Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE DEAD BEGGAR, by CHARLOTTE SMITH


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THE DEAD BEGGAR, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Swells then thy feeling heart, and streams thine eye
Last Line: He rests upon the mercies of his god.
Alternate Author Name(s): Smith, Charlotte Turner
Subject(s): Begging & Beggars


An elegy, addressed to a lady, who was affected at seeing the funeral of a
namelesss pauper, buried at the expence of the parish, in the church-yard
at Brighthelmstone, in November 1792

Swells then thy feeling heart, and streams thine eye
O'er the deserted being, poor and old,
Whom cold, reluctant, Parish Charity
Consigns to mingle with his kindred mold?

Mourn'st thou, that here the time-worn sufferer ends
Those evil days still threatening woes to come;
Here, where the friendless feel no want of friends,
Where even the houseless wanderer finds an home?

What tho' no kindred croud in sable forth,
And sigh, or seem to sigh, around his bier;
Tho' o'er his coffin with the humid earth
No children drop the unavailing tear?

Rather rejoice that here his sorrows cease,
Whom sickness, age, and poverty oppress'd;
Where Death, the Leveller, restores to peace
The wretch who living knew not where to rest.

Rejoice, that tho' an outcast spurn'd by Fate,
Thro' penury's rugged path his race he ran;
In earth's cold bosom, equall'd with the great,
Death vindicates the insulted rights of Man.

Rejoice, that tho' severe his earthly doom,
And rude, and sown with thorns the way he trod,
Now, (where unfeeling Fortune cannot come)
He rests upon the mercies of his GOD.





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