s: I see the wild flowers, in their summer morn


s: Of beauty, feeding on joy's luscious hours;


s: The gay convolvulus, wreathing round the thorn,


s: And slender kingcup, burnished with the dew


s: And mark by rustic bridge, oer shallow stream,


s: Absorbed as in some vagrant summer dream;


s: Starts dancing to his shadow on the wall,


s: Then thread the sunny valley laced with streams,


s: Or forests rude, and the oershadowed brims


s: Of simple ponds, where idle shepherd dreams,


s: Or trace hay-scented meadows, smooth and long,


s: I love at early morn, from new mown swath,


s: To see the startled frog his route pursue;


s: To mark while, leaping oer the dripping path,


s: The early lark that, from its bustle flies,


s: To note on hedgerow baulks, in moisture sprent,


s: The jetty snail creep from the mossy thorn,


s: With earnest heed, and tremulous intent,


s: That from the tiny bents and misted leaves


s: Or swallow heed on smoke-tanned chimney top,


s: Wont to be first unsealing morning's eye,


s: Ere yet the bee hath gleaned one wayward drop


s: To see him seek morn's airy couch to sing,


s: With clapping noise to startle birds away,


s: And see the uncradled breeze, refreshed and strong,


s: I love the south-west wind, or low or loud,


s: And not the less when sudden drops of rain


s: Moisten my pallid cheek from ebon cloud,


s: That over lands new ploughed and meadow grounds,


s: Rich music breathes in summer's every sound;


s: Woods, meadows, hedge-rows, corn-fields, all around


s: And wind-enamoured aspin--mark the leaves


s: And list! the brustling noise, that oft deceives,


s: The sound so mimics fast-approaching showers,


s: But now the evening curdles dank and grey,


s: Changing her watchet hue for sombre weed;


s: And moping owls, to close the lids of day,


s: While chickering crickets, tremulous and long,


s: The pranking bat its nighty circlet makes;


s: Oer meadows dew-besprent; and beetle wakes


s: Teazing each passing ear with murmurs vain,


s: That on the wind with pleasing hum rebounds


s: While on the meadow bridge the pausing boy


s: Now homeward-bound, the hedger bundles round


s: His leathern doublet leaves a rustling sound.


s: His path start tremulous, and once again


s: How sweet the soothing calm that smoothly stills


s: Oer the heart's every sense its opiate dews,


s: In meek-eyed moods and ever balmy trills!


s: With gentle quiet's bland and sober train,


s: I love to walk the fields, they are to me


s: They, like a spell, set every rapture free


s: Play--pastime--all time's blotting pen concealed,


s: With emulous taste, that vulgar deed annoys;


s: Oer nature's pleasant things; nor will it deem


s: Oh, the world is all too rude for thee, with much ado and care;


s: Oh, this world is but a rude world, and hurts a thing so fair;


s: Was there a nook in which the world had never been to sear,


s: That place would prove a paradise when thou and Love were near.


s: And there to pluck the blackberry, and there to reach the sloe,


s: How joyously and happily would Love thy partner go;


s: Then rest when weary on a bank, where not a grassy blade


s: Had eer been bent by Trouble's feet, and Love thy pillow made.


s: For Summer would be ever green, though sloes were in their prime,


s: And there to make a cot unknown to any care and pain,


s: And there to shut the door alone on singing wind and rain--


s: Far, far away from all the world, more rude than rain or wind,


s: Oh, who could wish a sweeter home, or better place to find?


s: Than thus to love and live with thee, thou beautiful delight!


s: Than thus to live and love with thee the summer day and night!


s: Where hearts are prest to hearts in glee,


s: Thoughts dare not speak but in the eyes,


s: Mere things of form, with nought of fear.


s: Winds breathe from God's abode "we come,"


s: Till earth right loath the proof to miss


s: The grass, the sky, the winds a-blowing;


s: To pledge her health in draughts divine;


s: Its clouds were other-country mountains,


s: Like groves, and rocks, and mottled fountains.


s: Those heavens are gone, the mountains grey


s: Turned mist--the sun, a homeless ranger,


s: And pastures spread with hills and rushes,


s: Gone, gone are rapture's flooding gushes!


s: That in their swarthy rings were dwelling.


s: And why should passing shadows grieve us?


s: By the old tavern door on the causey there lay


s: A hogshead of stingo just rolled from a dray,


s: And there stood the blacksmith awaiting a drop


s: As dry as the cinders that lay in his shop;


s: And there stood the cobbler as dry as a bun,


s: Almost crackt like a bucket when left in the sun.


s: He'd whetted his knife upon pendil and hone


s: Till he'd not got a spittle to moisten the stone;


s: So ere he could work--though he'd lost the whole day--


s: He must wait the new broach and bemoisten his clay.


s: The cellar was empty, each barrel was drained


s: To its dregs--and Sir John like a rebel remained


s: In the street--for removal too powerful and large


s: For two or three topers to take into charge.


s: Odd zooks, said a gipsey, with bellows to mend,


s: Had I strength I would just be for helping a friend


s: To walk on his legs: but a child in the street


s: Had as much power as he to put John on his feet.


s: Then up came the blacksmith: Sir Barley, said he,


s: I should just like to storm your old tower for a spree;


s: And my strength for your strength and bar your renown


s: I'd soon try your spirit by cracking your crown.


s: And the cobbler he tuckt up his apron and spit


s: In his hands for a burster--but devil a bit


s: Would he move--so as yet they made nothing of land;


s: For there lay the knight like a whale in the sand.


s: Said the tinker: If I could but drink of his vein


s: I should just be as strong and as stubborn again.


s: Push along, said the toper, the cellar's adry:


s: There's nothing to moisten the mouth of a fly.


s: Says the host, We shall burn out with thirst, he's so big.


s: There's a cag of small swipes half as sour as a wig.


s: In such like extremes, why, extremes will come pat;


s: So let's go and wet all our whistles with that.


s: Says the gipsey, May I never bottom a chair


s: If I drink of small swipes while Sir John's lying there.


s: And the blacksmith he threw off his apron and swore


s: Small swipes should bemoisten his gullet no more:


s: Let it out on the floor for the dry cock-a-roach--


s: And he held up his hammer with threatens to broach


s: Sir John in his castle without leave or law


s: And suck out his blood with a reed or a straw


s: Ere he'd soak at the swipes--and he turned him to start,


s: Till the host for high treason came down a full quart.


s: Just then passed the dandy and turned up his nose:


s: They'd fain have him shove, but he looked at his clothes


s: And nipt his nose closer and twirled his stick round


s: And simpered, Tis nuisance to lie on the ground.


s: But Bacchus, he laughed from the old tavern sign,


s: Saying, Go on, thou shadow, and let the sun shine.


s: Then again they all tried, and the tinker he swore


s: That the hogshead had grown twice as heavy or more.


s: Nay nay, said the toper, and reeled as he spoke,


s: We're all getting weak, that's the end of the joke.


s: The ploughman came up and cut short his old tune,


s: Hallooed "woi" to his horses and though it was June


s: Said he'd help them an hour ere he'd keep them adry;


s: Well done, said the blacksmith with hopes running high;


s: He moves, and, by jingo, success to the plough!


s: Aye aye, said the cobbler, we'll conquer him now.


s: The hogshead rolled forward, the toper fell back,


s: And the host laughed aloud as his sides they would crack


s: To see the old tinker's toil make such a gap


s: In his coat as to rend it from collar to flap.


s: But the tinker he grumbled and cried Fiddle-dee!


s: This garment hath been an old tenant with me;


s: And a needle and thread with a little good skill


s: When I've leisure will make it stand more weathers still.


s: Then crack went his breeks from the hip to the knee


s: With his thrusting--no matter; for nothing cared he.


s: So long as Sir John rolled along to the door,


s: He's a chip of our block, said the blacksmith, and swore;


s: And as sure as I live to drive nails in a shoe


s: He shall have at my cost a full pitcher or two.


s: And the toper he hiccuped--which hindered an oath--


s: So long as he'd credit, he'd pitcher them both.


s: But the host stopt to hint when he'd ordered the dray


s: Sir Barleycorn's order was purchase and pay.


s: And now the old knight is imprisoned and ta'en


s: To waste in the tavern man's cellar again.


s: And now, said the blacksmith, let forfeits come first


s: For the insult swipes offered, or his hoops I will burst.


s: Here it is, my old hearties--Then drink your thirst full,


s: Said the host, for the stingo is worth a strong pull.


s: Never fear for your legs if they're broken to-day;


s: Winds only blow straws, dust, and feathers away.


s: But the cask that is full, like a giant he lies,


s: And giants alone can his spirits capsize.


s: If he lies in the path, though a king's coming bye,


s: John Barleycorn's mighty and there he will lie.


s: Then the toper sat down with a hiccup and felt


s: If he'd still an odd coin in his pocket to melt,


s: And he made a wry face, for his pocket was bare.


s: --But he laughed and danced up, What, old boy, are you there?


s: When he felt that a stiver had got to his knee


s: Through a hole in his fob, and right happy was he.


s: Says the tinker, I've brawled till no breath I have got


s: Says the toper, I've powder to charge a long gun,


s: And a stiver I've found when I thought I'd got none;


s: So helping a thirsty old friend in his need


s: Is my duty--take heart, thou art welcome indeed.


s: Then the smith with his tools in Sir John made a breach,


s: And the toper he hiccuped and ended his speech;


s: And pulled at the quart, till the snob he declared


s: When he went to drink next that the bottom was bared.


s: No matter for that, said the toper, and grinned;


s: I had but a soak and neer rested for wind.


s: That's the law, said the smith, with a look rather vexed,


s: But the quart was a forfeit; so pay for the next.


s: Thus they talked of their skill and their labour till noon


s: When the sober man's toil was exactly half done,


s: And there the plough lay--people hardly could pass


s: And the horses let loose polished up the short grass


s: And browsed on the bottle of flags lying there,


s: By the gipsey's old budget, for mending a chair.


s: The miller's horse tied to the old smithy door


s: Stood stamping his feet, by the flies bitten sore,


s: And he stampt till another fell off and made two:


s: Till the miller, expecting that all would get loose,


s: Went to seek him and cursed him outright for a goose;


s: But he dipt his dry beak in the mug once or twice


s: And forgot all his passion and toil in a trice.


s: And the flybitten horse at the old smithy post


s: Might stamp till his shoes and his legs they were lost.


s: He sung his old songs and forgot his old mill--


s: Blow winds high or low, she might rest her at will.


s: And the cobbler, in spite of his bustle for pelf,


s: Left the shop all the day to take care of itself.


s: And the toper who carried his house on his head,


s: No wife to be teazing, no bairns to be fed,


s: Would sit out the week or the month or the year


s: Or a life-time so long as he'd credit for beer.


s: The ploughman he talked of his skill as divine,


s: How he could plough thurrows as straight as a line;


s: And the blacksmith he swore, had he but the command,


s: He could shoe the king's hunter the best in the land;


s: And the cobbler declared, was his skill but once seen,


s: He should soon get an order for shoes from the queen.


s: But the tinker he swore he could beat them all three,


s: For gi' me a pair of old bellows, says he,


s: And I'll make them roar out like the wind in a storm


s: And make them blow fire out of coal hardly warm.


s: The toper said nothing but wished the quart full


s: And swore he could toss it all off at a pull.


s: Have one, said the tinker; but wit was away,


s: When the bet was to bind him he'd nothing to pay.


s: And thus in the face of life's sun-and-shower weather


s: They drank, bragged, and sung, and got merry together.


