s: But, the darlings, _don't_ they know us!


s: And now he thundered around us, and now he was whirling far.


s: And the little dog gazed till he seemed amazed,


s: With shrill notes flung from his pert pink tongue


s: And the long legs lashed and the short legs flashed


s: While Duke ran round in a circle and Soo-Ti ran in a ring.


s: And John, who is plump, got an awful bump,


s: Was shot through a shrub and gained in bruise


s: When Duke ran round in a circle and Soo-Ti ran after him.


s: When the Red KAISER, swoll'n with impious pride


s: And stuffed with texts to serve his instant need,


s: Took Shame for partner and Disgrace for guide,


s: Earned to the full the hateful traitor's meed,


s: Through Belgium's cities towards the fields of France;


s: And when at last our patient island race,


s: Flung back the challenge in the braggart's face,


s: Oh then, while martial music filled the air,


s: Clarion and fife and bagpipe and the drum,


s: Calling to men to muster, march, and dare,


s: Oh, then thy day, JOHN BRADBURY, was come.


s: JOHN BRADBURY, the Muse shall fill my strain


s: To sing thy praises; thou hadst spent thy time


s: Not idly, nor hadst lived thy life in vain,


s: For lo, the Funds went sudden crashing down,


s: Melted, and fortunes seemed to disappear;


s: And some, forgetting their austere renown,


s: Whate'er they could and wildly called for Gold!


s: "Since through no fault of ours the die was cast


s: And shall return victorious at the last;


s: And clothed and housed from dreary day to day,


s: If, while our hearths grow cold, we have no coin to pay?"


s: Then thou, where no gold was and little store


s: Of silver, didst appear and wave thy pen,


s: Bidding us all pluck up our hearts once more


s: And face our foolish fancied fears like men.


s: "I give you notes," you said, "of different kinds


s: The one is black and shall be fairly found


s: The other--mark its healthy scarlet print--


s: Is worth a full half-sovereign from the Mint."


s: Thus didst thou speak--at least I think thou didst--


s: While thy notes fluttered in our happy midst.


s: Therefore our grateful hearts go forth to thee,


s: Our British note-provider, brave JOHN BRADBURY!


s: When the thunder-shaking German hosts are marching over France--


s: Lo, the glinting of the bayonet and the quiver of the lance!--


s: When a rowdy rampant KAISER, stout and mad and middle-aged,


s: Oh, it's heavy work is fighting, but our soldiers do it well--


s: Lo, the booming of the batteries, the clatter of the shell!--


s: And it's weary work retiring, but they kept a dauntless front,


s: All our company of heroes who have borne the dreadful brunt.


s: For they learnt a steady lesson (and they taught a lesson, too),


s: Caring nought to be recorded on the muster-roll of fame,


s: So they struck a blow for Britain and the glory of her name.


s: Who went out to fight for freedom and the red and white and blue,


s: Who with his learning made our youth a waste,


s: A god whose high-set crystal throne was based


s: Deeper than time and his relentless years!


s: Come then, ye Angle-Nymphs, and make lament;


s: Ye little Postulates, and all the throng


s: Of Definitions, with your heads besprent


s: Worshipped the King and followed in his train;


s: Then from the shapes that beat their breasts and wept,


s: Soft to the light a gentle Problem stepped,


s: And, lo, her clinging robe she swiftly loosed


s: And with majestic hands her side produced:


s: "Sweet Theorem," she said, and called her mate,


s: "Sweet Theorem, be with me at this hour.


s: We two bore witness to our Sovereign's power.


s: But he is dead and henceforth all our days


s: And we who never ceased to sing his praise


s: May weep our lord, but cannot call him from his tomb."


s: And, as they bowed their heads and to and fro


s: Wove in a mournful gait their web of woe,


s: "Of these two sisters who were once so fair,


s: And now their massy shields they lifted high,


s: And, though a mist of tears bedimmed each eye,


s: Q., E. and F. on one, and on the other Q. E. D.


s: Of joy and laughter rushed a rout of boys;


s: And now with festal dance and laughter loud


s: Broke in the boyish and intruding crowd;


s: Seeing that all the painful throng was sped,


s: And raise the song of joy for EUCLID dead.


s: When you and I were younger the world was passing fair;


s: Our days were sped with laughter, our steps were free as air;


s: Life lightly lured us onward, and ceased not to unroll


s: In endless shining vistas a playground for the soul.


s: But now no glory fires us; we linger in the cold,


s: And both of us are weary, and both are growing old;


s: Come, Postumus, and face it, and, facing it, confess


s: Your years are half a hundred, and mine are nothing less.


s: When you and I were twenty, my Postumus, we kept


s: In tidy rooms in College, and there we snugly slept.


s: And still, when I am dreaming, the bells I can recall


s: That ordered us to chapel or welcomed us to hall.


s: The towers repeat our voices, the grey and ancient Courts


s: Are filled with mirth and movement, and echo to our sports;


s: Then riverward we trudge it, all talking, once again


s: Down all the long unlovely extent of Jesus Lane.


s: One figure leads the others; with frank and boyish mien,


s: Straight back and sturdy shoulders, he lords it o'er the scene;


s: His grip is firm and manly, his cheeks are smooth and red;


s: The tangled curls cling tightly about his jolly head.


s: And when we launch the eight-oar I hear his orders ring;


s: With dauntless iteration I see his body swing:


s: The pride of all the river, the mainstay of our crew--


s: O Postumous, my bold one, can this be truly you?


s: Nay, Postumus, my comrade, the years have hurried on;


s: You're not the only Phoenix, I know, whose plumes are gone.


s: When I recall your splendour, your memory, too, is stirred;


s: You too can show a moulted, but once refulgent, bird;


s: And, if I still should press you, you too could hardly fail


s: To point a hateful moral where I adorned the tale.


s: 'Twere better to be thankful to Heaven that ruled it so,


s: And gave us for our spending the days of long ago.


s: When the gusts are at play with the trees on the lawn,


s: And the lights are put out in the vault of the night;


s: When within all is snug, for the curtains are drawn,


s: And the fire is aglow and the lamps are alight,


s: Sometimes, as I muse, from the place where I am


s: My thoughts fly away to a room near the Cam.


s: 'Tis a ramshackle room, where a man might complain


s: Of a slope in the ceiling, a rise in the floor;


s: With a view on a court and a glimpse on a lane,


s: With a deep-seated chair that I love to recall,


s: And some groups of young oarsmen in shorts on the wall.


s: There's a fat jolly jar of tobacco, some pipes--


s: A meerschaum, a briar, a cherry, a clay--


s: There's a three-handled cup fit for Audit or Swipes


s: When the breakfast is done and the plates cleared away.


s: There's a litter of papers, of books a scratch lot,


s: And a crone in a bonnet that's more like a rag


s: From a mist of remembrance steps suddenly out;


s: And her funny old tongue never ceases to wag


s: As she tidies the room where she bustles about;


s: For a man may be strong and a man may be young,


s: But he can't put a drag on a Bedmaker's tongue.


s: And, oh, there's a youngster who sits at his ease


s: In the hope, which is vain, that the tongue may run down,


s: With his feet on the grate and a book on his knees,


s: And his cheeks they are smooth and his hair it is brown.


s: Then I sigh myself back to the place where I am


s: From that ramshackle room near the banks of the Cam.


s: I sing the sofa! It had stood for years,


s: A foe to all the fretful brood of fears,


s: Bidding the weary eye-lid sink and close.


s: Massive and deep and broad it was and bland--


s: You, too, my friend, my solid friend, I sing,


s: Eying--'twas after lunch--the cushioned thing,


s: And murmuring gently, "Here are realms of gold,


s: And I shall visit them," you said, "and be


s: The sofa's burden till it's time for tea."


s: "Let those who will go forth," you said, "and dare,


s: To strain their limbs and take the eager air,


s: Seeking the heights of Hedsor and its copse.


s: I shall abide and watch the far-off gleams


s: Of fairy beacons from the world of dreams."


s: Then forth we fared, and you, no doubt, lay down,


s: Forgetting hopes of fame and past renown,


s: Lapped in those padded and alluring arms.


s: "How well," you said, and veiled your heavy eyes,


s: "It slopes to suit me! This is Paradise."


s: And, when the sunset shot the sky with red,


s: Homeward returned and found you taking still


s: Deep draughts of peace with pillows 'neath your head.


s: "His sleep," said one, "has been unduly long."


s: Another said, "Let's bring and beat the gong."


s: "Gongs," said a third and gazed with looks intent


s: There fits some dread, some heavy, punishment


s: For one who sleeps with such a dreadful weight.


s: Behold with me," he moaned, "a scene accurst.


s: The springs are broken and the sofa's burst!"


s: Too true! Too true! Beneath you on the floor


s: Lay blent in ruin all the obscure things


s: That were the sofa's strength, a scattered store


s: Of tacks and battens and protruded springs.


s: Through the rent ticking they had all been spilt,


s: Mute proofs and mournful of your weight and guilt.


s: And you? You slept as sweetly as a child,


s: And when you woke you recked not of your shame,


s: But babbled greetings, stretched yourself and smiled


s: Which, flawless erst, was now one mighty flaw


s: Through the addition of yourself as straw.


s: There's a line of rails on an upland green


s: With a good take-off and a landing sound,


s: And it's there I would be with fox and hound.


s: For the raking stride of my old grey mare!


s: With her raking stride, and her head borne high,


s: And her ears a-prick, and her heart a-flame,


s: And the steady look of her deep brown eye,


s: It was "Up to it, lass," and before I knew


s: The rooks from the grass got up, and so,


s: When the grey mare made up her mind to go


s: At the tail of the bounds on a breast-high scent,


s: The best of the startled rooks might fail


s: While some of the thrusters grew unnerved,


s: And one crashed down and another swerved,


s: She went for it always true and straight:


s: She pounded the lot, for she made it good


s: Since last she gathered her spring for me,


s: I've ridden a score since then, but ne'er


s: Crossed one that could live with the old grey mare.


s: When eight strong fellows are out to row,


s: I warrant they'll make the light ship go,


s: Though the coach on the launch may chide them,


s: With his "Six, get on to it! Five, you're late!


s: Don't hurry the slides, and use your weight!


s: The sight of his shoulders makes me sore!"


s: And the Coxswain suddenly shouts for "Ten!


s: While the wind and the tide raced hand in hand


s: The swing of the crew and the pace were grand;


s: It's buffet and slam and a tortoise-pace.


s: For Hammersmith Bridge has rattled past,


s: They're tossing their crests and coming.


s: And the backs of the crew are drenched in spray;


s: But it's "Swing, boys, swing till you're deaf and blind,


s: And you'll beat and baffle the raging wind."


s: They have slipped through Barnes; they are round thebend;


s: And the chests of the eight are tightening.


s: "Now spend your strength, if you've strength to spend,


s: And away with your hands like lightning!


s: Well rowed!"--and the coach is forced to cheer--


s: "Now stick to it, all, for the post is near!"


s: And, lo, they stop at the coxswain's call,


s: With its message of comfort, "Easy all!"


s: By the faith of the slide and the flashing blade


s: To the deeds they do and the toil they bear;


s: To the dauntless mind and the will to dare;


s: And the joyous spirit that makes them one


s: Till the last fierce stroke of the race is done.


s: When the waves rise high and higher as they toss about together,


s: All for valour and for honour and a little bit of blue!


s: Let your stroke be long and mighty; keep your body on the swing;


s: And the boat flies free and joyous like a swallow on the wing.


s: Isis blessed her noble youngsters as they left her; Father Camus


s: Just were seen for half a moment and went by them in a dream.


s: Splendour, whom lately on your glowing flight


s: Athwart the chill and cheerless winter-skies


s: I marked and welcomed with a futile right,


s: And then a futile left, and strained my eyes


s: Sinking to rest beyond the fir-wood's marge--


s: Not mine, not mine the fault: despise me not


s: In that I missed you; for the sun was down,


s: And the dim light was all against the shot;


s: Snared by their home-picked brand of ardent gin


s: Designed to warm a shivering sportsman's toes


s: And light a fire his reckless head within?


s: You too, I think, displayed a lack of nerve;


s: You did not quite-now did you?-play the game;


s: For when you saw me you were seen to swerve,


s: A swerve because you basely planned to live.


s: Scathless, and left me very ill content;


s: And someone (was it I?) pronounced a word,


s: A word which rather forcible than nice is,


s: A little word which does not rhyme with Isis.


