this volume too！
And while your eye upon the cuts
With harmless ardour opes and shuts；
Reader； may your immortal mind
To their sage lessons not be blind。
Poem： II
Reader； your soul upraise to see；
In yon fair cut designed by me；
The pauper by the highwayside
Vainly soliciting from pride。
Mark how the Beau with easy air
Contemns the anxious rustic's prayer；
And； casting a disdainful eye；
Goes gaily gallivanting by。
He from the poor averts his head 。 。 。
He will regret it when he's dead。
Poem： III … A PEAK IN DARIEN
Broad…gazing on untrodden lands；
See where adventurous Cortez stands；
While in the heavens above his head
The Eagle seeks its daily bread。
How aptly fact to fact replies：
Heroes and eagles； hills and skies。
Ye who contemn the fatted slave
Look on this emblem； and be brave。
Poem： IV
See in the print how； moved by whim；
Trumpeting Jumbo； great and grim；
Adjusts his trunk； like a cravat；
To noose that individual's hat。
The sacred Ibis in the distance
Joys to observe his bold resistance。
Poem： V
Mark； printed on the opposing page；
The unfortunate effects of rage。
A man （who might be you or me）
Hurls another into the sea。
Poor soul； his unreflecting act
His future joys will much contract；
And he will spoil his evening toddy
By dwelling on that mangled body。
MORAL EMBLEMS II
Poem： I
With storms a…weather； rocks a…lee；
The dancing skiff puts forth to sea。
The lone dissenter in the blast
Recoils before the sight aghast。
But she； although the heavens be black；
Holds on upon the starboard tack；
For why？ although to…day she sink；
Still safe she sails in printer's ink；
And though to…day the seamen drown；
My cut shall hand their memory down。
Poem： II
The careful angler chose his nook
At morning by the lilied brook；
And all the noon his rod he plied
By that romantic riverside。
Soon as the evening hours decline
Tranquilly he'll return to dine；
And； breathing forth a pious wish；
Will cram his belly full of fish。
Poem： III
The Abbot for a walk went out；
A wealthy cleric； very stout；
And Robin has that Abbot stuck
As the red hunter spears the buck。
The djavel or the javelin
Has； you observe； gone bravely in；
And you may hear that weapon whack
Bang through the middle of his back。
HENCE WE MAY LEARN THAT ABBOTS SHOULD
NEVER GO WALKING IN A WOOD。
Poem： IV
The frozen peaks he once explored；
But now he's dead and by the board。
How better far at home to have stayed
Attended by the parlour maid；
And warmed his knees before the fire
Until the hour when folks retire！
SO； IF YOU WOULD BE SPARED TO FRIENDS；
DO NOTHING BUT FOR BUSINESS ENDS。
Poem： V
Industrious pirate！ see him sweep
The lonely bosom of the deep；
And daily the horizon scan
From Hatteras or Matapan。
Be sure； before that pirate's old；
He will have made a pot of gold；
And will retire from all his labours
And be respected by his neighbours。
YOU ALSO SCAN YOUR LIFE'S HORIZON
FOR ALL THAT YOU CAN CLAP YOUR EYES ON。
A MARTIAL ELEGY FOR SOME LEAD SOLDIERS
For certain soldiers lately dead
Our reverent dirge shall here be said。
Them； when their martial leader called；
No dread preparative appalled；
But leaden…hearted； leaden…heeled；
I marked them steadfast in the field。
Death grimly sided with the foe；
And smote each leaden hero low。
Proudly they perished one by one：
The dread Pea…cannon's work was done！
O not for them the tears we shed；
Consigned to their congenial lead；
But while unmoved their sleep they take；
We mourn for their dear Captain's sake；
For their dear Captain； who shall smart
Both in his pocket and his heart；
Who saw his heroes shed their gore；
And lacked a shilling to buy more！
THE GRAVER THE PEN： OR； SCENES FROM NATURE； WITH APPROPRIATE VERSES
Poem： I … PROEM
Unlike the common run of men；
I wield a double power to please；
And use the GRAVER and the PEN
With equal aptitude and ease。
I move with that illustrious crew；
The ambidextrous Kings of Art；
And every mortal thing I do
Brings ringing money in the mart。
Hence； in the morning hour； the mead；
The forest and the stream perceive
Me wandering as the muses lead …
Or back returning in the eve。
Two muses like two maiden aunts；
The engraving and the singing muse；
Follow； through all my favourite haunts；
My devious traces in the dews。
To guide and cheer me； each attends；
Each speeds my rapid task along；
One to my cuts her ardour lends；
One breathes her magic in my song。
Poem： II … THE PRECARIOUS MILL
Alone above the stream it stands；
Above the iron hill；
The topsy…turvy； tumble…down；
Yet habitable mill。
Still as the ringing saws advance
To slice the humming deal；
All day the pallid miller hears
The thunder of the wheel。
He hears the river plunge and roar
As roars the angry mob；
He feels the solid building quake；
The trusty timbers throb。
All night beside the fire he cowers：
He hears the rafters jar：
O why is he not in a proper house
As decent people are！
The floors are all aslant； he sees；
The doors are all a…jam；
And from the hook above his head
All crooked swings the ham。
'Alas；' he cries and shakes his head；
'I see by every sign；
There soon all be the deuce to pay；
With this estate of mine。'
Poem： III … THE DISPUTATIOUS PIN