s: The sun he went down--the last gleam from his brow


s: Flung a smile of repose on the holiday plough;


s: The glooms they approached, and the dews like a rain


s: Fell thick and hung pearls on the old sorrel mane


s: Of the horse that the miller had brought to be shod,


s: And the morning awoke, saw a sight rather odd--


s: For a bit of the halter still hung at the door,


s: Bit through by the horse now at feed on the moor;


s: And the old tinker's budget lay still in the weather,


s: While all kept on singing and drinking together.


s: That their white powdered branches shield,


s: Green, sunny green they shine, but still


s: Heaths, woods, and pastures, sunny streams.


s: And still my thoughts like weedlings wild


s: Through; where the maidens they reclined


s: Which brought sweet memories to the mind,


s: Nought heeding who might frown or smile.


s: With friendship's welcome "how do ye do?"


s: Reach that same rose that heedless scorn


s: And why? this shepherd's purse that grows


s: But times will change and friends must part


s: Summer's pleasures they are gone like to visions every one,


s: And the cloudy days of autumn and of winter cometh on.


s: I tried to call them back, but unbidden they are gone


s: Far away from heart and eye and forever far away.


s: Dear heart, and can it be that such raptures meet decay?


s: I thought them all eternal when by Langley Bush I lay,


s: I thought them joys eternal when I used to shout and play


s: When I used to lie and sing by old Eastwell's boiling spring,


s: When I used to tie the willow boughs together for a swing,


s: And fish with crooked pins and thread and never catch a thing,


s: With heart just like a feather, now as heavy as a stone;


s: When beneath old Lea Close oak I the bottom branches broke


s: To make our harvest cart like so many working folk,


s: And then to cut a straw at the brook to have a soak.


s: O I never dreamed of parting or that trouble had a sting,


s: Or that pleasures like a flock of birds would ever take to wing,


s: Leaving nothing but a little naked spring.


s: When jumping time away on old Crossberry Way,


s: And eating awes like sugarplums ere they had lost the may,


s: And skipping like a leveret before the peep of day


s: On the roly poly up and downs of pleasant Swordy Well,


s: When in Round Oak's narrow lane as the south got black again


s: We sought the hollow ash that was shelter from the rain,


s: With our pockets full of peas we had stolen from the grain;


s: How delicious was the dinner time on such a showery day!


s: O words are poor receipts for what time hath stole away,


s: When for school oer Little Field with its brook and wooden brig,


s: Where I swaggered like a man though I was not half so big,


s: While I held my little plough though twas but a willow twig,


s: And drove my team along made of nothing but a name,


s: "Gee hep" and "hoit" and "woi"--O I never call to mind


s: These pleasant names of places but I leave a sigh behind,


s: While I see little mouldiwarps hang sweeing to the wind


s: On the only aged willow that in all the field remains,


s: And nature hides her face while they're sweeing in their chains


s: The little homeless miners--O it turns my bosom chill


s: When I think of old Sneap Green, Puddock's Nook and Hilly Snow,


s: Where bramble bushes grew and the daisy gemmed in dew


s: And the hills of silken grass like to cushions to the view,


s: Where we threw the pismire crumbs when we'd nothing else to do,


s: All levelled like a desert by the never weary plough,


s: All banished like the sun where that cloud is passing now


s: O I never thought that joys would run away from boys,


s: To petrify first feelings like the fable into stone,


s: Till I found the pleasure past and a winter come at last,


s: Then the fields were sudden bare and the sky got overcast


s: And boyhood's pleasing haunt like a blossom in the blast


s: Was shrivelled to a withered weed and trampled down and done,


s: Till vanished was the morning spring and set the summer sun


s: And winter fought her battle strife and won.


s: By Langley Bush I roam, but the bush hath left its hill,


s: On Cowper Green I stray, tis a desert strange and chill,


s: And the spreading Lea Close oak, ere decay had penned its will,


s: To the axe of the spoiler and self-interest fell a prey,


s: And Crossberry Way and old Round Oak's narrow lane


s: With its hollow trees like pulpits I shall never see again,


s: Enclosure like a Buonaparte let not a thing remain,


s: It levelled every bush and tree and levelled every hill


s: O had I known as then joy had left the paths of men,


s: I had watched her night and day, be sure, and never slept agen,


s: And when she turned to go, O I'd caught her mantle then,


s: And wooed her like a lover by my lonely side to stay;


s: Ay, knelt and worshipped on, as love in beauty's bower,


s: And clung upon her smiles as a bee upon a flower,


s: And gave her heart my posies, all cropt in a sunny hour,


s: As keepsakes and pledges all to never fade away;


s: But love never heeded to treasure up the may,


s: True as the church clock hand the hour pursues


s: He plods about his toils and reads the news,


s: And at the blacksmith's shop his hour will stand


s: For from his cottage door in peace or strife


s: He neer went fifty miles in all his life.


s: His knowledge with old notions still combined


s: Is twenty years behind the march of mind.


s: He views new knowledge with suspicious eyes


s: On steam's almighty tales he wondering looks


s: As witchcraft gleaned from old blackletter books.


s: Life gave him comfort but denied him wealth,


s: He toils in quiet and enjoys his health,


s: He smokes a pipe at night and drinks his beer


s: And runs no scores on tavern screens to clear.


s: And keeps one hour and never stays it out.


s: Hails Dapple's trot an hour before it's dark.


s: Whose good intents take errors in their plan.


s: He looks on trifles and bemoans their pain,


s: And thinks the angler mad, and loudly storms


s: With emphasis of speech oer murdered worms.


s: And hunters cruel--pleading with sad care


s: For war's crushed myriads of his slaughtered foes.


s: And wholesale errors swallows in the next.


s: And many a moving tale in antique rhymes


s: He has for Christmas and such merry times,


s: When "Chevy Chase," his masterpiece of song,


s: Is said so earnest none can think it long.


s: Twas the old vicar's way who should be right,


s: For the late vicar was his heart's delight,


s: And while at church he often shakes his head


s: To think what sermons the old vicar made,


s: Downright and orthodox that all the land


s: Who had their ears to hear might understand,


s: But now such mighty learning meets his ears


s: He thinks it Greek or Latin which he hears,


s: Yet church receives him every sabbath day


s: All words of reverence still his heart reveres,


s: Low bows his head when Jesus meets his ears,


s: And still he thinks it blasphemy as well


s: His books are laid, though good, in number small,


s: His Bible first in place; from worth and age


s: Whose grandsire's name adorns the title page,


s: And blank leaves once, now filled with kindred claims,


s: Parents and children and grandchildren all


s: Memory's affections in the lists recall.


s: And prayer-book next, much worn though strongly bound,


s: Proves him a churchman orthodox and sound.


s: The "Pilgrim's Progress" and the "Death of Abel"


s: Are seldom missing from his Sunday table,


s: And prime old Tusser in his homely trim,


s: The first of bards in all the world with him,


s: Verse deals in fancy, so he sticks to prose.


s: These are the books he reads and reads again


s: And weekly hunts the almanacks for rain.


s: Here and no further learning's channels ran;


s: Still, neighbours prize him as the learned man.


s: With one spare room to welcome every guest,


s: And that tall poplar pointing to the sky


s: It shades his chimney while the singing wind


s: Hums songs of shelter to his happy mind.


s: Brave Granby's head, De Grosse's grand defeat;


s: He rubs his hands and shows how Rodney beat.


s: And from the rafters upon strings depend


s: Beanstalks beset with pods from end to end,


s: Whose numbers without counting may be seen


s: Wrote on the almanack behind the screen.


s: Pooties in wreaths above the cupboard hung.


s: And there he keeps them for his children's sakes,


s: Who when as boys searched every sedgy lane,


s: Traced every wood and shattered clothes again,


s: To hunt those very pooty shells in spring.


s: While strife neer pauses at so mean a door.


s: Low in the sheltered valley stands his cot,


s: He hears the mountain storm and feels it not;


s: Winter and spring, toil ceasing ere tis dark,


s: Rests with the lamb and rises with the lark,


s: Content his helpmate to the day's employ


s: And care neer comes to steal a single joy.


s: Time, scarcely noticed, turns his hair to grey,


s: Yet leaves him happy as a child at play.


s: These tiny loiterers on the barley's beard,


s: Of playfellows, the laughing Summer brings,


s: Mocking the sunshine in their glittering wings,


s: How merrily they creep, and run, and fly!


s: Smoothing the velvet of the pale hedge-rose;


s: And where they fly for dinner no one knows--


s: The dew-drops feed them not--they love the shine


s: Of noon, whose sun may bring them golden wine.


s: All day they're playing in their Sunday dress--


s: Till night goes sleep, and they can do no less;


s: Then, to the heath bell's silken hood they fly,


s: And like to princes in their slumbers lie,


s: Secure from night, and dropping dews, and all,


s: Now in the cornfields, now the new-mown hay.


s: One almost fancies that such happy things,


s: With coloured hoods and richly burnished wings,


s: Keeping their merry pranks a mystery still,


s: Lest glaring day should do their secrets ill.


s: Black grows the southern sky, betokening rain,


s: And humming hive-bees homeward hurry bye:


s: They feel the change; so let us shun the grain,


s: And take the broad road while our feet are dry.


s: Ay, there some dropples moistened on my face,


s: And pattered on my hat--tis coming nigh!


s: Let's look about, and find a sheltering place.


s: The little things around, like you and I,


s: Are hurrying through the grass to shun the shower.


s: Here stoops an ash-tree--hark! the wind gets high,


s: Rain as it may, will keep us dryly here:


s: That little wren knows well his sheltering bower,


s: Nor leaves his dry house though we come so near.


s: And dew-drops pearl the evening's breast;


s: Huge elm, with rifted trunk all notched and scarred,


s: To stretch me often on thy shadowed sward,


s: And hear the laugh of summer leaves above;


s: Or on thy buttressed roots to sit, and lean


s: On times, and deeds, and darings that have been--


s: Old castaways, now swallowed in neglect;


s: While thou art towering in thy strength of heart,


s: In which life's sordid being hath no part.


s: Humming of future things, that burn the mind


s: To leave some fragment of itself behind.


s: These children of the sun which summer brings


s: As pastoral minstrels in her merry train


s: And glad the cotters' quiet toils again.


s: The white-nosed bee that bores its little hole


s: In mortared walls and pipes its symphonies,


s: That Indian-like bepaints its little thighs,


s: And with their legs stroke slumber from their eyes.


s: And aye so fond they of their singing seem


s: That in their holes abed at close of day


s: They still keep piping in their honey dreams,


s: And larger ones that thrum on ruder pipe


s: Round the sweet smelling closen and rich woods


s: Where tawny white and red flush clover buds


s: Shine bonnily and bean fields blossom ripe,


s: Shed dainty perfumes and give honey food


s: To these sweet poets of the summer fields;


s: The narrow path that hay laid meadow yields,


s: Catching the windings of their wandering song.


s: The black and yellow bumble first on wing


s: To buzz among the sallow's early flowers,


s: Hiding its nest in holes from fickle spring


s: Who stints his rambles with her frequent showers;


s: In livery dress half sables and half red,


s: Who laps a moss ball in the meadow grass


s: And hoards her stores when April showers have fled;


s: Of every blossom that the meadow brings,


s: Starting the traveller to a quicker pace


s: By threatening round his head in many rings:


s: These sweeten summer in their happy glee


s: "Tweet" pipes the robin as the cat creeps by


s: Her nestling young that in the elderns lie,


s: And then the bluecap tootles in its glee,


s: Picking the flies from orchard apple tree,


s: And "pink" the chaffinch cries its well-known strain,


s: Around the rotten tree the firetail mourns


s: Chopping the grain to stop the gap close by


s: The hole where her blue eggs in safety lie.


