Abject, stooping, old, and wan, <br />See yon wretched beggar-man; <br />Once a father's hopeful heir, <br />Once a mother's tender care. <br />When too young to understand <br />He but scorched his little hand, <br />By the candle's flaming light <br />Attracted, dancing, spiral, bright, <br />Clasping fond her darling round, <br />A thousand kisses healed the wound. <br />Now abject, stooping, old, and wan, <br />No mother tends the beggar-man. <br /> <br /> <br />Then nought too good for him to wear, <br />With cherub face and flaxen hair, <br />In fancy's choicest gauds arrayed, <br />Cap of lace with rose to aid, <br />Milk-white hat and feather blue, <br />Shoes of red, and coral too <br />With silver bells to please his ear, <br />And charm the frequent ready tear. <br />Now abject, stooping, old, and wan, <br />Neglected is the beggar-man. <br /> <br /> <br />See the boy advance in age, <br />And learning spreads her useful page; <br />In vain! for giddy pleasure calls, <br />And shows the marbles, tops, and balls. <br />What's learning to the charms of play? <br />The indulgent tutor must give way. <br />A heedless wilful dunce, and wild, <br />The parents' fondness spoiled the child; <br />The youth in vagrant courses ran; <br />Now abject, stooping, old, and wan, <br />Their fondling is the beggar-man.<br /><br />Charles Lamb<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-beggar-man/
