260 AN ANGLER'S RAMBLES 



XVI. 



Shall it go on from bad to worse, 

 Until all remedy is past, 

 And we conniving stand aghast, 



Partakers of the withering curse 1 



XVII. 



'Tis the Bard's privilege to foresee 

 His bound en duty to forewarn ; 

 Thus prompted, I uplift the horn, 



And signal the calamity. 



XVIII. 



The cry for corn was late abroad 



The cry for cheap, untrammell'd bread ;- 

 For the big quartern blood was shed, 



And the great cry went up to God ! 



XIX. 



That cry hath ceased ; but in its place 

 Threatens to come the fiercer cry, 

 Give us pure water else we die, 



And, dying, curse you to the'face ! 



xx. 

 Arrest the evil while you may, 



Nor pause to argue, on the plea 



That to advance utility 

 Is the first duty of the day, 



XXI. 



That interests where selfish strife 



Goes hand in hand with factory pride, 

 Admit of claims which set aside 



The grave necessities of life. 