s: Of everything that stirs she dreameth wrong


s: And pipes her "tweet tut" fears the whole day long.


s: The nodding oxeye bends before the wind,


s: The woodbine quakes lest boys their flowers should find,


s: Can't dare the blossom-seeking hand away,


s: While thistles wear their heavy knobs of bloom


s: Proud as a warhorse wears its haughty plume,


s: On commons where pined sheep and oxen lie


s: It stands and spreads like danger in a wood,


s: And in the village street where meanest weeds


s: Can't stand untouched to fill their husks with seeds,


s: The haughty thistle oer all danger towers,


s: In every place the very wasp of flowers.


s: The frog half fearful jumps across the path,


s: And little mouse that leaves its hole at eve


s: Nimbles with timid dread beneath the swath;


s: My rustling steps awhile their joys deceive,


s: Till past,--and then the cricket sings more strong,


s: And grasshoppers in merry moods still wear


s: The short night weary with their fretting song.


s: Up from behind the molehill jumps the hare,


s: Cheat of his chosen bed, and from the bank


s: The yellowhammer flutters in short fears


s: From off its nest hid in the grasses rank,


s: And drops again when no more noise it hears.


s: Thus nature's human link and endless thrall,


s: Proud man, still seems the enemy of all.


s: I love to see the old heath's withered brake


s: Mingle its crimpled leaves with furze and ling,


s: While the old heron from the lonely lake


s: Starts slow and flaps his melancholy wing,


s: On the half rotten ashtree's topmost twig,


s: Beside whose trunk the gipsy makes his bed.


s: Up flies the bouncing woodcock from the brig


s: Where a black quagmire quakes beneath the tread,


s: The fieldfares chatter in the whistling thorn


s: And for the awe round fields and closen rove,


s: Flit down the hedgerows in the frozen plain


s: And hang on little twigs and start again.


s: A path, old tree, goes by thee crooking on,


s: And through this little gate that claps and bangs


s: Against thy rifted trunk, what steps hath gone?


s: Though but a lonely way, yet mystery hangs


s: Oer crowds of pastoral scenes recordless here.


s: The boy might climb the nest in thy young boughs


s: The herdsman may have left his startled cows


s: For shelter when heaven's thunder voice was near;


s: Here sat and mused half some long summer day


s: While some old shepherd listened to the lay.


s: Were puny, vague, and nothingness to thee:


s: Thou didst a span grasp mighty to the last,


s: And strain for glory when thy die was cast.


s: That little island, on the Atlantic sea,


s: Thy giant powers outstript this gaudy age


s: So gazing on thy greatness, made men blind


s: In olden times. The world was on thy page


s: Of victories but a comma. Fame could find


s: Sprouting its spiry points of tender green,


s: Where squats the hare, to terrors wide awake,


s: Like some brown clod the harrows failed to break.


s: Opening their golden caskets to the sun,


s: The buttercups make schoolboys eager run,


s: To see who shall be first to pluck the prize--


s: Up from their hurry see the Skylark flies,


s: And oer her half-formed nest, with happy wings,


s: Winnows the air till in the cloud she sings,


s: Then hangs a dust spot in the sunny skies,


s: And drops and drops till in her nest she lies,


s: Which they unheeded passed--not dreaming then


s: That birds, which flew so high, would drop again


s: To nests upon the ground, which anything


s: May come at to destroy. Had they the wing


s: Like such a bird, themselves would be too proud


s: And build on nothing but a passing cloud!


s: As free from danger as the heavens are free


s: From pain and toil, there would they build and be,


s: And sail about the world to scenes unheard


s: So think they, while they listen to its song,


s: While its low nest, moist with the dews of morn,


s: Lies safely, with the leveret, in the corn.


s: Waves trough, rebound, and furious boil again,


s: Like plunging monsters rising underneath,


s: Then plunging headlong down and down, and on


s: Each following whirls the shadow of the last;


s: And other monsters rise when those are gone,


s: Crest their fringed waves, plunge onward and are past.


s: From bank to bank the waterstrife is spread;


s: Strange birds like snowspots oer the whizzing sea


s: Hang where the wild duck hurried past and fled.


s: On roars the flood, all restless to be free,


s: Within a thick and spreading hawthorn bush,


s: That overhung a molehill large and round,


s: I heard from morn to morn a merry thrush


s: Sing hymns to sunrise, and I drank the sound


s: With joy; and, often an intruding guest,


s: I watched her secret toils from day to day--


s: How true she warped the moss, to form a nest,


s: And modelled it within with wood and clay;


s: And by and by, like heath-bells gilt with dew,


s: There lay her shining eggs, as bright as flowers,


s: And there I witnessed in the sunny hours


s: A brood of nature's minstrels chirp and fly,


s: Glad as that sunshine and the laughing sky.


s: Sybil of months, and worshipper of winds,


s: I love thee, rude and boisterous as thou art;


s: And scraps of joy my wandering ever finds


s: Mid thy uproarious madness--when the start


s: Of sudden tempests stirs the forest leaves


s: Into hoarse fury, till the shower set free


s: Stills the huge swells. Then ebb the mighty heaves,


s: That sway the forest like a troubled sea.


s: I love thy wizard noise, and rave in turn


s: Half-vacant thoughts and rhymes of careless form;


s: Then hide me from the shower, a short sojourn,


s: Neath ivied oak; and mutter to the storm,


s: That I might breathe a living song to thee.


s: Man, Earth's poor shadow! talks of Earth's decay:


s: No soul of greatness springing up within?


s: Thought marks without hoar shadows of sublime,


s: Pictures of power, which if not doomed to win


s: Worship like conquered foes to the Apennine,


s: Because they could not conquer. There sits Day


s: Too high for Night to come at--mountains shine,


s: Autumn comes laden with her ripened load


s: That each fern-smothered heath and mole-hill waste


s: Are black with bramble berries--where in haste


s: To feast them there, stained with the purple dye;


s: While painted woods around my rambles be


s: Yet will the leaves soon patter on the ground,


s: And death's deaf voice awake at every sound:


s: One drops--then others--and the last that fell


s: Rings for those left behind their passing bell.


s: Thus memory every where her tidings brings


s: How sad death robs us of life's dearest things.


s: The cat runs races with her tail. The dog


s: Leaps oer the orchard hedge and knarls the grass.


s: The swine run round and grunt and play with straw,


s: Snatching out hasty mouthfuls from the stack.


s: Bobs hasty out--wheels round and, scared as soon,


s: And from the muddy pond fly up and wheel


s: A circle round the village and soon, tired,


s: Plunge in the pond again. The maids in haste


s: Snatch from the orchard hedge the mizzled clothes


s: Darkness like midnight from the sobbing woods


s: Clamours with dismal tidings of the rain,


s: Roaring as rivers breaking loose in floods


s: To spread and foam and deluge all the plain.


s: Half doubting whether it be floods or wind,


s: And through the thickening darkness looks afraid,


s: Thinking of roads that travel has to find


s: Through night's black depths in danger's garb arrayed.


s: And the loud glabber round the flaze soon stops


s: When hushed to silence by the lifted hand


s: Of fearing dame who hears the noise in dread


s: And thinks a deluge comes to drown the land;


s: Nor dares she go to bed until the tempest drops.


s: The firetail tells the boys when nests are nigh


s: And tweets and flies from every passer-bye.


s: But flies in silence from the noisy boys;


s: The boys will come and take them every day,


s: And still she lays as none were ta'en away.


s: The nightingale keeps tweeting-churring round


s: But leaves in silence when the nest is found.


s: And flops about the shepherd where he lies;


s: But when her nest is found she stops her song


s: And cocks [her] coppled crown and runs along.


s: Wrens cock their tails and chitter loud and play,


s: The frog croaks loud, and maidens dare not pass


s: But fear the noisome toad and shun the grass;


s: Where hissing snakes run to the flood below.


s: The nuthatch noises loud in wood and wild,


s: Like women turning skreeking to a child.


s: The schoolboy hears and brushes through the trees


s: And runs about till drabbled to the knees.


s: The old hawk winnows round the old crow's nest;


s: The schoolboy hears and wonder fills his breast.


s: He throws his basket down to climb the tree


s: And wonders what the red blotched eggs can be:


s: The green woodpecker bounces from the view


s: When midnight comes a host of dogs and men


s: Till the old grunting badger passes bye.


s: He comes and hears--they let the strongest loose.


s: The old fox hears the noise and drops the goose.


s: The poacher shoots and hurries from the cry,


s: And the old hare half wounded buzzes bye.


s: They get a forked stick to bear him down


s: And clap the dogs and take him to the town,


s: And bait him all the day with many dogs,


s: And laugh and shout and fright the scampering hogs.


s: He runs along and bites at all he meets:


s: They shout and hollo down the noisy streets.


s: And drives the rebels to their very door.


s: The frequent stone is hurled where eer they go;


s: When badgers fight, then every one's a foe.


s: The dogs are clapt and urged to join the fray;


s: The badger turns and drives them all away.


s: Though scarcely half as big, demure and small,


s: He fights with dogs for bones and beats them all.


s: Lies down and licks his feet and turns away.


s: The bulldog knows his match and waxes cold,


s: The badger grins and never leaves his hold.


s: He drives the crowd and follows at their heels


s: And bites them through--the drunkard swears and reels.


s: The blackguard laughs and hurries on the fray.


s: He tries to reach the woods, an awkward race,


s: But sticks and cudgels quickly stop the chace.


s: He turns agen and drives the noisy crowd


s: He drives away and beats them every one,


s: And then they loose them all and set them on.


s: He falls as dead and kicked by boys and men,


s: Then starts and grins and drives the crowd agen;


s: Till kicked and torn and beaten out he lies


s: And leaves his hold and cackles, groans, and dies.


s: The shepherd on his journey heard when nigh


s: The ploughman ran and gave a hearty shout,


s: The ploughman laughed and would have ploughed him in


s: But the old shepherd took him for the skin.


s: He lay upon the furrow stretched for dead,


s: The old dog lay and licked the wounds that bled,


s: The ploughman beat him till his ribs would crack,


s: And then the shepherd slung him at his back;


s: And when he rested, to his dog's surprise,


s: The old fox started from his dead disguise;


s: And while the dog lay panting in the sedge


s: He up and snapt and bolted through the hedge.


s: The shepherd called the ploughman to the fray;


s: The ploughman wished he had a gun to shoot.


s: The old dog barked and followed the pursuit.


s: The shepherd threw his hook and tottered past;


s: The ploughman ran but none could go so fast;


s: And ceased to chop and wondered at the fray.


s: But when he saw the dog and heard the cry


s: He threw his hatchet--but the fox was bye.


s: The shepherd broke his hook and lost the skin;


s: They tried to dig, but, safe from danger's way,


s: He lived to chase the hounds another day.


s: The old fox plays and dances round her young.


s: And swings her tail and turns prepared to fly.


s: The horseman hurries bye, she bolts to see,


s: And barks and snaps and drives them in the holes.


s: The shepherd sees them and the boy goes bye


s: And gets a stick and progs the hole to try.


s: They get all still and lie in safety sure


s: And start and snap at blackbirds bouncing bye


s: To fight and catch the great white butterfly.


s: The turkeys wade the close to catch the bees


s: And bring a brood of chelping chickens home.