s: When next November's gales have stripped the leaf.


s: Then, while your upward flight you grandly strain,


s: And may they praise your tallness, saying "This


s: Was such a bird as men are proud to miss!"


s: Hail and Farewell, dear Brother of the Pen,


s: Lord of bright cheer and master of our hearts--


s: What plaint is fit when such a friend departs?


s: Come we to mourn--you would not have it so;


s: But with our memories stored with joyous fun,


s: Your constant largesse till your life was done,


s: With quips, that flashed through frequent twists and bends,


s: Caught from the common intercourse of friends;


s: Of one who hurt no friend and spared no jest.


s: What arts were yours that taught you to indite


s: What all men thought, but only you could write!


s: That wrung from gloom itself a fleeting smile;


s: Rippled with laughter but refrained from guile;


s: Led you to prick some bladder of conceit


s: Or trip intrusive folly's blundering feet,


s: While wisdom at your call came down to earth,


s: You too had pondered mid your jesting strife


s: Guided to God by faith no doubt could dim,


s: You fought your fight and left the rest to Him,


s: Content to set your heart on things above


s: And rule your days by laughter and by love.


s: Rest in our memories! You are guarded there


s: By those who knew you as you lived and were.


s: There mid our Happy Thoughts you take your stand,


s: A sun-girt shade, and light that shadow-land.


s: Es schlug mein Herz, geschwind zu Pferde!


s: Ich ging, du standst und sahst zur Erden,


s: Und doch, welch Glück, geliebt zu werden!


s: Kennst du das Land, wo die Zitronen blühn,


s: Ein sanfter Wind vom blauen Himmel weht,


s: Die Myrte still und hoch der Lorbeer steht?


s: Möcht' ich mit dir, o mein Geliebter, ziehn.


s: Kennst du das Haus? Auf Säulen ruht sein Dach,


s: Es glänzt der Saal, es schimmert das Gemach,


s: Und Marmorbilder stehn und sehn mich an:


s: Möcht' ich mit dir, o mein Beschützer, ziehn.


s: Kennst du den Berg und seinen Wolkensteg?


s: Es stürzt der Fels und über ihn die Flut.


s: Der kennt euch nicht, ihr himmlischen Mächte.


s: Das Wasser rauscht', das Wasser schwoll,


s: Wer reitet so spät durch Nacht und Wind?


s: "Mein Sohn, was birgst du so bang dein Gesicht?"--


s: "Meine Mutter hat manch gülden Gewand."--


s: "Mein Vater, mein Vater, und hörest du nicht,


s: "Willst, feiner Knabe, du mit mir gehn?"


s: "Meine Töchter sollen dich warten schön;


s: Meine Töchter führen den nächtlichen Reihn


s: Und wiegen und tanzen und singen dich ein."--


s: "Mein Vater, mein Vater, und siehst du nicht dort


s: "Mein Sohn, mein Sohn, ich seh' es genau:


s: Es scheinen die alten Weiden so grau."--


s: "Ich liebe dich, mich reizt deine schöne Gestalt;


s: Und bist du nicht willig, so brauch' ich Gewalt."--


s: "Mein Vater, mein Vater, jetzt faßt er mich an!


s: Dem Vater grauset's, er reitet geschwind,


s: Nichts regt sich um ihn her; nur Schwärme


s: Der von dem Fremdling wehrt die Schmach!"


s: Und bald, obgleich entstellt von Wunden,


s: Ein schwarzer Mantel schlägt die Lenden,


s: "Wohl dem, der frei von Schuld und Fehle


s: Man reißt und schleppt sie vor den Richter,


s: Ein Jüngling, den des Wissens heißer Durst


s: Schon manchen Grad mit schnellem Geist durcheilt;


s: Stets riß ihn seine Forschbegierde weiter,


s: Den ungeduldig Strebenden. "Was hab ich,


s: Wenn ich nicht alles habe?" sprach der Jüngling.


s: Und alles, was dir bleibt, ist nichts, solang'


s: Das schöne All der Töne fehlt und Farben."


s: Indem sie einst so sprachen, standen sie


s: Wo ein verschleiert Bild von Riesengröße


s: Dem Jüngling in die Augen fiel. Verwundert


s: Blickt er den Führer an und spricht: "Was ist's,


s: Das hinter diesem Schleier sich verbirgt?"--


s: "Die Wahrheit", ist die Antwort.--"Wie?" ruft jener,


s: "Nach Wahrheit streb ich ja allein, und diese


s: "Das mache mit der Gottheit aus", versetzt


s: Der Hierophant. "Kein Sterblicher, sagt sie,


s: Rückt diesen Schleier, bis ich selbst ihn hebe.


s: Und wer mit ungeweihter, schuld'ger Hand


s: Der, spricht die Gottheit"--"Nun?"--"Der _sieht_ die Wahrheit."


s: "Ich?--Wahrlich nicht! Und war auch nie dazu


s: Versucht."--"Das fass' ich nicht. Wenn von der Wahrheit


s: Nur diese dünne Scheidewand mich trennte"--


s: "Und ein Gesetz", fällt ihm sein Führer ein,


s: "Gewichtiger, mein Sohn, als du es meinst,


s: Zwar leicht, doch zentnerschwer für dein Gewissen."


s: Der Jüngling ging gedankenvoll nach Hause;


s: Den Schlaf, er wälzt sich glühend auf dem Lager


s: Und rafft sich auf um Mitternacht. Zum Tempel


s: Führt unfreiwillig ihn der scheue Tritt.


s: Leicht ward es ihm, die Mauer zu ersteigen,


s: Trägt ein beherzter Sprung den Wagenden.


s: Hier steht er nun, und grauenvoll umfängt


s: Der Mond den bleichen, silberblauen Schein,


s: Und furchtbar wie ein gegenwärt'ger Gott


s: Erglänzt durch des Gewölbes Finsternisse


s: Schon will die freche Hand das Heilige berühren,


s: Da zuckt es heiß und kühl durch sein Gebein


s: Und stößt ihn weg mit unsichtbarem Arme.


s: Unglücklicher, was willst du tun? So ruft


s: Kein Sterblicher, sprach des Orakels Mund,


s: Rückt diesen Schleier, bis ich selbst ihn hebe.


s: Wer diesen Schleier hebt, soll Wahrheit schauen?


s: "Sei hinter ihm, was will! Ich heb ihn auf."


s: Er rufts mit lauter Stimm'. "Ich will sie schauen."


s: Gellt ihm ein langes Echo spottend nach.


s: Er spricht's und hat den Schleier aufgedeckt.


s: "Nun", fragt ihr, "und was zeigte sich ihm hier?"


s: Ich weiß es nicht. Besinnungslos und bleich,


s: So fanden ihn am andern Tag die Priester


s: Ihn riß ein tiefer Gram zum frühen Grabe.


s: "Weh dem", dies war sein warnungsvolles Wort,


s: "Weh dem, der zu der Wahrheit geht durch Schuld,


s: Sie wird ihm nimmermehr erfreulich sein!"


s: Und wann die Sturmglock' einst erschallt,


s: Und schwing' mein Schwert und sing' mein Lied:


s: Der alte Schmied den Bart sich streicht:


s: "Das Schwert ist nicht zu schwer noch leicht,


s: Der Jüngling spricht's, ihn Kraft durchdringt,


s: Der Knecht hat erstochen den edeln Herrn,


s: Auf des Herren Roß sich geschwungen frank.


s: Und als er sprengen will über die Brück',


s: Da stutzet das Roß und bäumt sich zurück.


s: Da schleudert's ihn wild in den Strom hinab.


s: Es zogen drei Bursche wohl üher den Rhein,


s: Bei einer Frau Wirtin, da kehrten sie ein:


s: "Mein Bier und Wein ist frisch und klar.


s: Mein Töchterlein liegt auf der Totenbahr'."


s: Der erste, der schlug den Schleier zurück


s: Ich hab' dich geliebet so manches Jahr."


s: "Dich liebt' ich immer, dich lieb' ich noch heut


s: "Wer singet in meinem Hof und in meinem Saal?


s: Wer singet vom Morgen bis in die späte Nacht


s: So lieblich, daß mir das Herz im Leibe lacht?"


s: "Das ist der Taillefer, der so gerne singt


s: Im Hofe, wenn er das Rad am Brunnen schwingt,


s: Im Saale, wann er das Feuer schüret und facht,


s: Wann er abends sich legt und wann er morgens erwacht."


s: Der Herzog sprach: "Ich hab' einen guten Knecht,


s: Den Taillefer; der dienet mir fromm und recht,


s: Er treibt mein Rad und schüret mein Feuer gut


s: Und singet so hell; das höhet mir den Mut."


s: Da sprach der Taillefer: "Und wär' ich frei,


s: Viel besser wollt' ich dienen und singen dabei.


s: Wie wollt' ich dienen dem Herzog hoch zu Pferd!


s: Wie wollt' ich singen und klingen mit Schild und mit Schwert!"


s: Nicht lange, so ritt der Taillefer ins Gefild


s: Auf einem hohen Pferde mit Schwert und mit Schild.


s: Des Herzogs Schwester schaute vom Turm ins Feld;


s: Sie sprach: "Dort reitet, bei Gott, ein stattlicher Held."


s: Und als er ritt vorüber an Fräuleins Turm,


s: Da sang er bald wie ein Lüstlein, bald wie ein Sturm.


s: Sie sprach: "Der singet, das ist eine herrliche Lust;


s: Es zittert der Turm, und es zittert mein Herz in der Brust."


s: Der Herzog Wilhelm fuhr wohl über das Meer,


s: Er fuhr nach Engelland mit gewaltigem Heer.


s: Er sprang vom Schiffe, da fiel er auf die Hand;


s: "Hei," rief er, "ich fass' und ergreife dich, Engelland!"


s: Als nun das Normannenheer zum Sturme schritt,


s: "Manch Jährlein hab' ich gesungen und Feuer geschürt,


s: Manch Jährlein gesungen und Schwert und Lanze gerührt.


s: "Und hab' ich Euch gedient und gesungen zu Dank,


s: Zuerst als ein Knecht und dann als ein Ritter frank,


s: So laßt mich das entgelten am heutigen Tag,


s: Vergönnet mir auf die Feinde den ersten Schlag!"


s: Der Taillefer ritt vor allem Normannenheer


s: Aus einem hohen Pferde mit Schwert und mit Speer;


s: Er sang so herrlich, das klang über Hastingsfeld;


s: Von Roland sang er und manchem frommen Held.


s: Und als das Rolandslied wie ein Sturm erscholl,


s: Da wallete manch Panier, manch Herze schwoll,


s: Da brannten Ritter und Mannen von hohem Mut;


s: Der Taillefer sang und schürte das Feuer gut.


s: Dann sprengt' er hinein und führte den ersten Stoß,


s: Davon ein englischer Ritter zur Erde schoß;


s: Dann schwang er das Schwert und führte den ersten Schlag,


s: Davon ein englischer Ritter am Boden lag.


s: Normannen sahen's, die harrten nicht allzulang,


s: Sie brachen herein mit Geschrei und mit Schilderklang.


s: Hei, sausende Pfeile, klirrender Schwerterschlag!


s: Bis Harald fiel und sein trotziges Heer erlag.


s: Herzog Wilhelm steckte sein Banner aufs blutige Feld,


s: Inmitten der Toten spannt' er sein Gezelt;


s: Da saß er am Mahle, den goldnen Pokal in der Hand,


s: "Mein tapfrer Taillefer, komm! trink mir Bescheid!


s: Du hast mir viel gesungen in Lieb' und in Leid;


s: Doch heut im Hastingsfelde dein Sang und dein Klang,


s: Der tönet mir in den Ohren mein Leben lang."


s: Es stand in alten Zeiten ein Schloß, so hoch und hehr,


s: Weit glänzt es üher die Lande his an das blaue Meer,


s: Und rings von duft'gen Gärten ein blütenreicher Kranz,


s: Drin sprangen frische Brunnen in Regenbogenglanz.


s: Dort saß ein stolzer König, an Land und Siegen reich,


s: Er saß auf seinem Throne so finster und so bleich;


s: Denn was er sinnt, ist Schrecken, und was er blickt, ist Wut,


s: Und was er spricht, ist Geißel, und was er schreibt, ist Blut.


