The Farmers Boy | Page 7

the Good Man of whom he sung."
SUPPLEMENT
I have mention'd in the Preface "THE SAILOR'S RETURN", from an intimation by Mr. G. BLOOMFIELD. From the Author himself, Mr. ROBERT BLOOMFIELD, I am oblig'd with what part he can recollect of this SONG, which I was desirous to recover. It was written shortly after the PEACE with AMERICA and FRANCE. Probably some time in the Spring of 1784. The Author thinks the Title of it was "THE SOLDIER'S RETURN," and that it was occasion'd by the arrival of some Regiments of British Soldiers from remote parts of the Globe.
He says, "I have endeavour'd to bring it back to my mind: but can only remember the following; which is not the beginning nor the finish."
Round LYBIA'S south point, where from toils so late freed, Sweet Hope cheer'd my soul as we clear'd the rough sea;?I strove midst the Tars to improve the ship's speed;?Nor thought I of aught but ANNA and THEE.
Here comes the dear Girl! comes with kind arms extended?To welcome me!... limbs numb'd with age fain would move.?My cheek feels the offspring of rapture warm blended,?With answering drops:... this the meed of chaste Love!
Rouse the Fire--

I think every Reader will be of opinion that it is indeed desirable the whole Song, of which this is a Fragment, should be recover'd. It will probably be found (according to the recollection of the Author) either in the General Advertiser, Gazetteer_, or _Courant. From these specimens, and some I have since had the pleasure to see in MS. Mr. BLOOMFIELD appears fully to possess the simple, yet elegant, pathetic, and animated flow of Composition, the sweetness of Diction, Thought, and Numbers, which the SONG or BALLAD in their best character require.
I now quote a little Fragment in blank verse from the same Letter: with a slight correction in a place or two where the distribution or mechanism of the lines was not exact.
SUBJECT. An Harvest Scene: describing Gleaners return'd from the Field.
--Welcome the Cot's?Warm walls!... thrice welcome Rest, by toil endear'd;?Each hard bed softening, healing every care.?Sleep on, ye gentle souls ...?Unapprehensive of the midnight thief!?Or if bereft of all with pain acquir'd,?Your fall, with theirs compar'd who sink from affluence,?With hands unus'd to toil, and minds unus'd?To bend, how little felt! how soon repair'd!
The ear of the Author seems as sweetly attun'd to verse without as with Rhime: though his less practice has given him proportionally less exactness.
It reminds one of the simple, tender, and flowing melody of the blank verse of ROWE: or of some of the affecting passages in the _Paradise Regain'd_ of MILTON.
Sweetness, pastoral Content, the innocent and benevolent heart "_with a little pleas'd,_" breathe indeed through the Poems, and in the manners and conversation, of the Author of THE FARMER'S BOY.
When the Spirit_ of CHRISTIANITY declares "_blessed are the meek," every heart which considers what meekness is, feels the truth of that blessedness. It may smooth the way, and prevent impediments, which a different temper raises to temporal felicity: it certainly assures that Heaven which is within: and is a pledge and anticipation of the Heaven hereafter.
It is pleasing to think on a remark of Mr. GEO. BLOOMFIELD concerning his Brother when he first went to LONDON. "I have him in my mind's eye a little Boy; not bigger than Boys generally are at twelve years old. When I met him and his Mother at the Inn, [Footnote: In Bishopsgate-street.] he strutted before us, dress'd just as he came from keeping Sheep, Hogs, &c.... his shoes fill'd full of stumps in the heels. He looking about him, slip'd up ... his nails were unus'd to a flat pavement. I remember viewing him as he scamper'd up ... how small he was. Little thought, that little fatherless Boy would be one day known and esteem'd by the most learned, the most respected, the wisest and the best men of the Kingdom."
The brotherly overflowing of the heart in this passage I felt when I read the Letter (dated 27 March last), and cannot deny to others the pleasure of feeling it.
And those who have shewn themselves the FRIENDS of the FARMER'S BOY must excuse me if I mention some of them whose liberal and zealous attention had excited those feelings in the heart of his Brother, and have fill'd his with sentiments of thankfulness. The Duke of GRAFTON has every way shewn himself attentive to the Genius, the Worth, of Mr. BLOOMFIELD. He has essentially added to his comforts. His R. H. the Duke of YORK, by Capt. BUNBURY, has made a liberal present, as an acknowledgment of the pleasure receiv'd from the perusal of his excellent Poem. This attention of his R. H. liberal and amiable in itself, has been the cause of like liberality in others. It suggested to