s: The turkey gobbles loud and drops his rag


s: And struts and sprunts his tail and then lets drag


s: His wing on ground and makes a huzzing noise,


s: Nauntles at passer-bye and drives the boys


s: The old dog snaps and grins nor ventures nigh.


s: He gobbles loud and drives the boys from play;


s: They throw their sticks and kick and run away.


s: I cannot know what country owns thee now,


s: With France's forest lilies on thy brow.


s: When England knew thee thou wert passing fair;


s: The world of waters rolls and rushes bye,


s: Nor lets me wander where thy vallies lie.


s: But surely France must be a pleasant place


s: That greets the stranger with so fair a face;


s: The English maiden blushes down the dance,


s: But few can equal the fair maid of France.


s: I saw thee lovely and I wished thee mine,


s: And the last song I ever wrote is thine.


s: Thy country's honour on thy face attends;


s: Men may be foes but beauty makes us friends.


s: He eats (a moment's stoppage to his song)


s: And hops along and heeds with careless eye


s: The passing crowded stage coach reeling bye.


s: He talks to none but wends his silent way,


s: An old smoaked blanket arches oer his head,


s: A whisp of straw or stubble makes his bed.


s: He knows a lawless law that claims no kin


s: But meet and plunder on and feel no sin--


s: No matter where they go or where they dwell


s: They dally with the winds and laugh at hell.


s: He waits all day beside his little flock


s: And asks the passing stranger what's o'clock,


s: But those who often pass his daily tasks


s: Look at their watch and tell before he asks.


s: Where the thick hedge the warmest house supplies,


s: And when he hears the hunters far and wide


s: He climbs the highest tree to see them ride--


s: He climbs till all the fields are blea and bare


s: And makes the old crow's nest an easy chair.


s: And soon his sheep are got in other grounds--


s: He hastens down and fears his master come,


s: He stops the gap and keeps them all in bounds


s: And tends them closely till it's time for home.


s: With careful step to keep his balance up


s: Slabbering at mouth and with a staggering stoop


s: Bumptious and vain and proud he shoulders up


s: And would be something if he knew but how;


s: But cracks of work, of horses and of plough.


s: Proud of the foolish talk, the ale he quaffs,


s: He never heeds the insult loud that laughs:


s: With rosy maid he tries to joke and play,--


s: Who shrugs and nettles deep his pomp and pride.


s: And calls him "drunken beast" and runs away--


s: The morning road is thronged with merry boys


s: Who seek the water for their Sunday joys;


s: They run to seek the shallow pit, and wade


s: The boldest ventures first and dashes in,


s: And duck about, and try to lose their fears,


s: And laugh to hear the thunder in their ears.


s: And try across the deepest place to float:


s: Beneath the willow trees they ride and stoop--


s: The awkward load will scarcely bear them up.


s: Without their aid the others float away,


s: Bonny and stout and brown, without a hat,


s: She frowns offended when they call her fat--


s: Yet fat she is, the merriest in the place,


s: And all can know she wears a pretty face.


s: But still she never heeds what praise can say,


s: But does the work, and oft runs out to play,


s: To run about the yard and ramp and noise


s: And spring the mop upon the servant boys.


s: When old hens noise and cackle every where


s: And runs to seek them when they lay away


s: She gambols with the men and laughs aloud


s: And only quarrels when they call her proud.


s: She hastens out and scarcely pins her clothes


s: To hear the news and tell the news she knows;


s: She stands with eager haste at slander's tale,


s: And drinks the news as drunkards drink their ale.


s: The very cat looks up and knows her face


s: And hastens to the chair to get the place;


s: Till tales are done and talk has nought to say.


s: She goes from house to house the village oer,


s: With arms and legs at work and gentle stroke


s: That urges switching tail nor mends his pace,


s: On an old ribbed and weather beaten horse,


s: The farmer goes jogtrotting to the fair.


s: Both keep their pace that nothing can provoke


s: Followed by brindled dog that snuffs the ground


s: With urging bark and hurries at his heels.


s: His hat slouched down, and great coat buttoned close


s: Bellied like hooped keg, and chuffy face


s: Red as the morning sun, he takes his round


s: And talks of stock: and when his jobs are done


s: And Dobbin's hay is eaten from the rack,


s: He drinks success to corn in language hoarse,


s: And claps old Dobbin's hide, and potters back.


s: A deep and ancient stonepit full of trees;


s: So deep and very deep the place has been,


s: The church might stand within and not be seen.


s: The passing stranger oft with wonder stops


s: And thinks he een could walk upon their tops,


s: And stands above and sees the eggs below;


s: And while the wild horse gives its head a toss,


s: The boy that stands and kills the black nosed bee


s: Dares down as soon as magpies' nests are found,


s: And wonders when he climbs the highest tree


s: To find it reaches scarce above the ground.


s: Afraid of praise she hurries down the streets


s: And turns away from every smile she meets.


s: The forward clown has many things to say


s: And holds her by the gown to make her stay,


s: The picture of good health she goes along,


s: Yet een from him she shuns a rude embrace,


s: And stooping holds her hands before her face,--


s: She even shuns and fears the bolder wind,


s: And holds her shawl, and often looks behind.


s: For Sunday's play he never makes excuse,


s: But plays at taw, and buys his Spanish juice.


s: Hard as his toil, and ever slow to speak,


s: Yet he gives maidens many a burning cheek;


s: For none can pass him but his witless grace


s: Of bawdry brings the blushes in her face.


s: He calls his cows or drives his horses on;


s: He knows the lamest cow and strokes her side


s: And often tries to mount her back and ride,


s: And takes her tail at night in idle play,


s: And makes her drag him homeward all the way.


s: He knows of nothing but the football match,


s: And where hens lay, and when the duck will hatch.


s: He plays with other boys when work is done,


s: But feels too clumsy and too stiff to run,


s: Yet where there's mischief he can find a way


s: The first to join and last [to run] away.


s: What's said or done he never hears or minds


s: But gets his pence for all the eggs he finds.


s: He thinks his master's horses far the best,


s: And always labours longer than the rest.


s: In frost and cold though lame he's forced to go--


s: The call's more urgent when he journeys slow.


s: In surly speed he helps the maids by force


s: And feeds the cows and hallos till he's hoarse;


s: And when he's lame they only jest and play


s: Maids shout to breakfast in a merry strife,


s: And the cat runs to hear the whetted knife,


s: The mouldy crust and falling bone to catch.


s: The wooden dishes round in haste are set,


s: And round the table all the boys are met;


s: All know their own save Hodge who would be first,


s: But every one his master leaves the worst.


s: Two rude cut letters mark the owner's name;


s: From every nook the smile of plenty calls,


s: Moore's Almanack where wonders never cease--


s: All smeared with candle snuff and bacon grease.


s: Who did and does me all the harm he can.


s: Free from the world I would a prisoner be


s: And lonely see the shooting stars appear,


s: Worlds rushing into judgment all the year.


s: O lead me onward to the loneliest shade,


s: Where kingcups grow most beauteous to behold


s: Take all the world away--and leave me still


s: That bids the heart be happy and rejoice.


s: The snow falls deep; the forest lies alone;


s: The boy goes hasty for his load of brakes,


s: Then thinks upon the fire and hurries back;


s: The gipsy knocks his hands and tucks them up,


s: And seeks his squalid camp, half hid in snow,


s: Beneath the oak which breaks away the wind,


s: And bushes close in snow-like hovel warm;


s: There tainted mutton wastes upon the coals,


s: And the half-wasted dog squats close and rubs,


s: Then feels the heat too strong, and goes aloof;


s: He watches well, but none a bit can spare,


s: And vainly waits the morsel thrown away.


s: Tis thus they live--a picture to the place,


s: I went in the fields with the leisure I got,


s: The stranger might smile but I heeded him not,


s: The hovel was ready to screen from a shower,


s: And the book in my pocket was read in an hour.


s: The bird came for shelter, but soon flew away;


s: The horse came to look, and seemed happy to stay;


s: He stood up in quiet, and hung down his head,


s: And seemed to be hearing the poem I read.


s: The ploughman would turn from his plough in the day


s: And wonder what being had come in his way,


s: To lie on a molehill and read the day long


s: And laugh out aloud when he'd finished his song.


s: The pewit turned over and stooped oer my head


s: Where the raven croaked loud like the ploughman ill-bred,


s: But the lark high above charmed me all the day long,


s: So I sat down and joined in the chorus of song.


s: The foolhardy ploughman I well could endure,


s: His praise was worth nothing, his censure was poor,


s: Fame bade me go on and I toiled the day long


s: Till the fields where he lived should be known in my song.


s: Farewell to the bushy clump close to the river


s: And the flags where the butter-bump hides in for ever;


s: Farewell to the weedy nook, hemmed in by waters;


s: Farewell to the miller's brook and his three bonny daughters;


s: Farewell to them all while in prison I lie--


s: In the prison a thrall sees nought but the sky.


s: Shut out are the green fields and birds in the bushes;


s: In the prison yard nothing builds, blackbirds or thrushes,


s: Farewell to the old mill and dash of the waters,


s: To the miller and, dearer still, to his three bonny daughters.


s: In the nook, the large burdock grows near the green willow;


s: In the flood, round the moorcock dashes under the billow;


s: To the old mill farewell, to the lock, pens, and waters,


s: To the miller himsel', and his three bonny daughters.


s: Have more of substance when they're here


s: When shall I see the white-thorn leaves agen,


s: And yellowhammers gathering the dry bents


s: Feathered with love and nature's good intents?


s: Rude is the tent this architect invents,


s: Dead grass, horse hair, and downy-headed bents


s: Tied to dead thistles--she doth well provide,


s: Close to a hill of ants where cowslips bloom


s: And shed oer meadows far their sweet perfume.


s: In early spring, when winds blow chilly cold,


s: The yellowhammer, trailing grass, will come


s: To fix a place and choose an early home,


s: With yellow breast and head of solid gold.


s: The thistle-down's flying, though the winds are all still,


s: On the green grass now lying, now mounting the hill,


s: The spring from the fountain now boils like a pot;


s: Through stones past the counting it bubbles red hot.


s: The ground parched and cracked is like overbaked bread,


s: The greensward all wracked is, bents dried up and dead.


s: The fallow fields glitter like water indeed,


s: And gossamers twitter, flung from weed unto weed.


s: Hill tops like hot iron glitter bright in the sun,


s: And the rivers we're eying burn to gold as they run;


s: Burning hot is the ground, liquid gold is the air;


s: Whoever looks round sees Eternity there.


s: I peeled bits of straws and I got switches too


s: From the grey peeling willow as idlers do,


s: And I switched at the flies as I sat all alone


s: Till my flesh, blood, and marrow was turned to dry bone.


s: My illness was love, though I knew not the smart,


s: But the beauty of love was the blood of my heart.


s: Crowded places, I shunned them as noises too rude


s: And fled to the silence of sweet solitude.


s: Where the flower in green darkness buds, blossoms, and fades,


s: Unseen of all shepherds and flower-loving maids--


s: The hermit bees find them but once and away.


s: There I'll bury alive and in silence decay.


s: I looked on the eyes of fair woman too long,


s: Till silence and shame stole the use of my tongue:


s: When I tried to speak to her I'd nothing to say,


s: So I turned myself round and she wandered away.


s: When she got too far off, why, I'd something to tell,


s: So I sent sighs behind her and walked to my cell.


s: Willow switches I broke and peeled bits of straws,


s: Ever lonely in crowds, in Nature's own laws--


s: My ball room the pasture, my music the bees,


s: My drink was the fountain, my church the tall trees.


