Poetical pieces on various subjects/Adulphus' Dream

by John Maxwell

ADULPHUS' DREAM

Adulphus, for a time, possessed wealth,
Acquir'd by honest means and not by stealth,
Three hundred pounds per annum, well paid down,
He that could boast and term it all his own;

This bounty heaven in kindness to him sent,
Few were his cares and he was still content;
His days were gliding on in sweet career,
The fear of want robb'd not his mind of cheer:

At last it happen'd on an afternoon,
When in his garden he to sleep lay down,
While there asleep he dream'd a person came,
Of a sweet aspect, calling him by name,

Said he, Adulphus, your integrity,
Is not o'erlook'd nor can be passed by,
Your virtuous deeds kind heav'n does regard,
And from above you shall have a reward.

On this day twelvemonth, at this very hour,
You thirty thousand pounds shall have in store,
Yea, from my hand you shall the same receive;
Observe the time; this you may well believe.

The dream made strong impressions on him there
He in his book did mark it down with care,
Believing it as firmly in his thought,
As if an angel the glad news had brought.

Perplexing cares began now to annoy,
He schem'd how he the treasure might employ;
A thousand strange ideas struck his mind,
While vain delusion did the senses blind,

He view'd his dwelling and did plainly see,
It was too small for such as he would be,
He thought it old and that might lessen fame,
And to a man of fortune prove a shame.

He sent for workmen and contracted soon
With them, to pull his ancient building down,
And rear another to his heart's content,
The plan he drew, and did to them present.

He had a garden which was planted well,
With fruits of use, and near where he did dwell.
But to its bounties he paid no regard,
Converting it into a large court-yard.

In semicircle form he laid it out,
And encompass'd it with a wall about.
With flow'r-pots, too, he did it ornament,
His mind on pleasure being greatly bent.

A fine portico with five steps was made,
Which to a large and stately hall did lead.
More than a hundred feet this hall was square,
And lined well with the good cedar fair.

Twelve marble pillars did the same support,
With curious cov'rings like some princely court.
It cornic'd was, by active skilful hands,
Like to the doric and ionic plans.

The cieling lofty was, and very grand,
And smoothly finish'd by the workman's hand.
And on the same was letter'd o'er with paint,
A tale which heathens did of old invent:

And on each side an avenue right neat,
Led to a range of parlours quite complete.
But, to he short, the house was built in haste.
And all things done in order and to taste.

He likewise furniture, to suit the same,
Had long bespoke, to aggrandize his name.
Those who his income knew, now wonder'd much
By what strange means he had become so rich;

Yea, some were so surpris'd when they did hear it,
They said he had compact with some ill spirit;
The secret then they did not understand,
That vain Adulphus had mortgag'd his land.

He this had done, and got what he did need
To deck his bow'r, but still kept close the deed.
Likewise, to shew himself a prudent man,
He in his mind conceiv'd a singular plan;

According to his dream, a day he set,
That he would pay each fraction of his debt;
His artificers and his working men,
Were to attend, or have themselves to blame;

The day arriv'd, his friends he did combine,
To'see him now in a prodigious line;
To view his debts discharg'd by that great pelf,
Which yet was kept a secret to himself.

Now view them seated round his coastly board,
And feasting as if with some gallant lord;
While many tradesmen round his dwelling hums,
All fondly waiting their respective sums.

The hour of five did now begin to beat,
The very time that his dream phantom set,
Tho' then engag'd, resolving to get free,
He left his seat and to the door did flee;

In empty stile he gave his hand a wave
"Your pardon, friends, I for a moment crave."
Unto his closet then great haste he made,
In hopes to meet with this uncommon aid.

In great suspense he waited there till six,
But nothing found, which did somewhat perplex;
Yet as delusion still empower'd his mind,
He yet believ'd that he the store would find;

And thought himself the only guilty man;
For calling comp'ny had defeat the plan,
He order'd all his tradesmen to depart,
And come to-morrow as the sun did start.

Then to his friends again he did resort,
And spent some hours in jovial mirth and sport.
(They being gone) then all to peace was hush'd,
He thought the hour had come he long had wish'd.

To Bed he went, and fondly did believe,
That thirty thousand pounds he'd now receive.
He in his room did place a shining light,
That nothing might obstruct the pleasant sight.

But tho' he slept no Benefactor came,
Which made him dread his vain deceitful dream;
Yet in the dreary midnight's sullen gloom,
He thought he heard a rustling in his room;]

Then sudden joy flutter'd in his breast,
And from his bed he springs in eager haste;
He crept along, his feet behind he drags.
And searched ev'ry corner for the bags.

But no strange vision to him did appear,
Nor golden coin his tortur'd mind to cheer.
His grief was now extreme, his sorrow great!
While self-reproach within himself did fret.

Far from his eye-lids sleep did now depart,
And morning sun struck terror to his heart;
His tradesmen came; he bade them yet delay,
And put it of until another day.

They did consent; then he himself to screen,
Did disappear, not wishing to be seen;
He in his room next day himself inclos'd,
And sent them word that he was indispos'd;

But conscious of the long fore-boded blast,
They poor Adulphus into jail did cast;
Possessions now' were sold by legal grant,
And him transported to the doors of want;

Tho' freed from prison, he was now reduc'd,
Which great distraction to his mind produc'd;
His substance gone, and all his prospects chang'd
Distress’d him so he turn’d quite derang'd;

In raving madness he did then reveal,
That secret which so long he did conceal,
Which unto ruin brought him very fast,
And caus'd him turn a lunatic at last;

In kindness then to Bedlam he was sent,
And with the dismal place seem'd quite content;
But sudden languor seiz'd him as a prize,
And in short space death shut his weary eyes.

How many mortals like Adulphus vain,
Aspire at greatness which they ne'er attain,
Yea, many seem right busy all their days,
Grasping at Meteors which they never seize.

When Reason sleeps, imaginations then,
Produce strange phantoms in the minds of men;
But tho' night dreams make us sometimes to quake,
The danger lies in dreaming while awake.