3 
 
 52 
 18
 
 THE U13RARY 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CAUFORNi^ 
 
 LOS ANGELES
 
 POEM S 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE OF 
 
 RURAL LIFE AND SCENERY. 
 
 interiiorarv Loans (*«r Osplk 
 Uiiversitv i^esearcn LiWSfV 
 Onivei'Suv .1' union, a. «.os Adgfllel 
 
 .'^i.i^min ijnno/
 
 T. Miller, Printer, Noble Street, 
 Cheapiide, London,
 
 POEMS 
 
 DESCRIPTIVE OF 
 
 RURAL LIFE AND SCENERY. 
 
 BY JOHN CLARE, 
 
 A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE PEASANT. 
 
 'The Summer's Flower is to the Snmmer sweet, 
 
 ' Though to itself it only live and die." 
 
 Shaispeare. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 1'U1MT1::U lOR TAYLOR AM) HKSSEY, FLEET STREET; 
 AND E. URURY, STAMFORD.
 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The following Poems will probably attract some 
 notice by their intrinsic merit; but they are also 
 entitled to attention from the circumstances under 
 which they were written. They are the genuine 
 productions of a young Peasant, a day-labourer in 
 husbandry, who has had no advantages of education 
 beyond others of his class ; and though Poets in 
 this country have seldom been fortunate men, 
 yet he is, perhaps, the least favoured by circum- 
 stances, and tlu; most destitute of friends, of any 
 that ever existed. 
 
 John Clare, the author of this Volume, was 
 born at Helpstone, near Peterborough, Northamp- 
 tonshire, on the 13th of July, 1793. He is the only 
 son of Parker and Ann Clare, who are also natives 
 of the same village, where they have always resided 
 in extreme poverty ; nor are they aware that any of 
 
 7 1 ''?n2.i^
 
 viii INTRODUCTION. 
 
 their ancestors have been in better circumstances. 
 Parker Clare is a farmer's labourer, and latterly 
 he was employed in threshing; but violent colds 
 brought on the rheumatism to such a degree that he 
 was at length unable to work, or even to move 
 without assistance. By the kind liberality of Lord 
 Milton he was then sent to the Sea-bathing In- 
 firmary at Scarborough, where he found great relief; 
 but returning home part of the way on foot, from a 
 desire to save expenses, his exertions and exposure 
 to the weather brought on the pain again, and re- 
 duced him to a more deplorable state than ever. 
 He is now a helpless cripple, and a pauper, receiv- 
 ing an allowance of five shillings a week from the 
 parish. 
 
 John Clare has always lived with his parents 
 at Helpstone, except for those short periods when 
 the distance to which he was obliged to go for work 
 prevented his return every evening. At his own 
 home, therefore, he saw Poverty in all its most 
 affecting shapes, and when he speaks of it, as in 
 the Address to Plenty, p. 48, 
 
 " Oh, sad sons of Poverty ! 
 Victims doom'd to misery ; 
 Who can paint what pain prevails 
 O'er that heart which want assails ? 
 Modest Shame the pain conceals : 
 No one knows, but he who feels"
 
 INTRODUCTION. IX 
 
 And again : 
 
 " Toiling in the naked fields. 
 Where no bush a shelter yields, 
 Needy Labour dithering S'taiids, 
 Beats and blows his numbing hands ; 
 And upon the crumping snows 
 Stamps, in vain, to warm his toes" 
 
 he utters " no idly-feign'd poetic pains :" it is a 
 picture of what he has constantly witnessed and 
 felt. One of our poets has gained great credit by 
 his exterior delineations of what the poor man suf- 
 fers; but in the reality of wretchedness, when " the 
 iron enters into the soul," there is a tone which can- 
 not be imitated. Clare has here an unhappy ad- 
 vantage over other poets. The most miserable of 
 them were not always wretched. Penury and 
 disease were not constantly at their heels, nor was 
 pauperism their only prospect. But he has no 
 other, for the lot which has befallen his father, may, 
 with too much reason, be looked forward to as his 
 own portion. In the "simple annals of the poor" 
 want occupies a part of every page, except, perhaps, 
 the last, where the scene changes to the workhouse; 
 and then the burthen which is taken from the body 
 is laid upon the spirit : at least it would be so with 
 Clare; for though the contemplation of parochial 
 relief may administer to some minds a thankless, 
 
 b 5
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 hopeless sort of consolation, under the pressure of 
 extreme distress, yet to the writer of the following 
 lines it must be the highest aggravation of afflic- 
 tion : — 
 
 " Oil, may 1 die, before I'm dooiu'd to seek 
 That last resource of hope, but ill supplied ; 
 
 To claim the humble pittance once a week, 
 
 Which justice forces from disdainful pride ! " (p. 78.) 
 