s: Who ever would love or be tied to a wife


s: When it makes a man mad all the days of his life?


s: Sweet chestnuts brown like soling leather turn;


s: The larch trees, like the colour of the Sun;


s: That paled sky in the Autumn seemed to burn,


s: What a strange scene before us now does run--


s: Red, brown, and yellow, russet, black, and dun;


s: White thorn, wild cherry, and the poplar bare;


s: No leaves are now upon the birch tree there:


s: All now is stript to the cold wintry air.


s: See, not one tree but what has lost its leaves--


s: And yet the landscape wears a pleasing hue.


s: The winter chill on his cold bed receives


s: Foliage which once hung oer the waters blue.


s: Naked and bare the leafless trees repose.


s: Blue-headed titmouse now seeks maggots rare,


s: Sluggish and dull the leaf-strewn river flows;


s: That is not green, which was so through the year


s: When the Moon hangs her crescent up on high;


s: While on the window shutters the wind roars,


s: And storms like furies pass remorseless by.


s: With Dante or with Milton to regions high,


s: Or read fresh volumes we've not seen before,


s: O the evening's for the fair, bonny lassie O!


s: To meet the cooler air and walk an angel there,


s: The bloom's on the brere, bonny lassie O!


s: Oak apples on the tree; and wilt thou gang to see


s: Tis agen the running brook, bonny lassie O!


s: In a grassy nook hard by, with a little patch of sky,


s: There's the daisy all the year, bonny lassie O!


s: With a woodbine peeping in, and the roses like thy skin


s: I will meet thee there at e'en, bonny lassie O!


s: When the bee sips in the bean, and grey willow branches lean,


s: Where the sweet briar smells so sweet agen;


s: The thought that cheers this heart of mine


s: The sweetest thought that leaves the brain,


s: Peggy said good morning and I said good bye,


s: When farmers dib the corn and laddies sow the rye.


s: Young Peggy's face was common sense and I was rather shy


s: When I met her in the morning when the farmers sow the rye.


s: Her half laced boots fit tightly as she tripped along the grass,


s: And she set her foot so lightly where the early bee doth pass.


s: Oh Peggy was a young thing, her face was common sense,


s: I courted her about the spring and loved her ever thence.


s: Oh Peggy was the young thing and bonny as to size;


s: Her lips were cherries of the spring and hazel were her eyes.


s: Oh Peggy she was straight and tall as is the poplar tree,


s: Smooth as the freestone of the wall, and very dear to me.


s: Oh Peggy's gown was chocolate and full of cherries white;


s: I keep a bit on't for her sake and love her day and night.


s: I drest myself just like a prince and Peggy went to woo,


s: Wild strawberries which both gathered then,


s: Wood strawberries faded from wood sides,


s: Such are sweet things--but sweeter still


s: The maid whose look my heart can thrill,


s: I wandered all sorrowing thinking of thee,--


s: Thy city in ruins, thy kindred deplored,


s: All fallen and lost by the Ottoman's sword.


s: I saw thee sit there in disconsolate sighs,


s: Where the hall of thy fathers a ruined heap lies.


s: Thy fair finger showed me the place where they trod,


s: In thy childhood where flourished the city of God.


s: The place where they fell and the scenes where they lie,


s: In the tomb of Siloa--the tear in her eye


s: She stifled: transfixed there it grew like a pearl,


s: Jerusalem is fallen! still thou art in bloom,


s: As fresh as the ivy around the lone tomb,


s: And fair as the lily of morning that waves


s: Its sweet-scented bells over desolate graves.


s: When I think of Jerusalem in kingdoms yet free,


s: I shall think of its ruins and think upon thee;


s: A bright spot in Eden still blooms as thy home.


s: For those dark curls and those bright eyes


s: Leaving thee to thy sleep like an angel at rest,


s: Does the one who adores thee still live in thy breast?


s: Till love came upon thee like the sun to the west


s: And shed its perfuming and bloom on thy breast.


s: Tis three years and a quarter since I left my own fireside


s: To go aboard a ship through love, and plough the ocean wide.


s: I crossed my native fields, where the scarlet poppies grew,


s: And the groundlark left his nest like a neighbour which I knew.


s: The pigeons from the dove cote cooed over the old lane,


s: The crow flocks from the oakwood went flopping oer the grain;


s: Like lots of dear old neighbours whom I shall see no more


s: They greeted me that morning I left the English shore.


s: The sun was just a-rising above the heath of furze,


s: And the shadows grow to giants; that bright ball never stirs:


s: There the shepherds lay with their dogs by their side,


s: And they started up and barked as my shadow they espied.


s: A maid of early morning twirled her mop upon the moor;


s: I wished her my farewell before she closed the door.


s: My friends I left behind me for other places new,


s: Crows and pigeons all were strangers as oer my head they flew.


s: Trees and bushes were all strangers, the hedges and the lanes,


s: The steeples and the houses and broad untrodden plains.


s: I passed the pretty milkmaid with her red and rosy face;


s: I knew not where I met her, I was strange to the place.


s: At last I saw the ocean, a pleasing sight to me:


s: I stood upon the shore of a mighty glorious sea.


s: The waves in easy motion went rolling on their way,


s: English colours were a-flying where the British squadron lay.


s: I left my honest parents, the church clock and the village;


s: I left the lads and lasses, the labour and the tillage;


s: To plough the briny ocean, which soon became my joy--


s: I sat and sang among the shrouds, a lonely sailor-boy.


s: Than those rose cheeks and those bright eyes.


s: The robin sings his song by the dairy O!


s: Where the little Jenny wrens cock their tails among the hens,


s: Singing morning's happy songs with Mary O!


s: The swallow's on the wing, bonny Mary O!


s: Where the rushes fringe the spring, bonny Mary O!


s: Where the cowslips do unfold, shaking tassels all of gold,


s: Which make the milk so sweet, bonny Mary O!


s: There's the yellowhammer's nest, bonny Mary O!


s: Where she hides her golden breast, bonny Mary O!


s: There the spotted cow gets food, bonny Mary O!


s: And chews her peaceful cud, bonny Mary O!


s: Lies dimpled like thy sen, bonny Mary O!


s: Where the gnat swarms fall and rise under evening's mellow skies,


s: And I will meet thee there, bonny Mary O!


s: When a-milking you repair, bonny Mary O!


s: And I'll kiss thee on the grass, my buxom, bonny lass,


s: If she looks upon the hedge or up the leafing tree,


s: The whitethorn or the brown oak are made dearer things to me.


s: Near the brown mole on her neck that to me a diamond shone


s: Then my eye was like to fire, and my heart was like to stone.


s: There is not a woodland nigh nor is there a green grove,


s: Yet stood the fair maid nigh me and told me all her love.


s: Where there's nor light nor life to see,


s: Where stones will turn to flooding streams,


s: Where plains will rise like ocean's waves,


s: Where life will fade like visioned dreams


s: The maple with its tassel flowers of green,


s: That turns to red a staghorn-shaped seed,


s: Just spreading out its scolloped leaves is seen,


s: Of yellowish hue, yet beautifully green;


s: Bark ribbed like corderoy in seamy screed,


s: That farther up the stem is smoother seen,


s: Where the white hemlock with white umbel flowers


s: Up each spread stoven to the branches towers;


s: And moss around the stoven spreads, dark green,


s: And blotched leaved orchis, and the blue bell flowers;


s: Thickly they grow and neath the leaves are seen;


s: I love to see them gemmed with morning hours,


s: I love the lone green places where they be,


s: And the sweet clothing of the maple tree.


s: These little window dwellers, in cottages and halls, were always


s: The cataract, whirling down the precipice,


s: Elbows down rocks and, shouldering, thunders through.


s: Roars, howls, and stifled murmurs never cease;


s: Thick rolls the mist, that smokes and falls in dew;


s: The trees and greenwood wear the deepest green.


s: Horrible mysteries in the gulph stare through,


s: Roars of a million tongues, and none knows what they mean.


s: In wild, wood-shady dell to stay for hours.


s: Twould soften hearts if they were hard as stone


s: To see glad butterflies and smiling flowers.


s: Tis pleasant in these quiet lonely places,


s: Where not the voice of man our pleasure mars,


s: To see the little bees with coal black faces


s: Gathering sweets from little flowers like stars.


s: The wind seems calling, though not understood.


s: A voice is speaking; hark, it louder calls.


s: It echoes in the far-outstretching wood.


s: First twas a hum, but now it loudly squalls;


s: And then the pattering rain begins to fall,


s: And it is hushed--the fern leaves scarcely shake,


s: The tottergrass it scarcely stirs at all.


s: And then the rolling thunder gets awake,


s: And from black clouds the lightning flashes break.


s: The sunshine's gone, and now an April evening


s: Gold light and woolpacks in the west are leaving,


s: And leaden streaks their splendid place supply.


s: Sheep ointment seems to daub the dead-hued sky,


s: And night shuts up the lightsomeness of day,


s: Flower, tree, and bush, like all the shadows grey,


s: Tis May; and yet the March flower Dandelion


s: Is still in bloom among the emerald grass,


s: Shining like guineas with the sun's warm eye on--


s: We almost think they are gold as we pass,


s: Or fallen stars in a green sea of grass.


s: They shine in fields, or waste grounds near the town.


s: They closed like painter's brush when even was.


s: At length they turn to nothing else but down,


s: While the rude winds blow off each shadowy crown.


s: Where dewdrops pearl the wood blue bells


s: The lost breeze kissed her bright blue eye,


s: Till een the breeze would knock me down,


s: On the eighteenth of October we lay in Bantry Bay,


s: All ready to set sail, with a fresh and steady gale:


s: A fortnight and nine days we in the harbour lay,


s: And no breeze ever reached us or strained a single sail.


s: Three ships of war had we, and the great guns loaded all;


s: But our ships were dead and beaten that had never feared a foe.


s: The winds becalmed around us cared for no cannon ball;


s: They locked us in the harbour and would not let us go.


s: On the nineteenth of October, by eleven of the clock,


s: The sky turned black as midnight and a sudden storm came on--


s: Awful and sudden--and the cables felt the shock;


s: Our anchors they all broke away and every sheet was gone.


s: The guns fired off amid the strife, but little hope had we;


s: The billows broke above the ship and left us all below.


s: The crew with one consent cried "Bear further out to sea,"


s: She foundered on a rock, while we clambered up the shrouds,


s: And staggered like a mountain drunk, wedged in the waves almost.


s: The red hot boiling billows foamed in the stooping clouds,


s: And in that fatal tempest the whole ship's crew were lost.


s: Have pity for poor mariners, ye landsmen, in a storm.


s: O think what they endure at sea while safe at home you stay.


s: All ye that sleep on beds at night in houses dry and warm,


s: O think upon the whole ship's crew, all lost at Bantry Bay.


s: I opened the casement this morn at starlight,


s: The daisies were quaking about in their white


s: The grass was all shivers, the stars were all bright,


s: I thought that I saw him, a ghost by moonlight,


s: Like a stalking horse stand on the green.


s: I went bed agen and did nothing but dream


s: He stood like a shadow transfixed by a stream,


s: I'd just dropt asleep when I dreamed Robin spoke,


s: As if every pane in the window was broke;


s: So I up in the morning before the cock crew


s: I saw from the door all his track in the dew


s: And, I guess, called "Come in and sit down."


s: And one, sure enough, tramples up to the door,


s: And ere the old folks were half willing to stir


s: Well, honest John, how fare you now at home?


