Classic Poem

ACT II. SCENE I.

A Field.

Timothy P EASCOD bound ; C ORPORAL , S OLDIERS and C OUNTRYMEN .

CORPORAL.

Stand off there, countrymen; and you, the guard,
Keep close your pris'ner — — — see that all's prepar'd.
Prime all your firelocks — — — fasten well the stake.

PEASCOD.

'Tis too much, too much trouble for my sake.
O fellow-soldiers, countrymen and friends,
Be warn'd by me to shun untimely ends:
For evil courses am I brought to shame,
And from my soul I do repent the same.
Oft my kind Grannam told me — — — Tim , take warning,
Be good — and say thy pray'rs — and mind thy learning.
But I, sad wretch, went on from crime to crime;
I play'd at nine-pins first in sermon time:
I rob'd the parson's orchard next; and then
(For which I pray forgiveness) stole — a hen.
When I was press'd, I told them the first day
I wanted heart to fight, so ran away;
For which behold I die. 'Tis a plain case,
'Twas all a judgment for my want of grace.
Hold, hold, my friends; nay hold, hold, hold, I pray;
They may go off — — — and I have more to say.

1 COUNTRYMAN .

Come, 'tis no time to talk — — —

2 COUNTRYMAN .

— — — Repent thine ill,
And pray in this good book. — — —

PEASCOD.

— — — I will, I will.
Lend me thy handkercher — The Pilgrim 's pro — — —
(I cannot see for tears) Pro — Progress — Oh!
The Pilgrim 's Progress — eighth — edi — ti — on
Lon-don-prin-ted — for — Ni-cho-las Bod-ding-ton
With new ad-di-tions never made before.
Oh! 'tis so moving, I can read no more.