s: Einst zog nach diesem Schlosse ein edles Sängerpaar,


s: Der ein' in goldnen Locken, der andre grau von Haar;


s: Der Alte mit der Harfe, der saß auf schmuckem Roß,


s: Es schritt ihm frisch zur Seite der blühende Genoß.


s: Der Alte sprach zum Jungen: "Nun sei bereit, mein Sohn!


s: Denk unsrer tiefsten Lieder, stimm an den vollsten Ton!


s: Nimm alle Kraft zusammen, die Lust und auch den Schmerz!


s: Es gilt uns heut, zu rühren des Königs steinern Herz."


s: Schon stehn die beiden Sänger im hohen Säulensaal,


s: Und auf dem Throne sitzen der König und sein Gemahl,


s: Der König furchtbar prächtig wie blut'ger Nordlichtschein,


s: Die Königin süß und milde, als blickte Vollmond drein.


s: Da schlug der Greis die Saiten, er schlug sie wundervoll,


s: Daß reicher, immer reicher der Klang zum Ohre schwoll;


s: Dann strömte himmlisch helle des Jünglings Stimme vor,


s: Des Alten Sang dazwischen wie dumpfer Geisterchor.


s: Sie singen von Lenz und Liebe, von sel'ger goldner Zeit,


s: Sie singen von allem Süßen, was Menschenbrust durchbebt,


s: Sie singen von allem Hohen, was Menschenherz erhebt.


s: Die Höflingsschar im Kreise verlernet jeden Spott,


s: Des Königs trotz'ge Krieger, sie beugen sich vor Gott;


s: Die Königin, zerflossen in Wehmut und in Lust,


s: Sie wirft den Sängern nieder die Rose von ihrer Brust.


s: "Ihr habt mein Volk verführet; verlockt ihr nun mein Weib?"


s: Der König schreit es wütend, er bebt am ganzen Leib;


s: Er wirft sein Schwert, das blitzend des Jünglings Brust


s: Draus statt der goldnen Lieder ein Blutstrahl hoch aufspringt.


s: Und wie vom Sturm zerstoben ist all der Hörer Schwarm.


s: Der Jüngling hat verröchelt in seines Meisters Arm;


s: Der schlägt um ihn den Mantel und setzt ihn auf das Roß,


s: Er bind't ihn aufrecht feste, verläßt mit ihm das Schloß.


s: Doch vor dem hohen Tore, da hält der Sängergreis


s: Da faßt er seine Harfe, sie, aller Harfen Preis,


s: An einer Marmorsäule, da hat er sie zerschellt;


s: Dann ruft er, daß es schaurig durch Schloß und Gärten gellt:


s: "Weh euch, ihr stolzen Hallen! Nie töne süßer Klang


s: Durch eure Räume wieder, nie Saite noch Gesang,


s: Nein, Seufzer nur und Stöhnen und scheuer Sklavenschritt,


s: Bis euch zu Schutt und Moder der Rachegeist zertritt!


s: "Weh euch, ihr duft'gen Gärten im holden Maienlicht!


s: Euch zeig' ich dieses Toten entstelltes Angesicht,


s: Daß ihr darob verdorret, daß jeder Quell versiegt,


s: Daß ihr in künft'gen Tagen versteint, verödet liegt.


s: "Weh dir, verruchter Mörder! du Fluch des Sängertums!


s: Umsonst sei all dein Ringen nach Kränzen blut'gen Ruhms!


s: Dein Name sei vergessen, in ew'ge Nacht getaucht,


s: Sei wie ein letztes Röcheln in leere Luft verhaucht!"


s: Der Alte hat's gerufen, der Himmel hat's gehört,


s: Die Mauern liegen nieder, die Hallen sind zerstört;


s: Noch _eine_ hohe Säule zeugt von verschwundner Pracht;


s: Auch diese, schon geborsten, kann stürzen über Nacht.


s: Und rings statt duft'ger Gärten ein ödes Heideland,


s: Kein Baum verstreuet Schatten, kein Quell durchdringt den Sand,


s: Des Königs Namen meldet kein Lied, kein Heldenbuch;


s: Versunken und vergessen! das ist des Sängers Fluch.


s: Hat auch mein' Sach' aufs best' bestellt!


s: Frühlingsgesellen, die hellen Waldquellen,


s: Nun wiegen und neigen in ahnendem Schweigen


s: Bleib bei uns! Wir haben den Tanzplan im Tal


s: Die Freude, das schöne leichtgläubige Kind,


s: Wo Silber auf Zweigen und Büschen rinnt,


s: Doch schwer im Schlaf noch ruht die Welt,


s: O wie liegt so weit, o wie liegt so weit,


s: Was die Schwalbe sang, was die Schwalbe sang,


s: Ob das Dorf entlang, ob das Dorf entlang


s: "Als ich Abschied nahm, als ich Abschied nahm,


s: Mich noch einmal nur, mich noch einmal nur


s: Als ich Abschied nahm, als ich Abschied nahm,


s: Wohl die Schwalbe kehrt, wohl die Schwalbe kehrt,


s: Ist das Herz geleert, ist das Herz geleert,


s: Keine Schwalbe bringt, keine Schwalbe bringt,


s: Doch die Schwalbe singt, doch die Schwalbe singt


s: Und als sie kamen ins deutsche Quartier,


s: Besiegt und zerschlagen das große Heer,--


s: Was schert mich Weib, was schert mich Kind!


s: Laß sie betteln gehn, wenn sie hungrig sind,--


s: So nimm meine Leiche nach Frankreich mit,


s: Dann reitet mein Kaiser wohl über mein Grab,


s: Dann steig' ich gewaffnet hervor aus dem Grab,--


s: Und sinnend lag ich am Steuer des Schiffes,


s: Träumerisch sinnend--und, halb im Wachen


s: Und halb im Schlummer, schaute ich Christus,


s: Und schauernd in Liebe und süßer Entsagung


s: Sein Herz war schwer, sein Haupt war grau;


s: Blond war sein Haupt, leicht war sein Sinn;


s: Wuchs dort so hoch, die Veilchen nickten sanft.


s: Das küßte mich auf deutsch und sprach auf deutsch


s: Wie gut es klang) das Wort: "Ich liebe dich!"


s: Nächtlich am Busento lispeln bei Cosenza dumpfe Lieder;


s: Aus den Wassern schallt es Antwort, und in Wirbeln klingt


s: Und den Fluß hinauf, hinunter ziehn die Schatten tapfrer


s: Die den Alarich beweinen, ihres Volkes besten Toten.


s: Allzufrüh und fern der Heimat mußten hier sie ihn begraben,


s: Während noch die Jugendlocken seine Schulter blond umgaben.


s: Und am Ufer des Busento reihten sie sich um die Wette,


s: Um die Strömung abzuleiten, gruben sie ein frisches Bette.


s: In der wogenleeren Höhlung wühlten sie empor die Erde,


s: Senkten tief hinein den Leichnam, mit der Rüstung, auf


s: Deckten dann mit Erde wieder ihn und seine stolze Habe,


s: Daß die hohen Stromgewächse wüchsen ans dem Heldengrabe.


s: Abgelenkt zum zweiten Male, ward der Fluß herbeigezogen:


s: Mächtig in ihr altes Bette schäumten die Busentowogen.


s: Und es sang ein Chor von Männern: "Schlaf in deinen


s: Keines Römers schnöde Habsucht soll dir je dein Grab


s: Sangen's, und die Lobgesänge tönten fort im Gotenheere;


s: Wälze sie, Busentowelle, wälze sie von Meer zu Meere!


s: Im Wasser wogt die Lilie, die blanke, hin und her,


s: Doch irrst du, Freund, sobald du sagst, sie schwanke hin und her:


s: Ihr Haupt nur wiegt ein lieblicher Gedanke hin und her!


s: Wie rafft' ich mich auf in der Nacht, in der Nacht,


s: Die Gassen verließ ich, vom Wächter bewacht,


s: Der Mühlbach rauschte durch felsigen Schacht,


s: Tief unter mir nahm ich der Wogen in acht,


s: Mit ihnen der Mond in beruhigter Pracht,


s: Ich blickte hinauf in der Nacht, in der Nacht,


s: Ich möchte, wann ich sterbe, wie die lichten


s: Gestirne schnell und unbewußt erbleichen,


s: Erliegen möcht' ich einst des Todes Streichen,


s: Ich möcht', o Freund, ihm nur im Tode gleichen;


s: Doch höre nun die schönste der Geschichten!


s: Er saß im Schauspiel, vom Gesang beweget,


s: Auf seines Lieblings schönes Knie geleget:


s: Will wecken ihn, der ihn so sanft geheget,


s: Doch zu den Göttern war er heimgegangen.


s: Sonst flöß' das Blut zu rasch, zu reich.


s: Sonst nichts, doch schwer mir's Sterben fällt."


s: Und kehrte nicht heim, und lag in der Grube;


s: Ihr Schrank stand offen, ich fand ihn noch heut',


s: Wenn vor der Tür die Pferde schon passen.


s: Bei mancher Rechnung, von ihr geschrieben;


s: War noch ein Stücklein Kuchen geblieben.


s: Das kleinste Krümlein, den letzten Splitter,


s: Die Disteln sind so regungslos zu schauen,


s: So starr, als wären sie aus Stein gehauen,


s: Bis sie der Wandrer streift mit seinem Kleide.


s: Und Erd' und Himmel haben keine Scheide,


s: Zwei Freunden gleich, die sich ihr Leid vertrauen,


s: Und mein und dein vergessen traurig beide.


s: Nun plötzlich wankt die Distel hin und wieder,


s: Und heftig rauschend bricht der Regen nieder,


s: Wie laute Antwort auf ein stummes Fragen.


s: Der Wandrer hört den Regen niederbrausen,


s: Er hört die windgepeitschte Distel sausen,


s: Und eine Wehmut fühlt er, nicht zu sagen.


s: Wie sanft den Wald die Lüfte streicheln,


s: Die Nester, die nicht Schutz mehr brauchen,


s: Der Zeit in gleichen Schalen stille ruhn.


s: Sie singen der Mutter, der Nacht, ins Ohr


s: Ihr klingt des Himmels Bläue süßer noch,


s: Der flücht'gen Stunden gleichgeschwung'nes Joch.


s: Doch immer behalten die Quellen das Wort,


s: Es singen die Wasser im Schlafe noch fort


s: Bald siehst du, wenn der Schleier fällt,


s: Da sie wohl nicht spinnen und nähen mag?


s: Rohtraut, Schön-Rohtraut lieb' ich so sehr.--


s: Und küsset Schön-Rohtraut auf den Mund.--


s: Noch unverrückt, o schöne Lampe, schmückest du,


s: An leichten Ketten zierlich aufgehangen hier,


s: Die Decke des nun fast vergeßnen Lustgemachs.


s: Auf deiner weißen Marmorschale, deren Rand


s: Der Efeukranz von goldengrünem Erz umflicht,


s: Schlingt fröhlich eine Kinderschar den Ringelreihn.


s: Wie reizend alles! lachend und ein sanfter Geist


s: Des Ernstes doch ergossen um die ganze Form:


s: Ein Kunstgebild der echten Art. Wer achtet sein?


s: Was aber schön ist, selig scheint es in ihm selbst.


s: Nur leise strich ein weißer Schmetterling;


s: Doch ob auch kaum die Luft sein Flügelschlag


s: Dies ist ein Herbsttag, wie ich keinen sah!


s: Die Luft ist still, als atmete man kaum.


s: Und dennoch fallen, raschelnd, fern und nah,


s: Die schönsten Früchte ab von jedem Banm.


s: Denn heute löst sich von den Zweigen nur,


s: Was vor dem milden Strahl der Sonne fällt.


s: Als ich arm, doch froh, fremdes Land durchstrich,


s: Doch wie kehrte schnell es sich in Freud',


s: O mein Schweizerland, all mein Gut und Hab'


s: Ob ich Schwacher dir auch nichts gefrommt,


s: Werf' ich von mir einst dies mein Staubgewand,


s: Nicht ein Flügelschlag ging durch die Welt,


s: Still und blendend lag der weiße Schnee.


s: Löscht ihr aus, dann hat die Seele Ruh';


s: Tastend streift sie ab die Wanderschuh',


s: Noch zwei Fünklein sieht sie glimmend stehn


s: Bis sie schwanken und dann auch vergehn,


s: Die lachet still und zieht sich heimlich


s: Herbst ist gekommen, Frühling ist weit---


s: Wär' ich hier nur nicht gegangen im Mai!