s: The spring is come, and birds are building nests;


s: With olive feathers and its ruddy breast;


s: And the old cock, with wattles and red comb,


s: Struts with the hens, and seems to like some best,


s: Then crows, and looks about for little crumbs,


s: The pigs sleep in the stye; the bookman comes--


s: The little boy lets home-close nesting go,


s: And pockets tops and taws, where daisies bloom,


s: To look at the new number just laid down,


s: With lots of pictures, and good stories too,


s: And Jack the Giant-killer's high renown.


s: The Spring is come, and Spring flowers coming too,


s: The crocus, patty kay, the rich hearts' ease;


s: And daisy flowers; the buds swell on the trees;


s: While oer the odd flowers swim grandfather bees


s: In the old homestead rests the cottage cow;


s: The dogs sit on their haunches near the pail,


s: The least one to the stranger growls "bow wow,"


s: Then hurries to the door and cocks his tail,


s: To knaw the unfinished bone; the placid cow


s: Looks oer the gate; the thresher's lumping flail


s: Is all the noise the spring encounters now.


s: Little trotty wagtail he went in the rain,


s: He stooped to get a worm, and looked up to get a fly,


s: And then he flew away ere his feathers they were dry.


s: Little trotty wagtail, he waddled in the mud,


s: And left his little footmarks, trample where he would.


s: He waddled in the water-pudge, and waggle went his tail,


s: And chirrupt up his wings to dry upon the garden rail.


s: Little trotty wagtail, you nimble all about,


s: And in the dimpling water-pudge you waddle in and out;


s: Your home is nigh at hand, and in the warm pig-stye,


s: So, little Master Wagtail, I'll bid you a good-bye.


s: Infant' graves are steps of angels, where


s: Earth's brightest gems of innocence repose.


s: God is their parent, and they need no tear;


s: He takes them to His bosom from earth's woes,


s: A bud their lifetime and a flower their close.


s: Needing no prayers; a sunset's happy close.


s: Gone are the bright rays of their soft blue eyes;


s: Flowers weep in dew-drops oer them, and the gale gently sighs


s: Their lives were nothing but a sunny shower,


s: Melting on flowers as tears melt from the eye.


s: Their deaths were dew-drops on Heaven's amaranth bower,


s: And tolled on flowers as Summer gales went by.


s: They bowed and trembled, and they left no sigh,


s: And the sun smiled to show their end was well.


s: Infants have nought to weep for ere they die;


s: All prayers are needless, beads they need not tell,


s: White flowers their mourners are, Nature their passing bell.


s: His little hands, when flowers were seen,


s: Birds' nests and eggs caused no surprise,


s: The tomb, the earth, which fades like dew!


s: The tomb, the earth, the flowers, and dew.


s: I AM: yet what I am none cares or knows,


s: My friends forsake me like a memory lost;


s: Like shades in love and death's oblivion lost;


s: And yet I am, and live with shadows tost


s: Into the nothingness of scorn and noise,


s: Where there is neither sense of life nor joys,


s: But the vast shipwreck of my life's esteems;


s: And een the dearest--that I loved the best--


s: Are strange--nay, rather stranger than the rest.


s: I long for scenes where man has never trod;


s: A place where woman never smiled or wept;


s: And sleep as I in childhood sweetly slept:


s: That from two propping dotterels strides


s: And loud the neighbouring woodland raves


s: Pamphlet: no printer's name. 1912. (It includes a memoir, and a


s: classification of the flowers described in Clare's poems.)


s: FOUR LETTERS from the Rev. W. Allen, to the Right Honourable Lord


s: THREE VERY INTERESTING LETTERS (two in curious rhyme) by the


s: ALLIBONE, S. A.--Dictionary of English Literature.


s: BAKER, Miss A. E.--Glossary of Northamptonshire Words and Phrases


s: DOBELL, B.--Sidelights on Charles Lamb--1903.


s: --Past Celebrities Whom I Have Known: ii. 132 _sq_.


s: THOMAS, EDWARD--Feminine Influence on the Poets--1908.


s: February               Gentleman's Magazine


s: May                    Gentleman's Magazine


s: July                   Gentleman's Magazine


s: July                   St. James's Magazine


s: Gone from the path direct: and e'en to tell


s: That forest, how robust and rough its growth,


s: Renews, in bitterness not far from death.


s: Yet to discourse of what there good befell,


s: All else will I relate discover'd there.


s: How first I enter'd it I scarce can say,


s: Such sleepy dullness in that instant weigh'd


s: My senses down, when the true path I left,


s: But when a mountain's foot I reach'd, where clos'd


s: The valley, that had pierc'd my heart with dread,


s: I look'd aloft, and saw his shoulders broad


s: Who leads all wanderers safe through every way.


s: That in my heart's recesses deep had lain,


s: And as a man, with difficult short breath,


s: Forespent with toiling, 'scap'd from sea to shore,


s: Turns to the perilous wide waste, and stands


s: At gaze; e'en so my spirit, that yet fail'd


s: Struggling with terror, turn'd to view the straits,


s: That none hath pass'd and liv'd.  My weary frame


s: The hinder foot still firmer.  Scarce the ascent


s: Began, when, lo! a panther, nimble, light,


s: And cover'd with a speckled skin, appear'd,


s: Nor, when it saw me, vanish'd, rather strove


s: With purpose to retrace my steps I turn'd.


s: The hour was morning's prime, and on his way


s: Aloft the sun ascended with those stars,


s: That with him rose, when Love divine first mov'd


s: Those its fair works: so that with joyous hope


s: All things conspir'd to fill me, the gay skin


s: And the sweet season.  Soon that joy was chas'd,


s: And by new dread succeeded, when in view


s: A lion came, 'gainst me, as it appear'd,


s: With his head held aloft and hunger-mad,


s: That e'en the air was fear-struck.  A she-wolf


s: Was at his heels, who in her leanness seem'd


s: Full of all wants, and many a land hath made


s: Disconsolate ere now.  She with such fear


s: O'erwhelmed me, at the sight of her appall'd,


s: That of the height all hope I lost.  As one,


s: Mourns with heart-griping anguish; such was I,


s: Haunted by that fell beast, never at peace,


s: Impell'd me where the sun in silence rests.


s: While to the lower space with backward step


s: I fell, my ken discern'd the form one of one,


s: Whose voice seem'd faint through long disuse of speech.


s: "Spirit! or living man! what e'er thou be!"


s: He answer'd: "Now not man, man once I was,


s: And born of Lombard parents, Mantuana both


s: By country, when the power of Julius yet


s: Was scarcely firm.  At Rome my life was past


s: The subject of my song, who came from Troy,


s: When the flames prey'd on Ilium's haughty towers.


s: But thou, say wherefore to such perils past


s: Return'st thou?  wherefore not this pleasant mount


s: Ascendest, cause and source of all delight?"


s: "And art thou then that Virgil, that well-spring,


s: From which such copious floods of eloquence


s: Have issued?"  I with front abash'd replied.


s: "Glory and light of all the tuneful train!


s: Have sought thy volume, and with love immense


s: Have conn'd it o'er.  My master thou and guide!


s: That style, which for its beauty into fame


s: Exalts me.  See the beast, from whom I fled.


s: O save me from her, thou illustrious sage!"


s: "For every vein and pulse throughout my frame


s: She hath made tremble."  He, soon as he saw


s: That I was weeping, answer'd, "Thou must needs


s: Another way pursue, if thou wouldst 'scape


s: From out that savage wilderness.  This beast,


s: At whom thou criest, her way will suffer none


s: To pass, and no less hindrance makes than death:


s: Still after food more craving than before.


s: She fastens, and shall yet to many more,


s: Until that greyhound come, who shall destroy


s: Her with sharp pain.  He will not life support


s: By earth nor its base metals, but by love,


s: Wisdom, and virtue, and his land shall be


s: The land 'twixt either Feltro.  In his might


s: For whose fair realm, Camilla, virgin pure,


s: He with incessant chase through every town


s: Restore her, thence by envy first let loose.


s: That thou mayst follow me, and I thy guide


s: Will lead thee hence through an eternal space,


s: Where thou shalt hear despairing shrieks, and see


s: A second death; and those next view, who dwell


s: Content in fire, for that they hope to come,


s: Whene'er the time may be, among the blest,


s: Must lead thee, in whose charge, when I depart,


s: Thou shalt be left: for that Almighty King,


s: Adjudges me, and therefore hath decreed,


s: That to his city none through me should come.


s: He in all parts hath sway; there rules, there holds


s: Whom there he chooses!"  I to him in few:


s: "Bard! by that God, whom thou didst not adore,


s: I do beseech thee (that this ill and worse


s: I may escape) to lead me, where thou saidst,


s: That I Saint Peter's gate may view, and those


s: Who as thou tell'st, are in such dismal plight."


s: Onward he mov'd, I close his steps pursu'd.


s: Imbrown'd with shadows, from their toils releas'd


s: Prepar'd myself the conflict to sustain,


s: Both of sad pity, and that perilous road,


s: Your aid!  O mind! that all I saw hast kept


s: Safe in a written record, here thy worth


s: I thus began: "Bard! thou who art my guide,


s: Thou trust me.  Thou hast told that Silvius' sire,


s: Th' immortal tribes had entrance, and was there


s: Sensible present.  Yet if heaven's great Lord,


s: Almighty foe to ill, such favour shew'd,


s: Both what and who from him should issue forth,


s: It seems in reason's judgment well deserv'd:


s: Sith he of Rome, and of Rome's empire wide,


s: In heaven's empyreal height was chosen sire:


s: Both which, if truth be spoken, were ordain'd


s: And 'stablish'd for the holy place, where sits


s: Who to great Peter's sacred chair succeeds.


s: He from this journey, in thy song renown'd,


s: Learn'd things, that to his victory gave rise


s: To bring us back assurance in that faith,


s: Which is the entrance to salvation's way.


s: But I, why should I there presume?  or who


s: Will deem me.  I, if on this voyage then


s: Thou, who art wise, better my meaning know'st,


s: Than I can speak."  As one, who unresolves


s: What he hath late resolv'd, and with new thoughts


s: Changes his purpose, from his first intent


s: Remov'd; e'en such was I on that dun coast,


s: Wasting in thought my enterprise, at first


s: So eagerly embrac'd.  "If right thy words


s: I scan," replied that shade magnanimous,


s: "Thy soul is by vile fear assail'd, which oft


s: At some false semblance in the twilight gloom.


s: That from this terror thou mayst free thyself,


s: I will instruct thee why I came, and what


s: I heard in that same instant, when for thee


s: Grief touch'd me first.  I was among the tribe,


s: Who rest suspended, when a dame, so blest


s: Call'd me; her eyes were brighter than the star


s: Of day; and she with gentle voice and soft


s: "O courteous shade of Mantua! thou whose fame


s: Yet lives, and shall live long as nature lasts!


s: Hindrance so great, that he through fear has turn'd.


s: Now much I dread lest he past help have stray'd,


s: From what in heaven of him I heard.  Speed now,


s: And by all means for his deliverance meet,


s: Assist him.  So to me will comfort spring.


s: (Note: Beatrice.  I use this word, as it is


s: pronounced in the Italian, as consisting of four


s: syllables, of which the third is a long one.)


s: Revisited with joy.  Love brought me thence,


s: Who prompts my speech.  When in my Master's sight


s: I stand, thy praise to him I oft will tell."


s: Within that heaven which hath the smallest orb,


s: So thy command delights me, that to obey,


s: If it were done already, would seem late.


