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he used to play a simple country air or jig； affirming that this rustic music
had more power to clear and raise the spirits than the most artificial
productions of the masters。 From an early age he practised the
composition of poetry； but； though conscious of his great powers in this art；
he would never publish any specimen of his writing。 'My stature；' he
would say； 'is reflected in my verses； if the public were to read them it
would not be because I am a poet； but because I am a dwarf。' Several
MS。 books of Sir Hercules's poems survive。 A single specimen will
suffice to illustrate his qualities as a poet。
〃'In ancient days； while yet the world was young； Ere Abram fed his
flocks or Homer sung； When blacksmith Tubal tamed creative fire； And
Jabal dwelt in tents and Jubal struck the lyre； Flesh grown corrupt brought
forth a monstrous birth And obscene giants trod the shrinking earth； Till
God； impatient of their sinful brood； Gave rein to wrath and drown'd them
in the Flood。 Teeming again； repeopled Tellus bore The lubber Hero and
the Man of War； Huge towers of Brawn； topp'd with an empty Skull；
Witlessly bold； heroically dull。 Long ages pass'd and Man grown more
refin'd； Slighter in muscle but of vaster Mind； Smiled at his grandsire's
broadsword； bow and bill； And learn'd to wield the Pencil and the Quill。
The glowing canvas and the written page Immortaliz'd his name from age
to age； His name emblazon'd on Fame's temple wall； For Art grew great as
Humankind grew small。 Thus man's long progress step by step we trace；
The Giant dies； the hero takes his place； The Giant vile； the dull heroic
Block： At one we shudder and at one we mock。 Man last appears。 In him
the Soul's pure flame Burns brightlier in a not inord'nate frame。 Of old
when Heroes fought and Giants swarmed； Men were huge mounds of
matter scarce inform'd； Wearied by leavening so vast a mass； The spirit
slept and all the mind was crass。 The smaller carcase of these later days Is
soon inform'd； the Soul unwearied plays And like a Pharos darts abroad
her mental rays。 But can we think that Providence will stay Man's
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footsteps here upon the upward way？ Mankind in understanding and in
grace Advanc'd so far beyond the Giants' race？ Hence impious thought！
Still led by GOD'S own Hand； Mankind proceeds towards the Promised
Land。 A time will come （prophetic； I descry Remoter dawns along the
gloomy sky）； When happy mortals of a Golden Age Will backward turn
the dark historic page； And in our vaunted race of Men behold A form as
gross； a Mind as dead and cold； As we in Giants see； in warriors of old。 A
time will come； wherein the soul shall be From all superfluous matter
wholly free； When the light body； agile as a fawn's； Shall sport with grace
along the velvet lawns。 Nature's most delicate and final birth； Mankind
perfected shall possess the earth。 But ah； not yet！ For still the Giants'
race； Huge； though diminish'd； tramps the Earth's fair face； Gross and
repulsive； yet perversely proud； Men of their imperfections boast aloud。
Vain of their bulk； of all they still retain Of giant ugliness absurdly vain；
At all that's small they point their stupid scorn And； monsters； think
themselves divinely born。 Sad is the Fate of those； ah； sad indeed； The rare
precursors of the nobler breed！ Who come man's golden glory to foretell；
But pointing Heav'nwards live themselves in Hell。'
〃As soon as he came into the estate； Sir Hercules set about
remodelling his household。 For though by no means ashamed of his
deformityindeed； if we may judge from the poem quoted above； he
regarded himself as being in many ways superior to the ordinary race of
manhe found the presence of full…grown men and women embarrassing。
Realising； too； that he must abandon all ambitions in the great world； he
determined to retire absolutely from it and to create； as it were； at Crome a
private world of his own； in which all should be proportionable to himself。
Accordingly； he discharged all the old servants of the house and replaced
them gradually； as he was able to find suitable successors； by others of
dwarfish stature。 In the course of a few years he had assembled about
himself a numerous household； no member of which was above four feet
high and the smallest among them scarcely two feet and six inches。 His
father's dogs； such as setters； mastiffs； greyhounds； and a pack of beagles；
he sold or gave away as too large and too boisterous for his house；
replacing them by pugs and King Charles spaniels and whatever other
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breeds of dog were the smallest。 His father's stable was also sold。 For
his own use； whether riding or driving； he had six black Shetland ponies；
with four very choice piebald animals of New Forest breed。
〃Having thus settled his household entirely to his own satisfaction； it
only remained for him to find some suitable companion with whom to
share his paradise。 Sir Hercules had a susceptible heart； and had more
than once； between the ages of sixteen and twenty； felt what it was to love。
But here his deformity had been a source of the most bitter humiliation；
for； having once dared to declare himself to a young lady of his choice； he
had been received with laughter。 On his persisting； she had picked him
up and shaken him like an importunate child； telling him to run away and
plague her no more。 The story soon got aboutindeed； the young lady
herself used to tell it as a particularly pleasant anecdoteand the taunts
and mockery it occasioned were a source of the most acute distress to
Hercules。 From the poems written at this period we gather that he
meditated taking his own life。 In course of time； however； he lived down
this humiliation； but never again； though