 While such was the destitute condition of his 
 parents, it may seem extraordinary that Clare 
 should have found the means to acquire any learn- 
 ing whatever ; but by extra work as a ploughboy, 
 and by helping his father morning and evening at 
 threshing, he earned the money which paid for his 
 education. From the labour of eight weeks he 
 generally acquired as many pence as would pay for 
 a month's schooling ; and thus in the course of 
 three years he received, at difterent times, so much 
 instruction that he could read very well in the 
 Bible. He considers himself to have derived much 
 benefit from the judicious encouragement of his 
 schoolmaster, Mr. Seaton, of Glinton, an adjoining 
 parish, from whom he sometimes obtained three- 
 pence a week in rewards, and who once gave him 
 sixpence for repeating, from memory, the third 
 chapter of Job. With these little sums he bought 
 a few books.
 
 INTRODUCTION. XI 
 
 When he had learned to read tolerably well, he 
 borrowed from one of his companions that universal 
 favourite, Robinson Crusoe, and in the perusal of 
 this he greatly increased his stock of knowledge 
 and his desire for reading. He was thirteen years 
 of ase when another boy shewed him Thomson's 
 Seasons. They were out in the fields together, and 
 during the day Clare had a good opportunity of 
 looking at the book. It called forth all the passion 
 of his soul for poetry. He was determined to pos- 
 sess the work himself; and as soon as he had saved 
 a shilling to buy it with, he set off for Stamford at 
 so early an hour, that none of the shops were open 
 when he got there. It was a fine Spring morning, 
 and when he had made his purchase, and was re- 
 turning through the beautiful scenery of Burghley 
 Park, he composed his first piece of poetry, which 
 he called "The Morning Walk." This was soon 
 followed by the " Evening Walk," and some other 
 little pieces. 
 
 But the first expression of his fondness for Poetry 
 was before he had learnt to read. He was tired 
 one day with looking at the pictures in a volume of 
 poems, which he thinks were Pomfret's, when his 
 father read him one piece in the book to amuse him. 
 The delight he felt, at hearing this read, still warms 
 him when he thinks of the circumstance ; but though
 
 Xll INTRODUCTION. 
 
 he distinctly recollects the vivid pleasure which 
 thrilled through him then, he has lost all trace 
 of the incidents as well as of the language, nor can 
 he find any poem of Pomfret's at all answering the 
 faint conception he retains of it. It is possible 
 that his chief gratification was in the harmony of the 
 numbers, and that he had thoughts of his own float- 
 ing onward with the verse very different from those 
 which the same words would now suggest. The 
 various melody of the earliest of his own composi- 
 tions is some argument in favour of this opinion. 
 
 His love of Poetry, however, would soon have 
 spent itself in compositions as little to be remem- 
 bered as that M hich has just been mentioned, had it 
 not been for the kindness of Mr. John Turnill, late 
 of Helpstone, now in the Excise, who was indeed 
 a benefactor to him. From his instruction Clare, 
 though he knew a little of the rudiments before, 
 learnt Writing and Arithmetic ; and to this friend 
 he must, therefore, consider himself indebted for 
 whatever good, may accrue to him from the exercise 
 of those powers of mind with which he is naturally 
 endowed. Tor it is very probable, that, without 
 the means of recording his productions on paper, 
 Clare woidd not only have lost the advantage he 
 may derive from the publication of his works, but 
 that also in himself he would not have been the
 
 INTRODUCTION. XlU 
 
 Poet he is ; that, without writing down his thoughts, 
 he could not have evolved them from his mind; 
 and that his vocabulary vvould have been too scanty 
 to express even what his imagination had strength 
 enough to conceive. Besides, if he did succeed in 
 partial instances, the aggregate amount of them 
 could not have been collected and estimated. A 
 few detached songs or short passages might be, 
 perhaps, treasured in the memory of his companions 
 for a short period, but they would soon perish. 
 In his " Dawnings of Genius," Clare describes 
 the condition of a man, whose education has been 
 too contracted to allow him to utter the thoughts 
 of which he is conscious : — 
 
 " Thus pausing wild on all he saunters by. 
 He feels enraptur'd though he knows not why ; 
 And hums and mutters o'er bis joys in vain, , 
 And dwells on something which he can't explain. 
 The bursts of thought, with which his soul's perplex'd, 
 Are bred one moment, and are gone the next ; 
 Yet still the heart will kindling sparks retain, 
 And thoughts will rise, and Fancy strive again." 
 