s: Ich seh sie noch, ihr Büchlein in der Hand,


s: Vom Spiel der andern Kinder sich entfernen;


s: Sie wußte wohl, es mühte sie das Lernen.


s: Nicht war sie klug, nicht schön; mir aber war


s: Ihr blaß Gesichtchen und ihr blondes Haar,


s: Mir war es lieb; aus der Erinnrung Düster


s: Schaut es mich an; wir waren recht Geschwister.


s: Ihr schmales Bettchen teilte sie mit mir,


s: Und nächtens Wang' an Wange schliefen wir;


s: Das war so schön! Noch weht ein Kinderfrieden


s: Mich an aus jenen Zeiten, die geschieden.


s: Ein Morgen dann, wo sanft die Winde gingen,


s: Da ging sie heim; es blühten die Springen.


s: Die Sonne schien; ich lief ins Feld hinaus


s: Und weinte laut; dann kam ich still nach Haus.


s: Wohl zwanzig Jahr und drüber sind vergangen--


s: An wie viel andrem hat mein Herz gehangen!


s: Was hab' ich heute denn nach dir gebangt?


s: Bist du mir nah und hast nach mir verlangt?


s: Willst du, wie einst nach unsern Kinderspielen,


s: Mein Knabenhaupt an deinem Herzen fühlen?


s: Er lauscht auf der Stunden rinnenden Sand;


s: Es fragt ihn, ob er noch leb' vielleicht,


s: Wenn der Weiser die schwarze Drei erreicht.


s: Schon auf dem Herzen drückt ihn der Tod;


s: An die Fenster klettert der Frühlingstag,


s: Pfingstglocken läuten das Brautfest ein;


s: Hinein in die blühende, klingende Welt.--


s: Dann geht sie fort. Stumm wird's und leer,


s: Die Kinder haben die Veilchen gepflückt,


s: All, all, die da blühten am Mühlengraben.


s: Doch was so sanft dein Mund verschweigt,


s: In der Nacht, die die Bäume mit Blüten deckt,


s: Ward ich von süßen Gespenstern erschreckt,


s: "Ich bin ein Wölkchen, gespiegelt im See."


s: "Ich bin eine Reihe von Stapfen im Schnee."


s: "Ich bin ein Geheimnis, geflüstert ins Ohr."


s: Die Gunst der Stunde, die wird ein Lied."


s: Die ans Ohr des Schlummerlosen fluten!--


s: Dann der ungehörte Tritt des Schlummers.


s: Es hat den Garten sich zum Freund gemacht,


s: Dann welkten er und es im Herbste sacht,


s: Die Sonne ging, und es und er entschlief,


s: Jetzt ist der Garten unversehns erwacht,


s: Die Kleine schlummert fest in ihrer Nacht.


s: "Wo steckst du?" summt es dort und summt es hier.


s: Der ganze Garten frägt nach ihr, nach ihr.


s: Und blickt ins Haus: "Komm hinterm Schrank hervor!


s: Wo birgst du dich? Du tust dir's selbst zu leid!


s: Aus der Schiffsbank mach' ich meinen Pfühl,


s: O wie weich verstummen Lust und Schmerz!


s: Wiegt und biegt sich in des Windes Hauch.


s: Steigt ein Schatten aus und niemand ein.


s: Nur der Steurer noch, der wacht und steht!


s: Einen Schlumm'rer trägt das dunkle Boot.


s: Früh morgen schwingt die Schnitt'rin sie


s: Leicht wie Halme biegt der Wind die Töne


s: Dort fällt ein Korn, das stirbt und ruht.


s: Wir schnitten die Saaten, wir Buben und Dirnen,


s: Mit nackenden Armen und triefenden Stirnen,


s: Von donnernden dunklen Gewittern bedroht--


s: Gerettet das Korn und nicht einer, der darbe!


s: Wie schwellen die Lippen des Lebens so rot!


s: Hoch thronet ihr Schönen auf güldenen Sitzen,


s: In strotzenden Garben umflimmert von Blitzen--


s: Nicht eine, die darbe! Wir bringen das Brot!


s: Zum Reigen! Zum Tanze! Zur tosenden Runde!


s: Der Meister malt ein kleines zartes Bild,


s: Es pocht. "Herein." Ein flämischer Junker ist's.


s: Mit einer drallen, aufgedonnerten Dirn',


s: Der vor Gesundheit fast die Wange birst.


s: Sie rauscht von Seide, flimmert von Geschmeid.


s: "Wir haben's eilig, lieber Meister. Wißt,


s: Ein wackrer Schelm stiehlt mir das Töchterlein.


s: Morgen ist Hochzeit. Malet mir mein Kind!"


s: "Zur Stunde, Herr! Nur noch den Pinselstrich!"


s: Auf einem blanken Kissen schlummernd liegt


s: Ein feiner Mädchenkopf. Der Meister fetzt


s: Auf die verblichne Stirn mit leichter Hand.


s: Gestern beerdigt. Herr, ich bin zu Dienst."


s: Nichts, das mich verdroß! Nichts, das mich freute!


s: Unter mir--ach, aus dem Licht verschwunden--


s: Träumen schon die schönern meiner Stunden.


s: Sind im Licht noch manche meiner Schwestern?


s: Heute fanden meine Schritte mein vergeßnes Jugendtal,


s: Seine Sohle lag verödet, seine Berge standen kahl.


s: Meine Bäume, meine Träume, meine buchendunkeln Höh'n--


s: Ewig jung ist nur die Sonne, sie allein ist ewig schön.


s: Drüben dort in schilf'gem Grunde, wo die müde Lache liegt,


s: Hat zu meiner Jugendstunde sich lebend'ge Flut gewiegt,


s: Durch die Heiden, durch die Weiden ging ein wandernd


s: Er ist ein Arzt. Er weiß, sein traut Gemahl


s: Sie hat geschlummert: "Lieber, du bei mir?


s: Wie schön mir träumte, das erzähl' ich dir--


s: Du schickst mich wieder hin das nächste Jahr!


s: "Dort vor dem Dorf--du weißt den moos'gen Stein--


s: "Die Herden kehren alle heut nach Haus--


s: Das ist die letzte wohl? Nein, eine noch:


s: Noch ein Geläut klingt an und eins klingt aus!


s: Das endet nicht! Da kam das letzte doch!


s: Darüber glomm ein leiser Sternenschein--


s: "Du horch! ein Glöcklein läutet in der Schlucht,


s: Ein armes Glöcklein, das die Herde sucht--


s: Aufwacht' ich dann, und bei mir warest du!


s: "O bring mich wieder auf die lieben Höh'n--


s: Sie haben, sagst du, mich gesund gemacht ...


s: Dort war es schön! Dort war es wunderschön!


s: Das Glöcklein! Wieder! Hörst du's? Gute Nacht...."


s: Die Sensen rings der zweiten Mahd im Jahr.


s: Ich schritt durch eines Dörfchens stille Gassen.


s: Ein alter Mann, von seiner Kraft verlassen,


s: Und schaute feiernd auf den Firneschein.


s: Zuweilen, in die Hand gelegt die Stirne,


s: 's ist nur ein Traum. Wohl ist der Greis geschieden


s: Aus dieser Sonne Licht von Jahren schwer;


s: Er schlummert wohl in seines Grabes Frieden,


s: Und seine Bank steht vor der Hütte leer.


s: Noch pulst mein Leben feurig. Wie den andern


s: Kommt mir ein Tag, da mich die Kraft verrät;


s: Dann will ich langsam in die Berge wandern


s: Und suchen, wo die Bank des Alten steht.


s: Das stampft und dröhnt und klappt und flirrt,


s: Klingling, tschingtsching und Paukenkrach,


s: Und beugt das Haupt, und ist verschieden.


s: Es sank die Nacht. Die Schlacht ist aus,


s: Ein rasch verrauschtes Nachmittaggewitter.


s: Und singend kehrten Winzervolk und Schnitter.


s: Nun ist es Nacht, es geistern schon die Eulen,


s: Einsam aus einer Laube klingt die Zither.


s: Wie oft sah ich die blassen Hände nähen,


s: Ein Stück für mich--wie liebevoll du sorgtest!


s: Ein Wunsch für mich--wie liebevoll du sorgtest!


s: Und an mein Bett kamst du mit leisen Zehen,


s: Ein Schutz für mich--wie sorgenvoll du horchtest!


s: Längst schon dein Grab die Winde überwehen.


s: Ein Gruß für mich--wie liebevoll du sorgtest!


s: In den Dörfern windstillen Lebens Genüge,


s: Auf den Feldern fleißige Spaten und Pflüge,


s: literature, and vice versa. Lyric poetry is the most direct


s: Exceptions are only apparent, as in 68, 7. Platen followed the


s: rules of Graeco-Roman prosody, where a long syllable could be


s: Rhymes within a verse are called internal rhymes.


s: STANZA AND VERSE FORMS.--Only a few need any special discussion.


s: Es stand in al ten Zei ten | | ein Schloss so hoch und hehr.


s: Ich weiß nicht, was soll es bedeuten, daß


s: ich so traurig bin; ein Märchen aus alten


s: Zeiten, das kommt mir nicht aus bem Sinn. Die


s: Luft ist kühl und es dunkelt, und ruhig fließt der Rhein; der


s: Gipfel des Berges funkelt im Abendsonnenschein.


s: myself_, i.e., the sum total of my life is good.


s: goddesses of Greek mythology, the Furies.


s: _schalkhafte_ (roguish, waggish) _Veilchen_.


s: friendship of a youth, e.g., Socrates and Alcibiades.


s: _Engraved by E. Scriven, from a Painting by W. Hilton, R.A._]


s: For the present volume over two thousand poems by Clare have been


s: Punctuation and orthography have been attempted; Clare left such


s: matters to his editor in his lifetime, conceiving them to be an


s: And he repulséd, (a short tale to make),


s: Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness;


s: Thence to a lightness; and by this declension,


s: John Clare was born on the 13th of July, 1793, in a small cottage


s: made progress enough to receive on leaving the warm praise of the


s: Turnill, we toiled together all the day,


s: And lived like hermits from the boys at play;


s: We read and walked together round the fields,


s: Not for the beauty that the journey yields--


s: But muddied fish, and bragged oer what we caught,


s: And talked about the few old books we bought.


s: Though low in price you knew their value well,


s: And I thought nothing could their worth excel;


s: And then we talked of what we wished to buy,


s: And knowledge always kept our pockets dry.


s: We went the nearest ways, and hummed a song,


s: And snatched the pea pods as we went along,


s: To eat the sour grass in the meadow hay.


s: One of these "few old books" was Thomson's "Seasons", which gave


s: a direction to the poetic instincts of Clare, already manifesting


s: But this was not yet; and we must return to the boy Clare, now


s: autumn of 1817, he was dreaming yet new verses when he first saw


s: at length to be no special advantage. And further, with striking


s: devoid of miscellaneous learning after the perusal of Watson's


s: "Electricity," Aristotle's Works, Gasse's "Voyages," "Nature


s: The year 1820 found Clare unemployed once more, but the said Mr.


s: Holland arrived before long with great news. "In the beginning of


s: awhile in the servants' hall (where I could eat or drink nothing


s: me several questions, and wished me to name any book that was a


s: a Stamford doctor named Bell--one of Clare's most energetic


s: am brought in minus twenty pounds of which I never received a


s: autumn of 1821 the "Village Minstrel" made its appearance, in


s: two volumes costing twelve shillings; with the bait of steel


s: engravings,--the first, an unusually fine likeness of Clare from


s: To insist in the financial affairs of Clare may seem blatant, or


s: otiose: actually, the treatment which he underwent was a leading


s: influence in his career. He was grateful enough to Radstock for


s: raising a subscription fund; he may have been grateful to Taylor


s: Stamford to ask the help of his old friend Gilchrist.


s: Clare's disease, but, rousing attention wherever he could in the


s: therefore went back to the land; and borrowing the small means


s: required rented at length a few acres, with but poor results.


s: frontispiece of De Wint's," as Taylor wrote, did not attract


s: little or nothing the matter with me--and yet I got no sleep the


s: During this stay in London, Clare had had proofs that his poems


s: occasion, Clare found a congenial spirit in William Hone.


s: But now Clare is home at Helpston, ready with a sack of poetry to


s: to find Patty in the pains of labour; and now had to go back to


s: Intellectually, John Clare was in 1828 and 1829 probably at his


s: written for others' pleasure, he now wrote for his own nature.