s: No need hast thou farther to speak thy will;


s: Yet tell the reason, why thou art not loth


s: To leave that ample space, where to return


s: Thou burnest, for this centre here beneath."


s: She then: "Since thou so deeply wouldst inquire,


s: I will instruct thee briefly, why no dread


s: Hinders my entrance here.  Those things alone


s: Are to be fear'd, whence evil may proceed,


s: None else, for none are terrible beside.


s: I am so fram'd by God, thanks to his grace!


s: Touches me not, nor flame of that fierce fire


s: Assails me.  In high heaven a blessed dame


s: Besides, who mourns with such effectual grief


s: That hindrance, which I send thee to remove,


s: That God's stern judgment to her will inclines."


s: "Now doth thy faithful servant need thy aid


s: And I commend him to thee."  At her word


s: Seated with Rachel, her of ancient days,


s: She thus address'd me: "Thou true praise of God!


s: To him, who so much lov'd thee, as to leave


s: Dost thou not hear how pitiful his wail,


s: Nor mark the death, which in the torrent flood,


s: Swoln mightier than a sea, him struggling holds?"


s: "Ne'er among men did any with such speed


s: Haste to their profit, flee from their annoy,


s: As when these words were spoken, I came here,


s: Down from my blessed seat, trusting the force


s: Of thy pure eloquence, which thee, and all


s: Who well have mark'd it, into honour brings."


s: "When she had ended, her bright beaming eyes


s: Tearful she turn'd aside; whereat I felt


s: Redoubled zeal to serve thee.  As she will'd,


s: Thus am I come: I sav'd thee from the beast,


s: Who thy near way across the goodly mount


s: Prevented.  What is this comes o'er thee then?


s: Why, why dost thou hang back?  why in thy breast


s: Harbour vile fear?  why hast not courage there


s: And noble daring?  Since three maids so blest


s: Thy safety plan, e'en in the court of heaven;


s: And so much certain good my words forebode."


s: Bent down and clos'd, when day has blanch'd their leaves,


s: And to my heart such kindly courage ran,


s: My succour! and thou kind who didst perform


s: So soon her true behest!  With such desire


s: Thou hast dispos'd me to renew my voyage,


s: Thou art my guide, my master thou, and lord."


s: So spake I; and when he had onward mov'd,


s: "THROUGH me you pass into the city of woe:


s: Through me among the people lost for aye.


s: To rear me was the task of power divine,


s: Before me things create were none, save things


s: Whereat I thus: "Master, these words import


s: Hard meaning."  He as one prepar'd replied:


s: "Here thou must all distrust behind thee leave;


s: Here be vile fear extinguish'd. We are come


s: Where I have told thee we shall see the souls


s: Have lost."  And when his hand he had stretch'd forth


s: To mine, with pleasant looks, whence I was cheer'd,


s: Here sighs with lamentations and loud moans


s: Resounded through the air pierc'd by no star,


s: That e'en I wept at entering.  Various tongues,


s: Accents of anger, voices deep and hoarse,


s: With hands together smote that swell'd the sounds,


s: Round through that air with solid darkness stain'd,


s: Like to the sand that in the whirlwind flies.


s: I then, with error yet encompass'd, cried:


s: "O master!  What is this I hear?  What race


s: Are these, who seem so overcome with woe?"


s: Suffer the wretched souls of those, who liv'd


s: Without or praise or blame, with that ill band


s: Of angels mix'd, who nor rebellious prov'd


s: Nor yet were true to God, but for themselves


s: Were only.  From his bounds Heaven drove them forth,


s: Of Hell receives them, lest th' accursed tribe


s: Should glory thence with exultation vain."


s: I then: "Master! what doth aggrieve them thus,


s: That they lament so loud?"  He straight replied:


s: "That will I tell thee briefly.  These of death


s: No hope may entertain: and their blind life


s: They envy.  Fame of them the world hath none,


s: Nor suffers; mercy and justice scorn them both.


s: Speak not of them, but look, and pass them by."


s: And I, who straightway look'd, beheld a flag,


s: That it no pause obtain'd: and following came


s: Such a long train of spirits, I should ne'er


s: Have thought, that death so many had despoil'd.


s: And knew the shade of him, who to base fear


s: Yielding, abjur'd his high estate.  Forthwith


s: Of those ill spirits both to God displeasing


s: And to his foes.  These wretches, who ne'er lived,


s: By wasps and hornets, which bedew'd their cheeks


s: With blood, that mix'd with tears dropp'd to their feet,


s: And by disgustful worms was gather'd there.


s: A throng upon the shore of a great stream:


s: Whereat I thus: "Sir! grant me now to know


s: Whom here we view, and whence impell'd they seem


s: Through the blear light?"  He thus to me in few:


s: "This shalt thou know, soon as our steps arrive


s: Then with eyes downward cast and fill'd with shame,


s: Till we had reach'd the river, I from speech


s: Comes on an old man hoary white with eld,


s: Crying, "Woe to you wicked spirits! hope not


s: In fierce heat and in ice.  And thou, who there


s: Standest, live spirit! get thee hence, and leave


s: These who are dead."  But soon as he beheld


s: I left them not, "By other way," said he,


s: "By other haven shalt thou come to shore,


s: Not by this passage; thee a nimbler boat


s: Must carry."  Then to him thus spake my guide:


s: "Charon! thyself torment not: so 't is will'd,


s: Where will and power are one: ask thou no more."


s: Straightway in silence fell the shaggy cheeks


s: Around whose eyes glar'd wheeling flames.  Meanwhile


s: Those spirits, faint and naked, color chang'd,


s: And gnash'd their teeth, soon as the cruel words


s: They heard.  God and their parents they blasphem'd,


s: The human kind, the place, the time, and seed


s: That did engender them and give them birth.


s: To the curs'd strand, that every man must pass


s: Who fears not God.  Charon, demoniac form,


s: With eyes of burning coal, collects them all,


s: Beck'ning, and each, that lingers, with his oar


s: Strikes.  As fall off the light autumnal leaves,


s: One still another following, till the bough


s: Strews all its honours on the earth beneath;


s: Cast themselves one by one down from the shore,


s: Thus go they over through the umber'd wave,


s: Still gathers.  "Son," thus spake the courteous guide,


s: "Those, who die subject to the wrath of God,


s: All here together come from every clime,


s: For so heaven's justice goads them on, that fear


s: Is turn'd into desire.  Hence ne'er hath past


s: Good spirit.  If of thee Charon complain,


s: Now mayst thou know the import of his words."


s: This said, the gloomy region trembling shook


s: Fear chills my brow.  The sad earth gave a blast,


s: That, lightening, shot forth a vermilion flame,


s: Which all my senses conquer'd quite, and I


s: Down dropp'd, as one with sudden slumber seiz'd.


s: BROKE the deep slumber in my brain a crash


s: As one by main force rous'd.  Risen upright,


s: My rested eyes I mov'd around, and search'd


s: With fixed ken to know what place it was,


s: Wherein I stood.  For certain on the brink


s: The dread abyss, that joins a thund'rous sound


s: And thick with clouds o'erspread, mine eye in vain


s: Explor'd its bottom, nor could aught discern.


s: "Now let us to the blind world there beneath


s: Descend;" the bard began all pale of look:


s: "I go the first, and thou shalt follow next."


s: Then I his alter'd hue perceiving, thus:


s: "How may I speed, if thou yieldest to dread,


s: Who still art wont to comfort me in doubt?"


s: He then: "The anguish of that race below


s: With pity stains my cheek, which thou for fear


s: Mistakest.  Let us on.  Our length of way


s: Urges to haste."  Onward, this said, he mov'd;


s: And ent'ring led me with him on the bounds


s: Of the first circle, that surrounds th' abyss.


s: Here, as mine ear could note, no plaint was heard


s: Except of sighs, that made th' eternal air


s: Tremble, not caus'd by tortures, but from grief


s: Felt by those multitudes, many and vast,


s: The gentle guide: "Inquir'st thou not what spirits


s: Are these, which thou beholdest?  Ere thou pass


s: Farther, I would thou know, that these of sin


s: Were blameless; and if aught they merited,


s: It profits not, since baptism was not theirs,


s: The portal to thy faith.  If they before


s: The Gospel liv'd, they serv'd not God aright;


s: Desiring without hope."  So grief assail'd


s: My heart at hearing this, for well I knew


s: Of mighty worth.  "O tell me, sire rever'd!


s: Tell me, my master!"  I began through wish


s: Which vanquishes all error; "say, did e'er


s: Any, or through his own or other's merit,


s: Come forth from thence, whom afterward was blest?"


s: Piercing the secret purport of my speech,


s: Amongst us, with victorious trophy crown'd.


s: He forth the shade of our first parent drew,


s: Exalted.  Before these, be thou assur'd,


s: No spirit of human kind was ever sav'd."


s: We, while he spake, ceas'd not our onward road,


s: Still passing through the wood; for so I name


s: Those spirits thick beset.  We were not far


s: On this side from the summit, when I kenn'd


s: A flame, that o'er the darken'd hemisphere


s: Prevailing shin'd.  Yet we a little space


s: That place possess'd.  "O thou, who every art


s: And science valu'st! who are these, that boast


s: Such honour, separate from all the rest?"


s: He answer'd: "The renown of their great names


s: That echoes through your world above, acquires


s: Favour in heaven, which holds them thus advanc'd."


s: Meantime a voice I heard: "Honour the bard


s: Sublime! his shade returns that left us late!"


s: No sooner ceas'd the sound, than I beheld


s: Four mighty spirits toward us bend their steps,


s: Of semblance neither sorrowful nor glad.


s: When thus my master kind began: "Mark him,


s: Who in his right hand bears that falchion keen,


s: The other three preceding, as their lord.


s: This is that Homer, of all bards supreme:


s: Flaccus the next in satire's vein excelling;


s: With which the voice singly accosted me,


s: Honouring they greet me thus, and well they judge."


s: That o'er the others like an eagle soars.


s: When they together short discourse had held,


s: Beck'ning me; at the which my master smil'd:


s: Nor was this all; but greater honour still


s: They gave me, for they made me of their tribe;


s: Speaking of matters, then befitting well


s: To speak, now fitter left untold.  At foot


s: Seven times with lofty walls begirt, and round


s: Defended by a pleasant stream.  O'er this


s: As o'er dry land we pass'd.  Next through seven gates


s: There dwelt a race, who slow their eyes around


s: Seldom, but all their words were tuneful sweet.


s: Open and bright and lofty, whence each one


s: Were shown me the great spirits, by whose sight


s: Anchises' pious son, and with hawk's eye


s: Who Tarquin chas'd, Lucretia, Cato's wife


s: And sole apart retir'd, the Soldan fierce.


s: Then when a little more I rais'd my brow,


s: I spied the master of the sapient throng,


s: Him all admire, all pay him rev'rence due.


s: In nature's secret lore.  Orpheus I mark'd


s: Of all to speak at full were vain attempt;


s: For my wide theme so urges, that ofttimes


s: My words fall short of what bechanc'd.  In two


s: My sage guide leads me, from that air serene,


s: And to a part I come where no light shines.


s: Down to the second, which, a lesser space


s: Embracing, so much more of grief contains


s: Provoking bitter moans.  There, Minos stands


s: Grinning with ghastly feature: he, of all


s: Gives sentence, and dismisses them beneath,


s: For when before him comes th' ill fated soul,


s: Suits the transgression, with his tail so oft


s: He dooms it to descend.  Before him stand


s: Always a num'rous throng; and in his turn


s: Each one to judgment passing, speaks, and hears


s: His fate, thence downward to his dwelling hurl'd.