 There is, perhaps, no feeling so distressing as this 
 to the individual : it is an irremoveable nightmare, 
 at it were, to Genius, which struggles in vain for 
 sounds to convey an idea of its almost intolerable 
 sensations,
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 " Till by successless sallies wearied quite, 
 The Memory fails, and Fancy takes her flight ; 
 Tlie wick coiifln'd within the socket dies. 
 Borne down and sniother'd in a tliousand sighs." 
 
 That this would have been Clare's fate, unless 
 he had been taught to write, cannot be doubted ; 
 and a perusal of his Poems will convince any one, 
 that something of this kind he still feels, from his 
 inability to find those words which can fully declare 
 his meaning. From the want of a due supply of 
 these, and from his ignorance of grammar, he seems 
 to labour under great disadvantages. On the other 
 hand, his want forces him to an extraordinary exertion 
 of his native powers, in order to supply the deficiency. 
 He employs the language under his command with 
 great effect, in those unusual and unprecedented 
 combinations of words which must be made, even 
 by the learned, when they attempt to describe per- 
 fectly something which they have never seen or 
 heard expressed before. And in this respect 
 Clare's deficiencies are the cause of many beau- 
 ties, — for though he must, of course, innovate, that 
 he may succeed in his purpose, yet he does it ac- 
 cording to that rational mode of procedure, by 
 which all languages have been formed and per- 
 fected. Thus he frequently makes verbs of sub- 
 stantives, as in the lines,
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 " Dark and darker glooms the sky" 
 
 " To pint it just at my desire" 
 
 Or of adjectives, as in the following, 
 
 " Spring's pencil pinks tliee in thy flushy stain." 
 
 But in this he has done no more than the man who 
 first employed crimson as a verb : and as we had no 
 word that would in such brief compass supply so 
 clearly the sense of this, he was justified no doubt 
 in taking it. Some future writers may, perhaps, 
 feel thankful for the precedent. But there is no 
 innovation in such cases as these. Inseparably 
 connected with the use of speech is the privilege to 
 abbreviate ; and those new ideas, which in one age 
 are obliged to be communicated paraphrastically, 
 have generally in the next some definite term as- 
 signed them : so legitimate, however, is the process 
 of this, by reason of certain laws of analogy which 
 are inherent in the mind of man, and universally 
 attended to in the formation of new words, that no 
 confusion can arise ; for the word thus introduced 
 into a language always contains its meaning in its 
 derivation and composition, except it be such mere 
 cant as is not meant to live beyond the day ; and 
 further, the correspondent word to it may always 
 be found in other more perfect languages, if the 
 people who spoke that language were alike conver-
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 sant with the idea, and equally under the tempta- 
 tion of employing some word to signify it. 
 
 But a very great number of those words which 
 are generally called new, are, in fact, some of the 
 oldest in our language : many of them are extant in 
 the works of our earliest authors ; and a still greater 
 number float on the popular voice, preserved only 
 by tradition, till the same things to which they were 
 originally applied again attract notice, and some 
 writer, in want of the word, either ignorantly or 
 wisely, but in either case happily, restores it to its 
 proper place. Many of the provincial expressions, 
 to which Clare has been forced to have recourse, 
 are of this description, forming part of a large num- 
 ber which may be called the unwritten language of 
 England. They were once, perhaps, as current 
 throughout the land, and are still many of them as 
 well-sounding and significant, as any that are sanc- 
 tioned by the press. In the midland counties they 
 are readily understood without a glossary ; but, for 
 the use of those who are unaccustomed to them, all 
 such as are not to be found in Johnson's Dictionary . 
 will be printed at the end, with explanations. 
 