s: a roomy, romantic farmhouse standing in its own grounds. Was this


s: Songs, and Sonnets, he copied his best work in a hand small but


s: The proposals for publishing these fugitives being addressed to


s: increasing family. It were false delicacy to make an idle parade


s: of independence in my situation, and it would be unmanly to make


s: a troublesome appeal to favours, public or private, like a public


s: visitor who found him in the communicative mood chanced to be the


s: misstatement.... I am no beggar; for my income is £36, and though


s: one directly." Clare ended by demanding a recantation. None was


s: forthcoming, and the effect on patrons and poet was unfortunate


s: forty-nine. Clare submitted the work to the publishers, great and


s: curious paraphrases of "the Psalms, the Proverbs, and the Book of


s: anywhere." ... "If I could but go to London, I think I should get


s: Testament, together with series of sonnets of a grotesque, rustic


s: and "The Fallen Elm." With faults like these, the selection was


s: taking his new acquaintance Thomas Campbell, the son of the poet,


s: diminished, although they changed. He was now convinced that Mary


s: somewhat aquiline, and long full chin." "His manner was perfectly


s: Where my poetical fancy is I cannot say, for the people in the


s: You told me something before haytime about the Queen allowing me


s: a yearly salary of £100, and that the first quarter had then


s: Give my best respects to Mrs. Allen and Miss Allen, and to Dr.


s: Patty worked her hardest to keep Clare out of future asylums, but


s: overpowered him, until his perception of realities failed him.


s: He could see Mary Joyce or talk with her, he had a family of


s: Earl Fitzwilliam paid for Clare's maintenance in the Northampton


s: Asylum, but at the ordinary rate for poor people. The asylum


s: authorities at least seemed to have recognized Clare as a man out


s: Northampton, where he would sit under the portico of All Saints'


s: Church in meditation. What dreams were these! "sometimes his face


s: manuscript. A glimpse of Clare in these years is left us by a Mr.


s: with thunder and hail that did much damage to the glass in the


s: the forgotten poet, who was visited soon afterwards by the worthy


s: His last years had been spent in some degree of happiness, and


s: was seen making through Helpston village for the cottage of the


s: eager-eyed, brilliant, unwearying young poet who was the talk of


s: London. After such a long silence and oblivion, even the mention


s: of John Clare's name in his native village awoke odd feelings of


s: The Cross Roads; or, The Haymaker's Story


s: *Fragment: A Specimen of Clare's rough drafts A Bibliographical


s: With "Kirchup! Kirchup!" mong the wheats


s: Through sweet evening's sprinkled pearls,


s: With strokes and pats they're welcomed in,


s: And back-bite neighbours bout the town--


s: The tale so fraught with 'ticing charms,


s: She leaves the unfinished tale, in pain,


s: While she stands chelping bout the town.


s: And what is Life?--An hour-glass on the run,


s: Its length?--A minute's pause, a moment's thought;


s: That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought.


s: What are vain Hopes?--The puffing gale of morn,


s: That of its charms divests the dewy lawn,


s: And robs each floweret of its gem,--and dies;


s: Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise.


s: And thou, O Trouble?--Nothing can suppose,


s: (And sure the power of wisdom only knows,)


s: So free and liberal as thy bounty flows,


s: But disappointments, pains, and every woe


s: Are mysteries still neath Fate's unbroken seal.


s: And what is Death? is still the cause unfound?


s: That dark, mysterious name of horrid sound?


s: A long and lingering sleep, the weary crave.


s: And Peace? where can its happiness abound?--


s: No where at all, save heaven, and the grave.


s: Then what is Life?--When stripped of its disguise,


s: Since every thing that meets our foolish eyes


s: To teach unthankful mortals how to prize


s: That happiness vain man's denied to know,


s: Until he's called to claim it in the skies.


s: Get up, she cried, thou false young man,


s: Chilled are those lips you've kissed so warm,


s: Though yours was nought but silver twist


s: Your pride has wronged your own heart's blood;


s: None else shall take the right she missed


s: How oft on Sundays, when I'd time to tramp,


s: With tawny smoked flesh and tattered rags,


s: Uncouth-brimmed hat, and weather-beaten cloak,


s: Her pliant bending hazel's arching sticks:


s: While round-topt bush, or briar-entangled hedge,


s: Where flag-leaves spring beneath, or ramping sedge,


s: Keeps off the bothering bustle of the wind,


s: And give the best retreat she hopes to find.


s: How oft I've bent me oer her fire and smoke,


s: To hear her gibberish tale so quaintly spoke,


s: While the old Sybil forged her boding clack,


s: Twin imps the meanwhile bawling at her back;


s: Oft on my hand her magic coin's been struck,


s: And still, as boyish hopes did first agree,


s: Mingled with fears to drop the fortune's fee,


s: I never failed to gain the honours sought,


s: And Squire and Lord were purchased with a groat.


s: But as man's unbelieving taste came round,


s: She furious stampt her shoeless foot aground,


s: Wiped bye her soot-black hair with clenching fist,


s: While through her yellow teeth the spittle hist,


s: Swearing by all her lucky powers of fate,


s: Which like as footboys on her actions wait,


s: That fortune's scale should to my sorrow turn,


s: And I one day the rash neglect should mourn;


s: That good to bad should change, and I should be


s: That poor as Job I should remain unblest:--


s: (Alas, for fourpence how my die is cast!)


s: And when all's done, be shoved to hell at last!


s: "Where art thou wandering, little child?"


s: --And thou'st got leave to spend an hour!


s: --And thou hast heard the thorn's in flower,


s: Soon as the twilight through the distant mist


s: In silver hemmings skirts the purple east,


s: Ere yet the sun unveils his smiles to view


s: And dries the morning's chilly robes of dew,


s: Young Hodge the horse-boy, with a soodly gait,


s: Slow climbs the stile, or opes the creaky gate,


s: With willow switch and halter by his side


s: Prepared for Dobbin, whom he means to ride;


s: The only tune he knows still whistling oer,


s: And humming scraps his father sung before,


s: The whole of music that his village knows,


s: Which wild remembrance, in each little town,


s: From mouth to mouth through ages handles down.


s: Onward he jolls, nor can the minstrel-throngs


s: Entice him once to listen to their songs;


s: Stranger to brinks, and often to a crown;


s: With slop-frock suiting to the ploughman's taste,


s: Its greasy skirtings twisted round his waist;


s: And hardened high-lows clenched with nails around,


s: Clamping defiance oer the stoney ground,


s: The deadly foes to many a blossomed sprout


s: That luckless meets him in his morning's rout.


s: In hobbling speed he roams the pasture round,


s: Till hunted Dobbin and the rest are found;


s: Where some, from frequent meddlings of his whip,


s: Well know their foe, and often try to slip;


s: While Dobbin, tamed by age and labour, stands


s: To meet all trouble from his brutish hands,


s: And patient goes to gate or knowly brake,


s: Who, soon as mounted, with his switching weals,


s: Puts Dob's best swiftness in his heavy heels,


s: The toltering bustle of a blundering trot


s: Which whips and cudgels neer increased a jot,


s: Though better speed was urged by the clown--


s: And thus he snorts and jostles to the town.


s: And now, when toil and summer's in its prime,


s: In every vill, at morning's earliest time,


s: And many a Dob's heard clattering oer the green.


s: Now straying beams from day's unclosing eye


s: In copper-coloured patches flush the sky,


s: And from night's prison strugglingly encroach,


s: To bring the summons of warm day's approach,


s: Till, slowly mounting oer the ridge of clouds


s: That yet half shows his face, and half enshrouds,


s: The unfettered sun takes his unbounded reign


s: And wakes all life to noise and toil again:


s: And while his opening mellows oer the scenes


s: Of wood and field their many mingling greens,


s: Industry's bustling din once more devours


s: The soothing peace of morning's early hours:


s: The grunt of hogs freed from their nightly dens


s: And constant cacklings of new-laying hens,


s: And ducks and geese that clamorous joys repeat


s: The splashing comforts of the pond to meet,


s: And chirping sparrows dropping from the eaves


s: For offal kernels that the poultry leaves,


s: Oft signal-calls of danger chittering high


s: At skulking cats and dogs approaching nigh.


s: And lowing steers that hollow echoes wake


s: Around the yard, their nightly fast to break,


s: As from each barn the lumping flail rebounds


s: In mingling concert with the rural sounds;


s: While oer the distant fields more faintly creep


s: The murmuring bleatings of unfolding sheep,


s: And ploughman's callings that more hoarse proceed


s: Where industry still urges labour's speed,


s: That wait the welcome halloo of "come mull,"


s: And cracking whips, and shepherd's hooting cries,


s: From woodland echoes urging sharp replies.


s: Hodge, in his waggon, marks the wondrous tongue,


s: Still cracks his whip, bawls every horse's name,


s: The puzzling mystery he would gladly cheat,


s: And fain would utter what it can't repeat,


s: Till speedless trials prove the doubted elf


s: As skilled in noise and sounds as Hodge himself;


s: And, quite convinced with the proofs it gives,


s: The boy drives on and fancies echo lives,


s: Like some wood-fiend that frights benighted men,


s: And now the blossom of the village view,


s: And short-sleeved gown, that half to guess reveals


s: By fine-turned arms what beauty it conceals;


s: Whose cheeks health flushes with as sweet a red


s: As that which stripes the woodbine oer her head;


s: Deeply she blushes on her morn's employ,


s: To prove the fondness of some passing boy,


s: Who, with a smile that thrills her soul to view,


s: Holds the gate open till she passes through,


s: While turning nods beck thanks for kindness done,


s: And looks--if looks could speak-proclaim her won.


s: With well-scoured buckets on proceeds the maid,


s: And drives her cows to milk beneath the shade,


s: Where scarce a sunbeam to molest her steals--


s: Sweet as the thyme that blossoms where she kneels;


s: And there oft scares the cooing amorous dove


s: Displays, red glowing in the morning wind,


s: The powers of health and nature when combined.


s: Last on the road the cowboy careless swings,


s: Leading tamed cattle in their tending strings,


s: With shining tin to keep his dinner warm


s: Swung at his back, or tucked beneath his arm;


s: Whose sun-burnt skin, and cheeks chuffed out with fat,


s: And others, driving loose their herds at will,


s: Are now heard whooping up the pasture-hill;


s: Peeled sticks they bear of hazel or of ash,


s: The rib-marked hides of restless cows to thrash.


s: In sloven garb appears each bawling boy,


s: His shoes, worn down by many blundering treads,


s: Oft show the tenants needing safer sheds:


s: And crabs sun-reddened with a tempting cheek,


s: His tattered clothes, that scarcely screen the back,--


s: Daubed all about as if besmeared with blood,


s: Stained with the berries of the brambly wood


s: That stud the straggling briars as black as jet,


s: Which, when his cattle lair, he runs to get;


s: Or smaller kinds, as if beglossed with dew


s: That on weak tendrils lowly creeping grow


s: Where, choaked in flags and sedges, wandering slow,


s: The brook purls simmering its declining tide


s: Down the crooked boundings of the pasture-side.


s: There they to hunt the luscious fruit delight,


s: And dabbling keep within their charges' sight;


s: Oft catching prickly struttles on their rout,


s: And miller-thumbs and gudgeons driving out,


s: Hid near the arched brig under many a stone


s: That from its wall rude passing clowns have thrown.


s: And while in peace cows eat, and chew their cuds,


s: Moozing cool sheltered neath the skirting woods,


s: Till morn's long streaking shadows lose their tails,


s: And cooling winds swoon into faultering gales;


s: And searching sunbeams warm and sultry creep,


s: Waking the teazing insects from their sleep;


s: And dreaded gadflies with their drowsy hum


s: On the burnt wings of mid-day zephyrs come,--


s: Urging each lown to leave his sports in fear,


s: To stop his starting cows that dread the fly;


s: That the sweet peace of rural morn's gone by.


s: _The Cross Roads; or, The Haymaker's Story_


s: Stopt by the storm, that long in sullen black


s: From the south-west stained its encroaching track,


s: Haymakers, hustling from the rain to hide,


s: Sought the grey willows by the pasture-side;


s: And there, while big drops bow the grassy stems,


s: And bleb the withering hay with pearly gems,


s: Dimple the brook, and patter in the leaves,


s: The song or tale an hour's restraint relieves.