s: Approachest?"  when he saw me coming, cried


s: "Look how thou enter here; beware in whom


s: Thou place thy trust; let not the entrance broad


s: Deceive thee to thy harm."  To him my guide:


s: "Wherefore exclaimest?  Hinder not his way


s: Where will and power are one.  Ask thou no more."


s: Now 'gin the rueful wailings to be heard.


s: Now am I come where many a plaining voice


s: Smites on mine ear.  Into a place I came


s: Where light was silent all.  Bellowing there groan'd


s: By warring winds.  The stormy blast of hell


s: With restless fury drives the spirits on


s: Whirl'd round and dash'd amain with sore annoy.


s: When they arrive before the ruinous sweep,


s: There shrieks are heard, there lamentations, moans,


s: And blasphemies 'gainst the good Power in heaven.


s: The carnal sinners are condemn'd, in whom


s: Reason by lust is sway'd.  As in large troops


s: The starlings on their wings are borne abroad;


s: So bears the tyrannous gust those evil souls.


s: It drives them: hope of rest to solace them


s: Is none, nor e'en of milder pang.  As cranes,


s: Chanting their dol'rous notes, traverse the sky,


s: Stretch'd out in long array: so I beheld


s: Spirits, who came loud wailing, hurried on


s: By their dire doom.  Then I: "Instructor! who


s: Are these, by the black air so scourg'd?"--"The first


s: 'Mong those, of whom thou question'st," he replied,


s: "O'er many tongues was empress.  She in vice


s: Of luxury was so shameless, that she made


s: To clear the blame she had herself incurr'd.


s: And held the land, which now the Soldan rules.


s: There mark'd I Helen, for whose sake so long


s: The time was fraught with evil; there the great


s: Achilles, who with love fought to the end.


s: A thousand more he show'd me, and by name


s: Pointed them out, whom love bereav'd of life.


s: When I had heard my sage instructor name


s: Those dames and knights of antique days, o'erpower'd


s: I would address those two together coming,


s: Which seem so light before the wind."  He thus:


s: "Note thou, when nearer they to us approach."


s: "Then by that love which carries them along,


s: Entreat; and they will come."  Soon as the wind


s: Sway'd them toward us, I thus fram'd my speech:


s: "O wearied spirits! come, and hold discourse


s: With us, if by none else restrain'd."  As doves


s: And firm, to their sweet nest returning home,


s: Cleave the air, wafted by their will along;


s: Thus issu'd from that troop, where Dido ranks,


s: They through the ill air speeding; with such force


s: My cry prevail'd by strong affection urg'd.


s: "O gracious creature and benign! who go'st


s: Us, who the world with bloody stain imbru'd;


s: If for a friend the King of all we own'd,


s: Our pray'r to him should for thy peace arise,


s: Since thou hast pity on our evil plight.


s: It pleases thee, that will we hear, of that


s: Freely with thee discourse, while e'er the wind,


s: As now, is mute.  The land, that gave me birth,


s: Is situate on the coast, where Po descends


s: To rest in ocean with his sequent streams.


s: "Love, that in gentle heart is quickly learnt,


s: Entangled him by that fair form, from me


s: Ta'en in such cruel sort, as grieves me still:


s: Love, that denial takes from none belov'd,


s: Caught me with pleasing him so passing well,


s: That, as thou see'st, he yet deserts me not.


s: "Love brought us to one death: Caina waits


s: The soul, who spilt our life."  Such were their words;


s: At hearing which downward I bent my looks,


s: And held them there so long, that the bard cried:


s: "What art thou pond'ring?"  I in answer thus:


s: "Alas! by what sweet thoughts, what fond desire


s: Must they at length to that ill pass have reach'd!"


s: Then turning, I to them my speech address'd.


s: And thus began: "Francesca! your sad fate


s: But tell me; in the time of your sweet sighs,


s: By what, and how love granted, that ye knew


s: Your yet uncertain wishes?"  She replied:


s: Of joy, when mis'ry is at hand!  That kens


s: If thou art bent to know the primal root,


s: From whence our love gat being, I will do,


s: As one, who weeps and tells his tale.  One day


s: How him love thrall'd.  Alone we were, and no


s: Suspicion near us.  Ofttimes by that reading


s: Our eyes were drawn together, and the hue


s: Fled from our alter'd cheek.  But at one point


s: Alone we fell.  When of that smile we read,


s: By one so deep in love, then he, who ne'er


s: All trembling kiss'd.  The book and writer both


s: Were love's purveyors.  In its leaves that day


s: We read no more."  While thus one spirit spake,


s: The other wail'd so sorely, that heartstruck


s: I through compassion fainting, seem'd not far


s: From death, and like a corpse fell to the ground.


s: MY sense reviving, that erewhile had droop'd


s: With pity for the kindred shades, whence grief


s: O'ercame me wholly, straight around I see


s: New torments, new tormented souls, which way


s: Soe'er I move, or turn, or bend my sight.


s: In the third circle I arrive, of show'rs


s: Ceaseless, accursed, heavy, and cold, unchang'd


s: Large hail, discolour'd water, sleety flaw


s: Through the dun midnight air stream'd down amain:


s: Stank all the land whereon that tempest fell.


s: Cerberus, cruel monster, fierce and strange,


s: Through his wide threefold throat barks as a dog


s: His eyes glare crimson, black his unctuous beard,


s: His belly large, and claw'd the hands, with which


s: He tears the spirits, flays them, and their limbs


s: Piecemeal disparts.  Howling there spread, as curs,


s: The other screening, oft they roll them round,


s: A wretched, godless crew.  When that great worm


s: His jaws, and the fangs show'd us; not a limb


s: Of him but trembled.  Then my guide, his palms


s: Expanding on the ground, thence filled with earth


s: Rais'd them, and cast it in his ravenous maw.


s: E'en as a dog, that yelling bays for food


s: His keeper, when the morsel comes, lets fall


s: To swallow it; so dropp'd the loathsome cheeks


s: The spirits, that they for deafness wish in vain.


s: We, o'er the shades thrown prostrate by the brunt


s: Of the heavy tempest passing, set our feet


s: Upon their emptiness, that substance seem'd.


s: Save one, that sudden rais'd himself to sit,


s: Soon as that way he saw us pass.  "O thou!"


s: He cried, "who through the infernal shades art led,


s: Own, if again thou know'st me.  Thou wast fram'd


s: Or ere my frame was broken."  I replied:


s: "The anguish thou endur'st perchance so takes


s: Thy form from my remembrance, that it seems


s: Art set, and in such torment, that although


s: Ay that the measure overflows its bounds,


s: Were wont to name me Ciacco.  For the sin


s: Of glutt'ny, damned vice, beneath this rain,


s: E'en as thou see'st, I with fatigue am worn;


s: Nor I sole spirit in this woe: all these


s: Have by like crime incurr'd like punishment."


s: No more he said, and I my speech resum'd:


s: "Ciacco! thy dire affliction grieves me much,


s: Even to tears.  But tell me, if thou know'st,


s: What shall at length befall the citizens


s: Of the divided city; whether any just one


s: Inhabit there: and tell me of the cause,


s: Whence jarring discord hath assail'd it thus?"


s: He then: "After long striving they will come


s: To blood; and the wild party from the woods


s: Will chase the other with much injury forth.


s: Then it behoves, that this must fall, within


s: By borrow'd force of one, who under shore


s: Now rests.  It shall a long space hold aloof


s: Its forehead, keeping under heavy weight


s: The other oppress'd, indignant at the load,


s: And grieving sore.  The just are two in number,


s: But they neglected.  Av'rice, envy, pride,


s: Three fatal sparks, have set the hearts of all


s: On fire."  Here ceas'd the lamentable sound;


s: And I continu'd thus: "Still would I learn


s: More from thee, farther parley still entreat.


s: Their minds on working good.  Oh! tell me where


s: They bide, and to their knowledge let me come.


s: For I am press'd with keen desire to hear,


s: If heaven's sweet cup or poisonous drug of hell


s: Be to their lip assign'd."   He answer'd straight:


s: "These are yet blacker spirits.  Various crimes


s: Have sunk them deeper in the dark abyss.


s: If thou so far descendest, thou mayst see them.


s: But to the pleasant world when thou return'st,


s: Of me make mention, I entreat thee, there.


s: No more I tell thee, answer thee no more."


s: This said, his fixed eyes he turn'd askance,


s: A little ey'd me, then bent down his head,


s: And 'midst his blind companions with it fell.


s: When thus my guide: "No more his bed he leaves,


s: Ere the last angel-trumpet blow.  The Power


s: Adverse to these shall then in glory come,


s: Each one forthwith to his sad tomb repair,


s: Resume his fleshly vesture and his form,


s: And hear the eternal doom re-echoing rend


s: The vault."  So pass'd we through that mixture foul


s: Touching, though slightly, on the life to come.


s: For thus I question'd: "Shall these tortures, Sir!


s: When the great sentence passes, be increas'd,


s: He then: "Consult thy knowledge; that decides


s: That as each thing to more perfection grows,


s: It feels more sensibly both good and pain.


s: Though ne'er to true perfection may arrive


s: This race accurs'd, yet nearer then than now


s: They shall approach it."  Compassing that path


s: Much more than I relate between us pass'd:


s: Till at the point, where the steps led below,


s: Arriv'd, there Plutus, the great foe, we found.


s: "AH me!  O Satan!  Satan!" loud exclaim'd


s: And the kind sage, whom no event surpris'd,


s: To comfort me thus spake: "Let not thy fear


s: Harm thee, for power in him, be sure, is none


s: To hinder down this rock thy safe descent."


s: Then to that sworn lip turning, "Peace!"  he cried,


s: "Curs'd wolf! thy fury inward on thyself


s: Prey, and consume thee!  Through the dark profound


s: Not without cause he passes.  So 't is will'd


s: On high, there where the great Archangel pour'd


s: Heav'n's vengeance on the first adulterer proud."


s: As sails full spread and bellying with the wind


s: Drop suddenly collaps'd, if the mast split;


s: So to the ground down dropp'd the cruel fiend.


s: Thus we, descending to the fourth steep ledge,


s: Gain'd on the dismal shore, that all the woe


s: Almighty Justice! in what store thou heap'st


s: New pains, new troubles, as I here beheld!


s: Wherefore doth fault of ours bring us to this?


s: Against encounter'd billow dashing breaks;


s: Such is the dance this wretched race must lead,


s: Whom more than elsewhere numerous here I found,


s: From one side and the other, with loud voice,


s: Both roll'd on weights by main forge of their breasts,


s: Then smote together, and each one forthwith


s: Roll'd them back voluble, turning again,


s: Exclaiming these, "Why holdest thou so fast?"


s: Those answering, "And why castest thou away?"


s: So still repeating their despiteful song,


s: They to the opposite point on either hand


s: Travers'd the horrid circle: then arriv'd,


s: Both turn'd them round, and through the middle space


s: Conflicting met again.  At sight whereof


s: I, stung with grief, thus spake: "O say, my guide!


s: What race is this?  Were these, whose heads are shorn,


s: On our left hand, all sep'rate to the church?"


s: He straight replied: "In their first life these all


s: In mind were so distorted, that they made,


s: According to due measure, of their wealth,


s: No use.  This clearly from their words collect,


s: Which they howl forth, at each extremity


s: Arriving of the circle, where their crime


s: Contrary' in kind disparts them.  To the church


s: Were separate those, that with no hairy cowls


s: Are crown'd, both Popes and Cardinals, o'er whom