 Another peculiarity in Clare's writing, which 
 may be the occasion of some misunderstanding to 
 those who are critically nice in the construction of 
 a sentence, is the indift'erence with which he regards
 
 INTRODUCTION. XVU 
 
 words as governing each other; but this defect, 
 which arises from his evident ignorance of grammar, 
 is never so great as to give any real embarrassment 
 to the reader*. An example occurs at p. 41 : — 
 
 " Just so 'twill fare with roe in Autumn's Life," 
 
 instead of for " the Autumn of Life;" but who can 
 doubt the sense ? And it may be worth while to 
 mention here another line, which for the same rea- 
 son may be objected to by some persons : — 
 
 " But still Hope's smiles unpoint the thorns of Care" 
 
 as if he had intended to say " Hope smiling;" yet 
 as the passage now stands it has also great pro- 
 priety, and the Poet's conception of the effect of 
 those smiles may have been, that they could blunt 
 the thorns of care. But Clare, as well as many 
 other poets, does not regard language in the same 
 way that a logician does. He considers it collec- 
 tively rather than in detail, and paints up to his mind's 
 original by mingling words, as a painter mixes his 
 colours. And without this method, it would be im- 
 possible to convey to the understanding of the 
 reader an adequate notion of some things, and 
 
 • The irregularity here mentioned was, from the same cause, 
 practised by Sliakspeare. — See Ritson's note, Sliaks. vol, ii. p. 106. 
 Edit, 'il vols. 1813.
 
 XVUl INTRODUCTION. 
 
 especially of the effects of nature, seen under cer- 
 tain influences of time, circumstance, and colour. 
 In Prose these things are never attempted, unless 
 with great circumlocution ; but Poetry is always 
 straining after them concisely, as they increase her 
 power of giving pleasure; and much allowance ought 
 to be made if her efforts in this way are not always 
 successful. Instances of the free grouping of words 
 occur in the Sonnet to the Glow-worm : — 
 
 " Tasteful Illumination of the night ! 
 
 Bright, scatter'd, twinkling star of spangled earth," &c. 
 
 And in the following lines : — 
 
 " Aside the green hill's steepy brow, 
 
 Where shades the oak its darksome bough." 
 
 (p. 81.) 
 
 " So have I mark'd the djing embers light, 
 
 With glimmering glow oft redden up again. 
 And sparks crack'd brightening into life, in vain." 
 
 (p. 149.) 
 
 " Brisk winds the lighten'd branches shake. 
 
 By pattering, plashing drops confess'd ; 
 
 And, where oaks dripping shade the lake, 
 
 Print crimpluig dimples on its breast." 
 
 ^ ^ ^ (p. 146.) 
 
 Examples of the use of Colour may be seen in 
 the Sonnets — ^To the Primrose, p. 1S8, The Gipsy's 
 Evening Blaze, p. 191, A Scene, p. 192, and in the 
 following verse : —
 
 INTRODUCTION. XIX 
 
 " First sunbeam, calling night away. 
 
 To see how sweet tiy summons seems, 
 
 SpKt by the willow's wavy grey, 
 
 And sweetly dancin» on the streams." 
 
 (p. 142.) 
 
 The whole of the Sonnet to the river Gwash is an 
 instance of it, down to the line 
 
 " And moss and ivy speckling on my eye." 
 
 A diy critic would call the former passages re- 
 dundant in epithets ; and the word speckling would 
 excite, perhaps, his spleen in the latter : but ask 
 the question, and you will probably find that this 
 critic himself has no eye for colour, — that the light, 
 and shade, and mezzotint of a landscape, have no 
 charms for him, — that " his eye indeed is open, 
 but its sense is shut;" and then, what dependance 
 can be placed upon his judgment in these matters ? 
 
 Clare, it is evident, is susceptible of extreme 
 pleasure from the varied hues, forms, and combin- 
 ations in nature, and what he most enjoys, he en- 
 deavours to pourtray for the gratification of others. 
 He is most thoroughly the Poet as well as the Child 
 of Nature ; and, according to his opportunities, no 
 poet has more completely devoted himself to her 
 service, studied her more closely, or exhibited so 
 many sketches of her under new and interesting 
 appearances. There is some merit in all this, for
 
 XX INTRODUCTION. 
 