s: And while the old dames gossip at their ease,


s: And pinch the snuff-box empty by degrees,


s: The young ones join in love's delightful themes,


s: Truths told by gipsies, and expounded dreams;


s: And mutter things kept secrets from the rest,


s: As sweethearts' names, and whom they love the best;


s: And dazzling ribbons they delight to show,


s: And last new favours of some veigling beau,


s: Who with such treachery tries their hearts to move,


s: And, like the highest, bribes the maidens' love.


s: The old dames, jealous of their whispered praise,


s: Throw in their hints of man's deluding ways;


s: And one, to give her counsels more effect,


s: Thrice tapped her box, and pinched, and thus began.


s: "Now wenches listen, and let lovers lie,


s: I'm your age treble, with some oddments to't,


s: And right from wrong can tell, if ye'll but do't:


s: Mine's no joke-matter, let me tell you that;


s: And don't despise your betters cause they're old.


s: "That grave ye've heard of, where the four roads meet,


s: Where walks the spirit in a winding-sheet,


s: Oft seen at night, by strangers passing late,


s: And tarrying neighbours that at market wait,


s: And long as one's shadow when the sun is low;


s: The girl that's buried there I knew her well,


s: And her whole history, if ye'll hark, can tell.


s: Her name was Jane, and neighbour's children we,


s: And like to you, on Sundays often strolled


s: To gipsies' camps to have our fortunes told;


s: And oft, God rest her, in the fortune-book


s: Which we at hay-time in our pockets took,


s: Our pins at blindfold on the wheel we stuck,


s: When hers would always prick the worst of luck;


s: For try, poor thing, as often as she might,


s: Her point would always on the blank alight;


s: Which plainly shows the fortune one's to have,


s: As such like go unwedded to the grave,--


s: And so it proved.--The next succeeding May,


s: We both to service went from sports and play,


s: Though in the village still; as friends and kin


s: Thought neighbour's service better to begin.


s: So out we went:--Jane's place was reckoned good,


s: Though she bout life but little understood,


s: And soon the whisper went about the town,


s: That Jane's good looks procured her many a gown


s: From him, whose promise was to every one,


s: But whose intention was to wive with none.


s: Twas nought to wonder, though begun by guess;


s: For Jane was lovely in her Sunday dress,


s: Would be her ruin--as was just the case.


s: The while the change was easily perceived,


s: Some months went by, ere I the tales believed;


s: For there are people nowadays, Lord knows,


s: Will sooner hatch up lies than mend their clothes;


s: And when with such-like tattle they begin,


s: Don't mind whose character they spoil a pin:


s: But passing neighbours often marked them smile,


s: And watched him take her milkpail oer a stile;


s: And many a time, as wandering closer by,


s: And often marked her, as discoursing deep,


s: When doubts might rise to give just cause to weep,


s: Smothering their notice, by a wished disguise


s: Such signs were mournful and alarming things,


s: And far more weighty than conjecture brings;


s: Though foes made double what they heard of all,


s: Swore lies as proofs, and prophesied her fall.


s: Poor thoughtless wench! it seems but Sunday past


s: Since we went out together for the last,


s: She'd something more than common on her mind;


s: For she was always fond and full of chat,


s: In passing harmless jokes bout beaus and that,


s: But nothing then was scarcely talked about,


s: And what there was, I even forced it out.


s: A gloomy wanness spoiled her rosy cheek,


s: And doubts hung there it was not mine to seek;


s: She neer so much as mentioned things to come,


s: But sighed oer pleasures ere she left her home;


s: And now and then a mournful smile would raise


s: Which I brought up, while passing spots of ground


s: Where we, when children, "hurly-burlied" round,


s: Or "blindman-buffed" some morts of hours away--


s: Two games, poor thing, Jane dearly loved to play.


s: She smiled at these, but shook her head and sighed


s: When eer she thought my look was turned aside;


s: Nor turned she round, as was her former way,


s: To praise the thorn, white over then with May;


s: Nor stooped once, though thousands round her grew,


s: For Jane in flowers delighted from a child--


s: I like the garden, but she loved the wild--


s: And oft on Sundays young men's gifts declined,


s: Posies from gardens of the sweetest kind,


s: And eager scrambled the dog-rose to get,


s: And woodbine-flowers at every bush she met.


s: The cowslip blossom, with its ruddy streak,


s: Would tempt her furlongs from the path to seek;


s: And gay long purple, with its tufty spike,


s: And oft, while scratching through the briary woods


s: For tempting cuckoo-flowers and violet buds,


s: Poor Jane, I've known her crying sneak to town,


s: Fearing her mother, when she'd torn her gown.


s: Ah, these were days her conscience viewed with pain,


s: Which all are loth to lose, as well as Jane.


s: And, what I took more odd than all the rest,


s: Was, that same night she neer a wish exprest


s: That lay a stone's throw from us on the moor:


s: She once believed them, but had doubts since then.


s: And when we sought our cows, I called, "Come mull!"


s: But she stood silent, for her heart was full.


s: To milk, caressed them more than eer she'd done;


s: But though her tears stood watering in her eye,


s: For she was tender, and I've often known


s: Her mourn when beetles have been trampled on:


s: So I neer dreamed from this, what soon befell,


s: Till the next morning rang her passing-bell.


s: My story's long, but time's in plenty yet,


s: Since the black clouds betoken nought but wet;


s: And I'll een snatch a minute's breath or two,


s: And take another pinch, to help me through.


s: "So, as I said, next morn I heard the bell,


s: And passing neighbours crossed the street, to tell


s: That my poor partner Jenny had been found


s: In the old flag-pool, on the pasture, drowned.


s: God knows my heart! I twittered like a leaf,


s: And found too late the cause of Sunday's grief;


s: For every tongue was loosed to gabble oer


s: The slanderous things that secret passed before:


s: With truth or lies they need not then be strict,


s: The one they railed at could not contradict.


s: Twas now no secret of her being beguiled,


s: For every mouth knew Jenny died with child;


s: And though more cautious with a living name,


s: Each more than guessed her master bore the blame.


s: Ye know the foot-path sidles down the hill,


s: Ignorant as babe unborn I passed the pond


s: And cows were drinking at the water's edge,


s: And horses browsed among the flags and sedge,


s: And gnats and midges danced the water oer,


s: Just as I've marked them scores of times before,


s: And birds sat singing, as in mornings gone,--


s: While I as unconcerned went soodling on,


s: But little dreaming, as the wakening wind


s: Flapped the broad ash-leaves oer the pond reclin'd,


s: And oer the water crinked the curdled wave,


s: That Jane was sleeping in her watery grave.


s: The neatherd boy that used to tend the cows,


s: While getting whip-sticks from the dangling boughs


s: He knew it well, and hastened fearful down


s: To take the terror of his fears to town,--


s: And soon the village to the pasture flew,


s: Where, from the deepest hole the pond about,


s: They dragged poor Jenny's lifeless body out,


s: And took her home, where scarce an hour gone by


s: I went with more, and kissed her for the last,


s: And thought with tears on pleasures that were past;


s: And, the last kindness left me then to do,


s: I went, at milking, where the blossoms grew,


s: And handfuls got of rose and lambtoe sweet,


s: And put them with her in her winding-sheet.


s: Nor parson 'lowed to pray, nor bell to chime;


s: On the cross roads, far from her friends and kin,


s: Who violent hands upon themselves have laid,


s: Poor Jane's last bed unchristian-like was made;


s: And there, like all whose last thoughts turn to heaven,


s: She sleeps, and doubtless hoped to be forgiven.


s: But, though I say't, for maids thus veigled in


s: And sure enough we all at last shall see


s: The treachery punished as it ought to be.


s: Jane, I'll be bound, was spotless as the dove,


s: And's good a servant, still old folks allow,


s: The birds that ranted in the hedge-row boughs,


s: As night and morning we have sought our cows,


s: With yokes and buckets as she bounced along,


s: Were often deafed to silence with her song.


s: But now she's gone:--girls, shun deceitful men,


s: Be deaf to them, and then, as twere, ye'll see


s: Your pleasures safe as under lock and key.


s: They're gold in value, though they're cheap to you.


s: And husseys hearken, and be warned from this,


s: Jane might love hers, but she forsook the plan


s: To make her happy, when she thought of man.


s: Poor tottering dame, it was too plainly known,


s: Her daughter's dying hastened on her own,


s: For from the day the tidings reached her door


s: She, well as Jane, was laid within the ground;


s: And all were grieved poor Goody's end to see:


s: No better neighbour entered house than she,


s: A harmless soul, with no abusive tongue,


s: Trig as new pins, and tight's the day was long;


s: And go the week about, nine times in ten


s: Ye'd find her house as cleanly as her sen.


s: But, Lord protect us! time such change does bring,


s: We cannot dream what oer our heads may hing;


s: The very house she lived in, stick and stone,


s: Since Goody died, has tumbled down and gone:


s: And where the marjoram once, and sage, and rue,


s: And balm, and mint, with curled-leaf parsley grew,


s: And pumpkins neath the window used to climb;


s: And where I often when a child for hours


s: Tried through the pales to get the tempting flowers,


s: True-love-lies-bleeding, with the hearts-at-ease,


s: That oer the pale-tops smiled on passers-by,


s: Flowers in my time that every one would praise,


s: Though thrown like weeds from gardens nowadays;


s: Where these all grew, now henbane stinks and spreads,


s: And docks and thistles shake their seedy heads,


s: And yearly keep with nettles smothering oer;--


s: The house, the dame, the garden known no more:


s: While, neighbouring nigh, one lonely elder-tree


s: Is all that's left of what had used to be,


s: Marking the place, and bringing up with tears


s: The recollections of one's younger years.


s: And now I've done, ye're each at once as free


s: To take right ways, as Jenny should have ta'en,


s: For by one thoughtless girl that's acted ill


s: As oft mong folks to labour bustling on,


s: We mark the foremost kick against a stone,


s: Or stumble oer a stile he meant to climb,


s: While hind ones see and shun the fall in time.


s: But ye, I will be bound, like far the best


s: Love's tickling nick-nacks and the laughing jest,


s: And ten times sooner than be warned by me,


s: Would each be sitting on some fellow's knee,


s: Sooner believe the lies wild chaps will tell


s: Than old dames' cautions, who would wish ye well:


s: So have your wills."--She pinched her box again,


s: And ceased her tale, and listened to the rain,


s: Which still as usual pattered fast around,


s: And bowed the bent-head loaded to the ground;


s: While larks, their naked nest by force forsook,


s: Pruned their wet wings in bushes by the brook.


s: The maids, impatient now old Goody ceased,


s: As restless children from the school released,


s: Right gladly proving, what she'd just foretold,


s: That young ones' stories were preferred to old,


s: Turn to the whisperings of their former joy,


s: How sweet to be thus nestling deep in boughs,


s: Faintly are heard the ploughmen at their ploughs,


s: The sunbeams scarce molest me with a smile,


s: So thickly the leafy armies gather round;


s: And where they do, the breeze blows cool the while,


s: Their leafy shadows dancing on the ground.


s: Full many a flower, too, wishing to be seen,


s: Perks up its head the hiding grass between,--


s: In mid-wood silence, thus, how sweet to be;


s: Where all the noises, that on peace intrude,


s: Come from the chittering cricket, bird, and bee,


s: Whose songs have charms to sweeten solitude.


s: What wonder strikes the curious, while he views


s: Pausing, annoyed,--we know not what we see,


s: Such government and thought there seem to be;


s: Some looking on, and urging some to toil,


s: Dragging their loads of bent-stalks slavishly:


s: And what's more wonderful, when big loads foil


s: A swarm flock round to help their fellow-men.


s: Surely they speak a language whisperingly,


s: Too fine for us to hear; and sure their ways


s: Prove they have kings and laws, and that they be


s: Bounds through the crowd of merry leaves


s: And stoop for flowers, and shout for joy.


s: Throws light on darkness with excessive skill,


s: Knows who acts well and whose designs are ill,


s: Proves half the members nought but bribery's tools,


s: And calls the past a dull dark age of fools.


s: Not with their blind forefathers' simple views,


s: Who read of wars, and wished that wars would cease,


s: And blessed the King, and wished his country peace;


s: Who marked the weight of each fat sheep and ox,


s: The price of grain and rise and fall of stocks;


s: Who thought it learning how to buy and sell,


s: And him a wise man who could manage well.


s: No, not with such old-fashioned, idle views


s: Do these newsmongers traffic with the news.


