Ballads By William Makepeace Thackeray Part 3

O n.o.ble faith of n.o.ble heart! And was the warning vain, The text writ by the BOURBON in the blurred black book of Spain?

They have need of thee to gaze on, they have need of thee to grace The triumph of the Prince, to gild the pinchbeck of their race.

Words are but wind, conditions must be construed by GUIZOT; Dash out thy heart, thou desert hawk, ere thou art made a show!

THE KING OF BRENTFORD'S TESTAMENT.

The n.o.ble King of Brentford Was old and very sick, He summon'd his physicians To wait upon him quick; They stepp'd into their coaches And brought their best physick.

They cramm'd their gracious master With potion and with pill; They drench'd him and they bled him; They could not cure his ill.

"Go fetch," says he, "my lawyer, I'd better make my will."

The monarch's royal mandate The lawyer did obey; The thought of six-and-eightpence Did make his heart full gay.

"What is't," says he, "your Majesty Would wish of me to-day?"

"The doctors have belabor'd me With potion and with pill: My hours of life are counted, O man of tape and quill!

Sit down and mend a pen or two, I want to make my will.

"O'er all the land of Brentford I'm lord, and eke of Kew: I've three-per-cents and five-per-cents; My debts are but a few; And to inherit after me I have but children two.

"Prince Thomas is my eldest son, A sober Prince is he, And from the day we breech'd him Till now, he's twenty-three, He never caused disquiet To his poor Mamma or me.

"At school they never flogg'd him, At college, though not fast, Yet his little-go and great-go He creditably pa.s.s'd, And made his year's allowance For eighteen months to last.

"He never owed a s.h.i.+lling.

Went never drunk to bed, He has not two ideas Within his honest head-- In all respects he differs From my second son, Prince Ned.

"When Tom has half his income Laid by at the year's end, Poor Ned has ne'er a stiver That rightly he may spend, But sponges on a tradesman, Or borrows from a friend.

"While Tom his legal studies Most soberly pursues, Poor Ned most pa.s.s his mornings A-dawdling with the Muse: While Tom frequents his banker, Young Ned frequents the Jews.

"Ned drives about in buggies, Tom sometimes takes a 'bus; Ah, cruel fate, why made you My children differ thus?

Why make of Tom a DULLARD, And Ned a GENIUS?"

"You'll cut him with a s.h.i.+lling,"

Exclaimed the man of wits: "I'll leave my wealth," said Brentford, "Sir Lawyer, as befits; And portion both their fortunes Unto their several wits."

"Your Grace knows best," the lawyer said "On your commands I wait."

"Be silent, Sir," says Brentford, "A plague upon your prate!

Come take your pen and paper, And write as I dictate."

The will as Brentford spoke it Was writ and signed and closed; He bade the lawyer leave him, And turn'd him round and dozed; And next week in the churchyard The good old King reposed.

Tom, dressed in c.r.a.pe and hatband, Of mourners was the chief; In bitter self-upbraidings Poor Edward showed his grief: Tom hid his fat white countenance In his pocket-handkerchief.

Ned's eyes were full of weeping, He falter'd in his walk; Tom never shed a tear, But onwards he did stalk, As pompous, black, and solemn, As any catafalque.

And when the bones of Brentford-- That gentle king and just-- With bell and book and candle Were duly laid in dust, "Now, gentleman," says Thomas, "Let business be discussed.

"When late our sire beloved Was taken deadly ill, Sir Lawyer, you attended him (I mean to tax your bill); And, as you signed and wrote it, I prithee read the will."

The lawyer wiped his spectacles, And drew the parchment out; And all the Brentford family Sat eager round about: Poor Ned was somewhat anxious, But Tom had ne'er a doubt.

"My son, as I make ready To seek my last long home, Some cares I had for Neddy, But none for thee, my Tom: Sobriety and order You ne'er departed from.

"Ned hath a brilliant genius, And thou a plodding brain; On thee I think with pleasure, On him with doubt and pain."

"You see, good Ned," says Thomas, "What he thought about us twain."

"Though small was your allowance, You saved a little store; And those who save a little Shall get a plenty more."

As the lawyer read this compliment, Tom's eyes were running o'er.

"The tortoise and the hare, Tom, Set out, at each his pace; The hare it was the fleeter, The tortoise won the race; And since the world's beginning This ever was the case.

"Ned's genius, blithe and singing, Steps gayly o'er the ground; As steadily you trudge it He clears it with a bound; But dulness has stout legs, Tom, And wind that's wondrous sound.

"O'er fruits and flowers alike, Tom, You pa.s.s with plodding feet; You heed not one nor t'other But onwards go your beat, While genius stops to loiter With all that he may meet;

"And ever as he wanders, Will have a pretext fine For sleeping in the morning, Or loitering to dine, Or dozing in the shade, Or basking in the s.h.i.+ne.

"Your little steady eyes, Tom, Though not so bright as those That restless round about him His flas.h.i.+ng genius throws, Are excellently suited To look before your nose.

"Thank heaven, then, for the blinkers It placed before your eyes; The stupidest are weakest, The witty are not wise; Oh, bless your good stupidity, It is your dearest prize!

"And though my lands are wide, And plenty is my gold, Still better gifts from Nature, My Thomas, do you hold-- A brain that's thick and heavy, A heart that's dull and cold.

"Too dull to feel depression, Too hard to heed distress, Too cold to yield to pa.s.sion Or silly tenderness.

March on--your road is open To wealth, Tom, and success.

"Ned sinneth in extravagance, And you in greedy l.u.s.t."

("I' faith," says Ned, "our father Is less polite than just.") "In you, son Tom, I've confidence, But Ned I cannot trust.

"Wherefore my lease and copyholds, My lands and tenements, My parks, my farms, and orchards, My houses and my rents, My Dutch stock and my Spanish stock, My five and three per cents,

"I leave to you, my Thomas--"

("What, all?" poor Edward said.

"Well, well, I should have spent them, And Tom's a prudent head.")-- "I leave to you, my Thomas,-- To you in TRUST for Ned."

The wrath and consternation What poet e'er could trace That at this fatal pa.s.sage Came o'er Prince Tom his face; The wonder of the company, And honest Ned's amaze!

"'Tis surely some mistake,"

Good-naturedly cries Ned; The lawyer answered gravely, "'Tis even as I said; 'Twas thus his gracious Majesty Ordain'd on his death-bed.

"See, here the will is witness'd, And here's his autograph."

"In truth, our father's writing,"

Says Edward, with a laugh; "But thou shalt not be a loser, Tom, We'll share it half and half."