55/9 
 
 J5sw 
 
 Jemingham 
 The Swedish curate
 
 THE LIBRARY 
 
 OF 
 
 THE UNIVERSITY 
 
 OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 LOS ANGELES 
 
 1 
 
 
 ^rr
 
 THE 
 
 SWEDISH CURATE, 
 
 A P O E M, 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 Printed for J. ROBSON, in New Bond-Street. 
 
 MDCCLXXm. 
 
 .■ \.
 
 
 T O 
 
 THE HONOURABLE 
 
 HORACE WALPOLE 
 
 (as a monument of friendship and esteem) 
 
 this poem is inscribed, 
 
 by his obedient humble servant, 
 
 Edward Jerningham. 
 
 865125
 
 ADVERTISE M EN t^ 
 
 GusTAvus Vasa, after bis efcape from his conjiyiement bi 'Denmark^ was 
 received f as he trai:eUed through Su-eden in difguife, ^ySuvERDSio, a country 
 curate ; ijoho, at the hazard of his life, concealed him in the parijh church. 
 
 See the Revolntions of Sweden l>j Vertot.
 
 THE 
 
 SWEDISH CURATE. 
 
 Eneath the friendly veil that midnight ffiread, 
 Guftavus to the patriot priell was led, 
 An humble, plain, difmterefted man, 
 M^io rear'd his uieful life on Virtue's plan i 
 Pleas'd to behold, entrufted to his care, 
 The hopes of Sweden, and fair Freedom's heir, 
 
 B Left 
 
 o
 
 ( 2 ) 
 
 Left fpies fhould ftill their privacy invade, 
 
 He to Religion's dome the Chief convey 'd : 
 
 There unreftrain'd he gladly ovvn'd his gueft, 
 
 And yielded to the zeal that fir'd his breaft. lo 
 
 " Beneath yon hallow'd lamp's relplendent light, 
 '*^ Which olows a brilliant on the breaft of Nio:ht, 
 * ' Let me thy long-loft image now farvey, 
 " And grateful homage to Guftavus pay : 
 '' Opprels'd, o'erthrown at Chriftiern's dire decree, 15 
 '' Unhappy Sweden ftill looks up to thee." 
 
 " Do 'ft thou with honeft and indignant zeal, 
 ^' The hero anfwer'd, fjjeak of Sweden's weal ? 
 '' Lament the ills the Danifli hands achieve ? 
 " Or do'ft thou flatter only to deceive ? 20 
 
 " Then
 
 ( 3 ) 
 
 " Then be it fo— call forth thy niurd'ring train, 
 " And funinion to my bier the cruel Dane, 
 '* Thus to preferment's fummit flialt thou rife 
 *-' And catch the hovVing mitre for thy prize. 
 
 " Misjudging youth, the facred Seer replied, 25 
 
 Supprefs th' injurious doubt, and flill confide : 
 
 Tho" indigent I ftand ! yet far above 
 
 The hov'ring mitre is my country's love : 
 
 Let others to the gilded crofs afpire. 
 
 And from the crozier catch Ambition's fire, ^o 
 
 And as they bafk in Leo's fofl'ring ray, 
 
 Their wealth, their pride, tlieir pageantry difjday : 
 
 Let me by grandeur undifturb'd, unfeen, 
 
 Content infj)her'd in duty's humbler (cene, 
 
 Sequefter'd lead my unafpiring days, ^5 
 
 And quench at Virtue's fount the thirfl of praife : 
 
 ''Be
 
 ( 4 ) 
 
 Be mine to dwell aniidft the village f\vains, 
 
 Survey tlieir pleafures and partake tlieir pains, 
 
 Still to their wants unfold niv little ftore, 
 
 And place contentment at the cottage door. 40 
 
 Ah, deem me then no longer Fajfliood's fon, 
 
 (By Tome diflioneil meed's allurement won) 
 
 Prompt to farprife thee with ignoble art, 
 
 And thro' thy bo(()m pierce my country's heart. 
 
 Avert it Heav'n— Shall on this hallow 'd ground, 45 
 
 Where all Religion's terrors breathe around, 
 
 Say, fliall Venality, with artful mien, 
 
 Dare to profane this venerable fcene : 
 
 — Yon diflant altar, drels'd in fmiplc gui(e 
 
 \Vhich feems from out th' encircling tombs to rl(e, 5a 
 
 From whole dread bale at each returning day, 
 
 ^Yhile o'er the world ten lullrcs roIFd away, 
 
 rv«
 
 ( 5 ) 
 
 '< I've fent to Heav'n upon the wings of pray'r 
 
 <•<• The hamlet's homage and the hamlet's care, 
 
 < ' Shall ne'er behold me tott'ring o'er my grave, 55 
 
 '' FaKe to mv country, treacherous to the brave.'' 
 
 The Chief, convinc'd, replies—" Oh virtuous Seer, 
 ' Thy firm intrepid zeal I now revere : 
 ' That honour-breathing voice, thofe filver hairs, 
 ' Tliat candid brow, engrav'd with Wifdom's cares, 60 
 ^ All ftrike my (bul with Truth's unclouded ray, 
 ' Befjre whofe warmth fufj^icion melts away." 
 