s: And know so much of Parliament and state


s: You'd think they're members when you heard them prate;


s: And know so little of their farms the while


s: A thing all consequence here takes the lead,


s: Reigning knight-errant oer this dirty breed--


s: Who fattens best where sorrow worst appears


s: And feeds on sad misfortune's bitterest tears?


s: Who waits and hopes and wishes for success


s: Happy at heart, when storms begin to boil,


s: To seek the shipwreck and to share the spoil.


s: Brave is this Bumtagg, match him if you can;


s: For there's none like him living--save his man.


s: Just so are these in blood and business joined;


s: Yet both in different colours hide their art,


s: And each as suits his ends transacts his part.


s: One keeps the heart-bred villain full in sight,


s: Smoothing the deed where law sharks set their gin


s: But both will chuckle oer their prisoners' sighs


s: Such is Bumtagg, whose history I resign,


s: As other knaves wait room to stink and shine;


s: And, as the meanest knave a dog can brag,


s: Such is the lurcher that assists Bumtagg.


s: When every maiden went by with her spark


s: While the old cat growls bass with the bellows


s: While the dogs at the noise begin barking,


s: And I slink in with shame from the street.


s: So what with them both there's no moving,


s: Is grass the green that clothes the ground?


s: That drive afield with carts and ploughs?


s: Have made lands where their fancies dwell


s: When some have slept on torture's breast


s: Aye, peace on thorns, in faith forgiven,


s: Yet peace, though much himself he mourned,


s: The little cottage stood alone, the pride


s: Bean fields in blossom almost reached the wall;


s: A garden with its hawthorn hedge was all


s: The space between.--Green light did pass


s: Through one small window, where a looking-glass


s: Placed in the parlour, richly there revealed


s: A spacious landscape and a blooming field.


s: The pasture cows that herded on the moor


s: Printed their footsteps to the very door,


s: Where little summer flowers with seasons blow


s: And scarcely gave the eldern leave to grow.


s: Sung in the orchard trees for half the day;


s: And where the robin lives, the village guest,


s: Of the coy nightingale was yearly found,


s: Safe from all eyes as in the loneliest ground;


s: And little chats that in bean stalks will lie


s: A nest with cobwebs there will build, and fly


s: Upon the kidney bean that twines and towers


s: Up little poles in wreaths of scarlet flowers.


s: There a lone couple lived, secluded there


s: From all the world considers joy or care,


s: Lived to themselves, a long lone journey trod,


s: And through their Bible talked aloud to God;


s: While one small close and cow their wants maintained,


s: But little needing, and but little gained.


s: Their neighbour's name was peace, with her they went,


s: With tottering age, and dignified content,


s: Through a rich length of years and quiet days,


s: And filled the neighbouring village with their praise.


s: The trays are up, the hedges broken down,


s: That fenced the haystack, and the remnant shines


s: Like some old antique fragment weathered brown.


s: And where suns peep, in every sheltered place,


s: A glittering star or two--till many trace


s: The edges of the blackthorn clumps in gold.


s: The hill and wags his tail to meet the yoe,


s: And then another, sheltered from the wind,


s: Lies all his length as dead--and lets me go


s: Close bye and never stirs but baking lies,


s: With legs stretched out as though he could not rise.


s: When first we hear the shy-come nightingales,


s: They seem to mutter oer their songs in fear,


s: And, climb we eer so soft the spinney rails,


s: The kindled bushes with the young leaves thin


s: Let curious eyes to search a long way in,


s: Boldly she sings and loud for half the day;


s: And soon the village brings the woodman's tale


s: Of having heard the newcome nightingale.


s: Shines through the leafless shrubs all brown and grey,


s: And turns her back on sudden falling snows,


s: To go where gravel pathways creep between


s: Arches of evergreen that scarce let through


s: The walk will find some places still and warm


s: Where dead leaves rustle sweet and give alarm


s: To little birds that flirt and start away.


s: Home furthest off grows dearer from the way;


s: Friends' letters coming from his native place


s: Were like old neighbours with their country face.


s: Of that loved village where he left his sheep


s: For more contented peaceful folk to keep;


s: Would from such letters in his mind appear.


s: And when his pockets, chafing through the case,


s: Wore it quite out ere others took the place,


s: He kept the fragments while a bit was left.


s: Here morning in the ploughman's songs is met


s: Ere yet one footstep shows in all the sky,


s: And twilight in the east, a doubt as yet,


s: Shows not her sleeve of grey to know her bye.


s: Woke early, I arose and thought that first


s: The old owls might have hallooed if they durst,


s: But joy just then was up and whistled bye


s: A merry tune which I had known full long,


s: But could not to my memory wake it back,


s: Until the ploughman changed it to the song.


s: --Tinged like the willow shoots, the east's young brow


s: Glows red and finds thee singing at the plough.


s: Where slanting banks are always with the sun


s: And where warm patches by the hedges run


s: The cottager when coming home from plough


s: Brings home a cowslip root in flower to set.


s: Thus ere the Christmas goes the spring is met


s: Setting up little tents about the fields


s: In sheltered spots.--Primroses when they get


s: Behind the wood's old roots, where ivy shields


s: Their crimpled, curdled leaves, will shine and hide.


s: Cart ruts and horses' footings scarcely yield


s: A slur for boys, just crizzled and that's all.


s: And snow in scarce a feather's seen to fall.


s: Like boys that run behind the loaded wain


s: When summer from the meadow carts the hay


s: And school hours leave them half a day to play;


s: So I with leisure on three sides a sheet


s: Of foolscap dance with poesy's measured feet,


s: Just to ride post upon the wings of time


s: And kill a care, to friendship turned in rhyme.


s: And I, amused, with less of wit than will,


s: Run till I tire.--And so to cheat her still.


s: Like children running races who shall be


s: First in to touch the orchard wall or tree,


s: The last half way behind, by distance vext,


s: Turns short, determined to be first the next;


s: So now the muse has run me hard and long--


s: I'll leave at once her races and her song;


s: And, turning round, laugh at the letter's close


s: What a night! The wind howls, hisses, and but stops


s: To howl more loud, while the snow volley keeps


s: And in the morning, when the tempest drops,


s: Of snow lie drifted, that all entrance stops


s: The path, and leave a wall on either side.


s: The shepherd rambling valleys white and wide


s: With new sensations his old memory fills,


s: When hedges left at night, no more descried,


s: Are turned to one white sweep of curving hills,


s: And trees turned bushes half their bodies hide.


s: The boy that goes to fodder with surprise


s: Walks oer the gate he opened yesternight.


s: The hedges all have vanished from his eyes;


s: Een some tree tops the sheep could reach to bite.


s: And, though with cautious steps his sports begin,


s: He bolder shuffles the huge hills of snow,


s: Till down he drops and plunges to the chin,


s: And struggles much and oft escape to win--


s: Then turns and laughs but dare not further go;


s: For deep the grass and bushes lie below,


s: Where little birds that soon at eve went in


s: With heads tucked in their wings now pine for day


s: And little feel boys oer their heads can stray.


s: The rich blue green of summer all the year,


s: Softening the roughest tempest almost calm


s: And offering shelter ever still and warm


s: To the small path that towels underneath,


s: Where loudest winds--almost as summer's breath--


s: Scarce fan the weed that lingers green below


s: When others out of doors are lost in frost and snow.


s: As the wind suthers through each tiny spear,


s: Makeshifts for leaves; and yet, so rich they show,


s: Winter is almost summer where they grow.


s: Grasshoppers go in many a thumming spring


s: And now to stalks of tasseled sow-grass cling,


s: That shakes and swees awhile, but still keeps straight;


s: While arching oxeye doubles with his weight.


s: Next on the cat-tail-grass with farther bound


s: He springs, that bends until they touch the ground.


s: The beams in blossom with their spots of jet


s: The level meadow grass was in the swath;


s: The hedge briar rose hung right across the path,


s: White over with its flowers--the grass that lay


s: Bleaching beneath the twittering heat to hay


s: Went wondering where the honey sweets could be;


s: Stoopt down and whipt a bit beneath his nose.


s: Dear brother robin this comes from us all


s: With our kind love and could Gip write and all


s: Though but a dog he'd have his love to spare


s: For still he knows and by your corner chair


s: This leaves us well in health thank God for that


s: For old acquaintance Sue has kept your hat


s: Which mother brushes ere she lays it bye


s: Jane still is yours till you come back agen


s: and he with this and goody Thompson sends


s: Remembrances with those of all our friends


s: Father with us sends love untill he hears


s: and mother she has nothing but her tears


s: Yet wishes you like us in health the same


s: and longs to see a letter with your name


s: Old Gip lies on the hearth stone every night


s: Mother can't bear to turn him out of doors


s: Father will laugh but lets her have her way


s: You don't forget old friends no more than we


s: To go three journeys ere your letter came.


s: Where, lone guide when a stranger strays,


s: A white post points four different ways,


s: Now here, now there, now out of sight!--


s: Will leave their moonlight meadow-rings,


s: And, unperceived, through key-holes creep,


s: And still the housewife's eye they cheat,


s: With bung-holes bored by squirrels well,


s: Their wild-fire lamps are burning bright:


s: And guide their plundering steps aright.


s: Things that in childhood's memory dwell--


s: Scooped crow-pot-stone, or cockle-shell,


s: Where childish sport was stringing beads;


s: Just as the Spring-wind drives a feather.


s: Scarce daring--from their fearful joys--


s: Then hide their heads beneath the clothes,


s: Swarm twittering round them in the dark;


s: Till sleep creeps nigh to ease their cares,


s: The landscape sleeps in mist from morn till noon;


s: And, if the sun looks through, tis with a face


s: Beamless and pale and round, as if the moon,


s: When done the journey of her nightly race,


s: Had found him sleeping, and supplied his place.


s: For days the shepherds in the fields may be,


s: Nor mark a patch of sky--blindfold they trace,


s: The plains, that seem without a bush or tree,


s: Whistling aloud by guess, to flocks they cannot see.


s: The timid hare seems half its fears to lose,


s: Crouching and sleeping neath its grassy lair,


s: And scarcely startles, though the shepherd goes


s: Close by its home, and dogs are barking there;


s: The wild colt only turns around to stare


s: At passer by, then knaps his hide again;


s: To fly, though pelted by the passing swain;


s: Thus day seems turned to night, and tries to wake in vain.


s: The owlet leaves her hiding-place at noon,


s: And flaps her grey wings in the doubling light;


s: The hoarse jay screams to see her out so soon,


s: And small birds chirp and startle with affright;


s: Much doth it scare the superstitious wight,


s: Who dreams of sorry luck, and sore dismay;


s: While cow-boys think the day a dream of night,


s: And oft grow fearful on their lonely way,


s: Fancying that ghosts may wake, and leave their graves by day.


s: Yet but awhile the slumbering weather flings


s: Its murky prison round--then winds wake loud;


s: With sudden stir the startled forest sings


s: Winter's returning song-cloud races cloud.


s: Sweeping a stretching circle from the eye;


s: Storms upon storms in quick succession crowd,


s: Heaven paints, with hurried hand, wild hues of every dye.


s: At length it comes among the forest oaks,


s: With sobbing ebbs, and uproar gathering high;


s: The scared, hoarse raven on its cradle croaks,


s: And stockdove-flocks in hurried terrors fly,


s: While the blue hawk hangs oer them in the sky.--


s: The hedger hastens from the storm begun,


s: To seek a shelter that may keep him dry;


s: And foresters low bent, the wind to shun,


s: Scarce hear amid the strife the poacher's muttering gun.


s: The ploughman hears its humming rage begin,


s: And hies for shelter from his naked toil;


s: Buttoning his doublet closer to his chin,


s: He bends and scampers oer the elting soil,


s: While clouds above him in wild fury boil,


s: And winds drive heavily the beating rain;


s: He turns his back to catch his breath awhile,


s: To seek the shepherd's hut beside the rushy plain.


s: The boy, that scareth from the spiry wheat


s: Beneath an ivied tree, his sheltering seat,


s: Of rushy flags and sedges tied in sheaves,


s: Or from the field a shock of stubble thieves.


s: There he doth dithering sit, and entertain


s: His eyes with marking the storm-driven leaves;


s: Oft spying nests where he spring eggs had ta'en,


s: And wishing in his heart twas summer-time again.


s: Thus wears the month along, in checkered moods,


s: Sunshine and shadows, tempests loud, and calms;


s: One hour dies silent oer the sleepy woods,


s: The next wakes loud with unexpected storms;


s: Yet many a rural sound, and rural sight,


s: Lives in the village still about the farms,


s: Where toil's rude uproar hums from morn till night


s: Noises, in which the ears of industry delight.


s: At length the stir of rural labour's still,


s: His yearly task, at bleak November's close,


s: And stops the plough, and hides the field in snows;


s: When frost locks up the stream in chill delay


s: And mellows on the hedge the jetty sloes,


s: For little birds--then toil hath time for play,


s: And nought but threshers' flails awake the dreary day.


s: A semblance where there's nought to spare.


s: Where the broad sheepwalk bare and brown


s: The little strawy bents and nodding flowers,


s: There the huge thistle, spurred with many thorns,


s: The suncrackt upland's russet swells adorns.


s: Armed warriors, waiting neither suns nor showers,


s: Guarding the little clover plots to bloom


s: While sheep nor oxen dare not crop their flowers


s: Unsheathing their own knobs of tawny flowers


s: When summer cometh in her hottest hours.


s: When fields and meadows glow with green;


s: The partridge too, that scarce can trust


s: Turns back and leaves her dwelling free.


s: When threads doth hang from thorn to thorn


s: From light to dark when toil could yield


s: Rich thoughtless health unknown to pain:


s: I've thought how richer folks were blest


s: Thou treacherous medicine, reckoned pure,


s: That bites and stings when few perceive;


s: And eyes, though thronged with darts to kill,


s: His nectar-draughts from folly's flowers,


s: Bright eyes, fair cheeks, and ruby lips,


s: Till words themselves grow sick with praise


s: Heart-achings, sighs, and grief-wrung tears,


s: And, foolish still, I'll laugh the while;


s: But till that comes, I'll bless the rules


s: _"From his honoured friend, William Davenant"_


s: Would court the muse that honoured thee,


s: Though faction's scorn at first did shun


s: And thine shall flourish, green and long,


s: Where thou couldst sing of other spheres,


s: Though bitter sneers and stinging scorns


s: Thy powers were past such little thorns,


s: Though friendly praise hath but its hour.


s: Oer wrecks where crowds of fames are gone.


s: Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.--_Solomon_


s: The fair, the brave, the vain, the wise,


s: The rich, the poor, the great, and small,


s: Where gold and bribery's guilt prevails,


s: Just so man's boasted strength and power


s: Shall fade before death's lightest stroke,


s: Blood-purchased thrones and banquet halls.


s: Where the poor suffering wretch bows down


s: And pride, and power, and king, and clown


s: There's nought can bribe his honest will.


s: Old elm, that murmured in our chimney top


s: And into mellow whispering calms would drop


s: When showers fell on thy many coloured shade


s: And when dark tempests mimic thunder made--


s: While darkness came as it would strangle light


s: With the black tempest of a winter night


s: That rocked thee like a cradle in thy root--


s: How did I love to hear the winds upbraid


s: Thy strength without--while all within was mute.


s: It seasoned comfort to our hearts' desire,


s: We felt thy kind protection like a friend


s: And edged our chairs up closer to the fire,


s: Old favourite tree, thou'st seen time's changes lower,


s: Though change till now did never injure thee;


s: For time beheld thee as her sacred dower


s: And nature claimed thee her domestic tree.


s: Storms came and shook thee many a weary hour,


s: Yet stedfast to thy home thy roots have been;


s: Summers of thirst parched round thy homely bower


s: Till earth grew iron--still thy leaves were green.


s: The children sought thee in thy summer shade


s: And made their playhouse rings of stick and stone;


s: While in thy leaves his early nest was made.


s: Nought heeding that our friendship was betrayed,


s: Friend not inanimate--though stocks and stones


s: There are, and many formed of flesh and bones.


s: Thou owned a language by which hearts are stirred


s: Deeper than by a feeling clothed in word,


s: And speakest now what's known of every tongue,


s: Language of pity and the force of wrong.


s: What cant assumes, what hypocrites will dare,


s: Speaks home to truth and shows it what they are.


s: Self-interest saw thee stand in freedom's ways--


s: Tnou'st heard the knave, abusing those in power,


s: Bawl freedom loud and then oppress the free;


s: Thou'st sheltered hypocrites in many a shower,


s: That when in power would never shelter thee.


s: Thou'st heard the knave supply his canting powers


s: With wrong's illusions when he wanted friends;


s: That bawled for shelter when he lived in showers


s: And when clouds vanished made thy shade amends--


s: With axe at root he felled thee to the ground


s: And barked of freedom--O I hate the sound


s: Time hears its visions speak,--and age sublime


s: --It grows the cant term of enslaving tools


s: Thus came enclosure--ruin was its guide,


s: But freedom's cottage soon was thrust aside


s: And workhouse prisons raised upon the site.


s: Een nature's dwellings far away from men,


s: The common heath, became the spoiler's prey;


s: The rabbit had not where to make his den


s: No matter--wrong was right and right was wrong,


s: And freedom's bawl was sanction to the song.


s: The right of freedom was to injure thine:


s: As thou wert served, so would they overwhelm


s: In freedom's name the little that is mine.


s: And there are knaves that brawl for better laws


s: And freedom's birthright from the weak devour.


s: And cowslip peeps have gotten eer so big,


s: And water blobs and all their golden kin


s: Crowd round the shallows by the striding brig.


s: Nodding about their gold and yellow locks


s: Like morts of folken flocking at a fair.


s: The sheep and cows are crowding for a share


s: And snatch the blossoms in such eager haste


s: That basket-bearing children running there


s: Do think within their hearts they'll get them all


s: And hoot and drive them from their graceless waste


s: As though there wa'n't a cowslip peep to spare.


s: --For they want some for tea and some for wine


s: To throw across the garland's silken line


s: That reaches oer the street from wall to wall.


s: --Good gracious me, how merrily they fare:


s: One sees a fairer cowslip than the rest,


s: And off they shout--the foremost bidding fair


s: To get the prize--and earnest half and jest


s: The next one pops her down--and from her hand


s: Her basket falls and out her cowslips all


s: In laughing friendship round about her fall


s: To helpen gather up the littered flowers


s: That she no loss may mourn. And now the wind


s: Some untied bonnet on its dancing wings;


s: Away they follow with a scream and laugh,


s: Till on the deep lake's very bank it hings.


s: They shout and catch it and then off they start


s: And each one seems so anxious at the heart


s: As they would even get them all and more.


s: One climbs a molehill for a bunch of may,


s: One stands on tiptoe for a linnet's nest


s: And pricks her hand and throws her flowers away


s: And runs for plantin leaves to have it drest.


s: And teaze the grass-hid larks from getting rest.


s: --Scarce give they time in their unruly haste


s: To tie a shoestring that the grass unties--


s: And thus they run the meadows' bloom to waste,


s: Till even comes and dulls their phantasies,


s: When one finds losses out to stifle smiles


s: Of silken bonnet-strings--and utters sigh


s: Oer garments renten clambering over stiles.


s: Yet in the morning fresh afield they hie,


s: Bidding the last day's troubles all goodbye;


s: When red pied cow again their coming hears,


s: And ere they clap the gate she tosses up


s: Her head and hastens from the sport she fears:


s: The old yoe calls her lamb nor cares to stoop


s: The winds and waters are in his command,


s: He lets them loose, they triumph at his will:


s: He checks their course and all is calm and still.


s: Life's hopes waste all to nothingness away


s: As showers at night wash out the steps of day.


s: The tyrant, in his lawless power deterred,


s: Bows before death, tame as a broken sword.


s: One dyeth in his strength and, torn from ease,


s: Groans in death pangs like tempests in the trees.


s: Falls calm as storms drop on an autumn day,


s: With noiseless speed as swift as summer light


s: Death slays and keeps her weapons out of sight.


s: And for earth's glories throw the heavens away,


s: Whose breath in power did like to thunder sear,


s: When anger hurried on the heels of fear,


s: Whose rage planned hosts of murders at a breath--


s: Here in sound silence sheath their rage in death.


s: Their feet, that crushed down freedom to its grave


s: And felt the very earth they trod a slave,


s: How quiet here they lie in death's cold arms


s: Without the power to crush the feeble worms


s: Who spite of all the dreadful fears they made


s: Creep there to conquer and are not afraid.


s: And oft as morning from her lattice peeps


s: But what thy own foot makes betray thy home,


s: With ramping sallows lined, and crowding sedge,


s: And meadow pools, torn wide by lawless floods,


s: Where water-lilies spread their oily leaves,


s: Where leans the mossy willow half way oer,


s: On which the shepherd crawls astride to throw


s: Or crispy hills, and hollows scant of sward,


s: Where step by step the patient lonely boy


s: Then track along their feet, grown hoarse with noise,


s: The crawling brook, that ekes its weary speed,


s: These haunts I long have favoured, more as now


s: With thee thus wandering, moralizing on,


s: Sweet Vision, with the wild dishevelled hair,


s: And raiment shadowy of each wind's embrace,


s: Beneath the curdled arms of this stunt oak,


s: Oer the disordered scenes of woods and fields,


s: Ploughed lands, thin travelled with half-hungry sheep,


s: Marking the cow-boy that so merry trills


s: As on with plashy step, and clouted shoon,


s: He roves, half indolent and self-employed,


s: And sloes, dim covered as with dewy veils,


s: And rambling bramble-berries, pulp and sweet,


s: Noting the hedger front with stubborn face


s: The dank blea wind, that whistles thinly by


s: While oer the pleachy lands of mellow brown,


s: The mower's stubbling scythe clogs to his foot


s: Crowd the blank field to thatch time-weathered barns,


s: See! from the rustling scythe the haunted hare


s: Where reeded grass, breast-high and undisturbed,


s: Forms pleasant clumps, through which the soothing winds


s: Wild sorceress! me thy restless mood delights,


s: More than the stir of summer's crowded scenes,


s: Heart-sickening for the silence that is thine,


s: Now filtering winds thin winnow through the woods


s: In tremulous noise, that bids, at every breath,


s: And now the bickering storm, with sudden start,


s: And yet, sublime in grief, thy thoughts delight


s: To show me visions of most gorgeous dyes,


s: Thy pencil dashing its excess of shades,


s: Soon must I view thee as a pleasant dream


s: Droop faintly, and so sicken for thine end,


s: While in the moment of their weary pause,


s: To cheer thy bankrupt pomp, the willing lark


s: Thy life is waning now, and silence tries


s: To mourn, but meets no sympathy in sounds.


s: To sleep inglorious there mid tangled woods,


s: Till parch-lipped summer pines in drought away,


s: Now swarthy summer, by rude health embrowned,


s: Precedence takes of rosy fingered spring;


s: And laughing joy, with wild flowers pranked and crowned,


s: And health robust, from every care unbound,


s: Loud tongued, and "merry as a marriage bell,"


s: Thy lightsome step sheds joy in every place;


s: Thy witching smiles wean them of half their cares;


s: Then with thy sultry locks all loose and rude,


s: And mantle laced with gems of garish light,


s: Come as of wont; for I would fain intrude,


s: Share the rude mirth that thy own heart beguiles:


s: Me not the noise of brawling pleasure cheers,


s: But joys which soothe, and not distract the ears,


s: In the green woods, and meadows summer-shorn,


s: The green-swathed grasshopper, on treble pipe,


s: Sings there, and dances, in mad-hearted pranks;


s: There bees go courting every flower that's ripe,


s: And droning dragon-fly, on rude bassoon,


s: There speckled thrush, by self-delight embued,


s: There sings unto himself for joy's amends,


s: With inbred joy until the heart oerflow,


s: There the gay river, laughing as it goes,


s: Plashes with easy wave its flaggy sides,


s: And to the calm of heart, in calmness shows


s: To trace its sedgy banks, from trouble free:


s: There ruminating neath some pleasant bush,


s: On sweet silk grass I stretch me at mine ease,


s: Where I can pillow on the yielding rush;


s: Drop into pleasant dreams; or musing lie,


s: And think me how some barter joy for care,


s: And waste life's summer-health in riot rude,


s: Of nature, nor of nature's sweets aware;


s: By calm reflection, softened are and still;


s: There I can live, and at my leisure seek


s: Joys far from cold restraints--not fearing pride--


s: Free as the winds, that breathe upon my cheek


s: And green lane traverse heedless where it goes


s: Nought guessing, till some sudden turn espies


s: Rude battered finger post, that stooping shows