 '' Thrice happy hour! th' exulting Pallor faid, 
 *' Let injur'd Sweden raife her drooping head, 
 " For lo her godlike Hero comes to {ave 6ei 
 
 " Her laws, her rights, her freedom from the grave. 
 
 C <• ' -^Urgd
 
 ( 6 ) 
 
 cc — Urg'd in thy abfence by intruding fears, 
 
 " We thought thee dead, and bath'd that thought in tears.*' 
 
 " My death, the Chief return'd, the Dane decreed, 
 
 But fear, the tyrant's curie, forbade the deed : 70 
 
 Yet then the monarch Ipread his treach'rous fails. 
 
 And by the favour of conlpiring gales, 
 
 Conveyed me on his rapid bark away, 
 
 To his entrufted faith an helplefs prey : 
 
 Yet iVdl feverer fate to me remain'd ; 75 
 
 This arm the unrelenting Chrifliern chain'd. 
 
 Can'll; thou conceive the pangs that flung my bread, 
 
 I who to Fame my ardent vows addrels'd, 
 
 When, for th' unblemifli'd luflre of renown 
 
 That plays encircling on young Valour's crown, 80 
 
 Condemn'd by Fortune's inaulpicious doom, 
 
 Thefe eyes were blafted with a prifon's gloom 1 
 
 (( 
 
 In
 
 .( 7 ) 
 
 Til evVy plan, in all my wiflies crofi'd,' 
 
 Thefe arms, my zeal, my youth to Sweden loft. 
 
 But Heaven, that watches with parental care 85 
 
 The blamelefs fufF'rer, rais'd me from delpair, 
 
 Gave to my longing hopes the welcome hour 
 
 Decreed to fnatch me from the Danifli pow'r : 
 
 Yet then new (brrows did my path purfue 
 
 In fcenes prefented to my mournful view : 00 
 
 Still as I wander'd o'er my native land, 
 
 I mark'd the ravage of a tyrant's hand ; 
 
 Rich Induilry had fled the naked plains, 
 
 To Slav'ry's banners march'd th' unwilling Avains ; 
 
 Each lofty leat that crown'd the mountains brow, 65 
 
 And frown'd defiance on th' invading foe, 
 
 Spoil'd of its honours, defblate, dllgrac'd, 
 
 Its turrets fallen ! its battlements defac'd ! 
 
 Seem'd
 
 (8 ) 
 
 Seem'd to the penfive traveller to fay, 
 
 Behold the dire effect of laxvkfs fivay ! i oo 
 
 The dreary (cene unequal to fuftaiii, 
 
 I fighd — and languifli'd for my chains again : 
 
 Yet other ills, perchance, I've Aill to know, 
 
 Perchance Guftavus feels but half his woe. 
 
 Averle to walk beneath the eye of day, 105 
 
 Thro' night I urg'd my folitary way ; 
 
 Where'er I went my name I flill fupprefs'd. 
 
 And lock'd each bold enquiry in my breaO:." 
 
 The Pried renewd— " Heart-wounded I unveil, 
 " Replete with Sweden's woes, the cover'd tale : no 
 
 " The barb'rous dene now rip'ning into fate, 
 *' The DaniOi King unbarr'd Dellru(5lion's gate * : 
 
 ' ' When 
 
 * Alluding to the maflacre of the fenate at Stockholm.
 
 ( 9 ) 
 
 When, for the pomp, th' imperial town furvey'd 
 
 The fjilendid Icenery that joy difplay'd, 
 
 (While to the found of flutes and fellive fbng n^ 
 
 The new-crown'd Dane triumphant pafs'd along) 
 
 Stern Tyranny thro' trembling Stockholm bore 
 
 Her tort'ring wheel and axes ftain'd with gore : 
 
 While at her fide a captive train appear'd— - 
 
 Illuflrious train ! by Liberty rever'd : i^o 
 
 Still as they pafs'd, they heard around them rife 
 
 The people's loud laments and piercing cries : 
 
 Thefe eyes beheld (and do I live to tell) 
 
 How firm to Truth thefe patriot martyrs fell. 
 
 Fird on the fcaffold, proud to lead the way I2-' 
 
 To honour'd death from ignominious day, 
 
 Appear'd — Ah let me not that fcene difclofe, 
 
 And pour upon thy foul a flood of woes : 
 
 D 'i Here
 
 ( 10 ) 
 
 ' ' Here will I paufe— yet wherefore thus conceal 
 
 What babbling Fame will foon to thee reveal ? 150 
 
 Oh fummon all thy fortitude of heart, 
 
 For I mult wound it in the tend'reft part : 
 
 He on the tragic fcene who firft appear'd 
 
 To meet the bloody axe that Chriftiern rear'd, 
 
 Unblam'd through life, a venerable Seer, 1^5 
 
 For whom now gullies this unbidden tear, 
 
 Who Virtue's fleep alcent unrivall'd won, 
 
 Rever'd, regretted, call'd Guftavus (on." 
 
 Th' aftonifli'd Hero, at his words opprefs'd, 
 Like Sorrow's image (lands with voice fupprefs'd : 140 
 
 The Pried, unequal to di(pen(e relief, 
 Stood at his fide env/rapp'd in filent grief. 
 -—Now breaking from the chains A(fliction fram'd, 
 And burfting into voice, the youth exclaim'd :
 
 ' Oh injur'd fpirit of my father hear, 145 
 
 ' By yon dread altar and theie ilirines I fwear, ' 
 * The bafe inhuman Dane the day fhall rue 
 ' He dar'd the (cafFold with thy blood imbrue : 
 ' A monitor within, to which I yield, 
 
 ' Stirs and impels me to th' avenging field." 150 
 
 He (aid — a deeper darknels (eem'd to reign, 
 A hollow wind ran murm'ring thro' the fane. 
 When lo, aicendino; from the realms of nio-ht, 
 K\\ awe-commanding fpedlre rufli'd to fight : 
 Around his temples feem'd the civic wreath, i^/!j 
 
 And thus prophetic (poke the fon of Death : 
 Ar'ife to •vindicate the facred laws, 
 Revenge thy fathers and thy country's caufe : 
 Ar'ife ! to Moras diftajit field repair^ 
 
 Where Freedorns banners catch the playful air ; 1 60 
 
 Beneath
 
 ( 12 ) 
 
 Beneath ivhofe fiade for thee impatient Jland^ 
 
 Trepard to combat^ an intrepid hand : 
 
 But whether in the hold enfanguind jlrife 
 
 Thou fialt or forfeit or prolong thy life — 
 
 Thy foes /hall fall — This to thy knowledge givn^ i ^5 
 
 The reft lies buried in the hreaft of Heavn: 
 
 Still let my wrongs fupport thee in the fight--^ 
 
 He ceas'd—- and initant vanifli'd into nighu 
 
 The Paftor (poke—" Go forth lUuilrious Chief, 
 " At Heav'n's commandment, to the reahii's relief : 170 
 " Yet then indulge nie in this bold requeil, 
 " Say, Is each meaner thought fubdued to reft ? 
 " Say, In this fblemn and important hour, 
 " Glows not thy bofom with the luft of pow'r :" 
 
 ''Not
 
 ( 13 ) 
 
 *' Not all the radiant fun-beams of renown, 175 
 
 Nor yet the dazzling luftre of a crown, 
 
 Shall e'er, the youth replies, this heart control ; 
 
 —-My country's love pofledes all my foul. 
 
 Ev'n as the bird that from its aflies (prings,. 
 
 And fbars aloft upon exulting wings, i 80 
 
 So does my country's love its birth affume, 
 
 And mount triumphant o'er the paflions' tomb." 
 
 " But fliould I view, unnumber'd with the flain, 
 ' Tis all I afk, fair Freedom's future reign : 
 * Then from my gratitude thy voice fhall claim 1 85 
 
 ' All that thy want or fondeft wifli can frame : 
 ' No (plendid gifts, the virtuous man rejoin'd, 
 ' Have pow'r to move the duty-center'd mind : 
 ' Yet w^ould thy gratitude my love fecure, 
 ' Then be, oh Chief! a father to the poor : 15)0 
 
 E Farewell
 
 ( M ) 
 
 ' ' Farewell— No longer will I now detain 
 
 ' ' Thy wanted prefence from th' embattled plain : 
 
 *' lUuftrlous offspring of an honour'd race, 
 
 " Allow my warm attachment this embrace.'* 
 
 He f^^oke — and, with a love devoid of art, 1^5 
 
 He prefi'd Guftavus to his feeling heart. 
 
 Now, breaking from the youth's encircling arms, 
 
 llefion'd him to his fate and war's alarms : 
 
 Then to the facred altar he repair'd. 
 
 And thus aloud his ardent vows preferred : 200 
 
 " Oh Thou that liv'ft enflu^in'd from mortal eve, 
 
 *' Look down indulgent from thy facred Iky, 
 
 " See the bold youth afcend Bellona's car, 
 
 " And fafely guide him thro' the walks of war. 
 
 *' On Freedom's brow be his the ^^ reath to twine, 205 
 
 *• To fee that happy glorious day be mine." 
 
 He
 
 ( »5 ) 
 
 He added not— Heav'n granted half his prayV, 
 
 The reft was (catter'd to th' abortive air. 
 
 Scarce had the Chief commenc'd his bold career, 
 
 When flept the Curate on his peaceful bier : 2lo 
 
 There heav'd the village fwain the figh profound, 
 
 There ftood the grateful poor lamenting round. 
 
 Thus mourn'd, thus honour'd fell, tJie hallowed fao-e, 
 A bright example to each future age 1 
 The hamlet, jealous of Iier Pallor's fame, ^j 
 
 Adorn'd her iimple annals with his name. 
 
 N I S.
 
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 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
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