 "Wordsworth asserts, " that, excepting a passage or 
 two in the Windsor Forest of Pope, and some de- 
 lightful pictures in the Poems of Lady Winchelsea, 
 the Poetry of the period intervening between the 
 publication of the Paradise Lost, and the Seasons 
 [60 years], does not contain a single new image 
 of external nature." But Clare has no idea 
 of excelling others in doing this. He loves the 
 fields, the flowers, " the common air, the sun, the 
 skies;" and, therefore, he writes about them. He 
 is happier in the presence of Nature than else- 
 where. He looks as anxiously on her face as 
 if she were a living friend, whom he might lose ; 
 and hence he has learnt to notice every change in 
 her countenance, and to delineate all the delicate 
 varieties of her character. Most of his poems were 
 composed under the immediate impression of this 
 feeling, in the fields, or on the road-sides. He 
 could not trust his memory, and therefore he 
 wrote them down with a pencil on the spot, his 
 hat serving him for a desk ; and if it happened 
 that he had no opportunity soon after of transcrib- 
 ing these imperfect memorials, he could seldom 
 decypher them, or recover his first thoughts. From 
 this circumstance several of his poems are quite 
 lost, and others exist only in fragments. Of those 
 which he had committed to writing, especially his
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXI 
 
 earlier pieces, many Avere destroyed from another 
 circumstance, which shews how httle he expected 
 to please others with them : from a hole in the wall 
 of his room, where he stuffed his manuscripts, a 
 piece of paper was often taken to hold the kettle, 
 or light the fire. 
 
 It is now thirteen years since Clare composed 
 his first poem : in all that time he has gone on 
 secretly cultivating his taste and talent for poetry, 
 without one word of encouragement, or the most 
 distant prospect of reward. That passion must 
 have been originally very strong and pure, which 
 could sustain itself, for so many years, through 
 want, and toil, and hopeless misery. His labour 
 in the fields through all seasons, it might be thought, 
 would have disgusted him with those objects which 
 he so much admired at first; and his taste might 
 have altered with his age : but the foundation of 
 his regard was laid too deeply in truth to be shaken. 
 On the contrary, he found delight in scenes which 
 no other poet has thought of celebrating. " The 
 swampy falls of pasture ground, and rushy spread- 
 ing greens," " plashy streams," and " weed-beds 
 wild and rank," give him as much real transport 
 as common minds feel at what are called the most 
 romantic prospects. And if there were any question 
 as to the intensity or sincerity of his feeling for 
 Poetry and Nature, the commendation of these
 
 XXU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 simple, unthought of, and generally despised objects 
 would decide it. 
 
 Of the poems which form the present collection 
 some few were among Clare's earliest efforts. 
 The Fate of Amy was begun when he was fourteen ; 
 Helpstone, The Gipsy's Evening Blaze, Reflection 
 in Autumn, The Robin, Noon, The Universal 
 Epitaph, and some others, were written before he 
 was seventeen. The rest bear various dates, but 
 the greater number are of recent origin. The 
 Village Funeral was written in 1815; The Address 
 to Plenty, in December 1817 ; The Elegy on the 
 Ruins of Pickworth, in 181 S. To describe the oc- 
 cupations of Clare, we must not say that Labour 
 and the Muse went hand in hand : they rather kept 
 alternate watch, and when Labour was exhausted 
 with fatigue, she " cheer'd his needy toilings with 
 a song." In a note on this poem, Clare says, 
 " The Elegy on the Ruins of Pickworth was 
 written one Sunday morning, after I had been help- 
 ing to dig the hole for a lime-kiln, where the many 
 fragments of mortality and perished ruins inspired 
 me with thoughts of other times, and warmed me 
 into song." 
 
 In the last two years he has written, What is 
 Life? The Fountain, My Mary, To a Rosebud, 
 Effusion to Poesy, The Summer Evening, Sum- 
 mer Morning, First of May, The Dawnings of
 
 INTRODUCTION. Xxiii 
 
 Genius, The Contrast, Dolly's Mistake, Harvest 
 Morning, The Poet's Wish, Crazy Nell, and 
 several other pieces, with almost all the Sonnets. 
 One of the last productions of Clare's fancy is the 
 following Song, which, as it came too late to be in- 
 serted in its proper place in this volume, may as 
 well appear here, where it fitly closes the chronicle 
 of his Poems. 
 
 THE MEETING. 
 
 Here we meet, too soon to part, 
 Here to leave will raise a smart. 
 Here I'll press thee to my heart, 
 
 Where none have place above thee : 
 Here I vow to love thee well. 
 And could words unseal the spell. 
 Had but language strength to tell, 
 
 I'd say how much I love thee. 
 
 Here, the rose that decks thy door. 
 Here, the thorn that spreads thy bow'r. 
 Here, the willow on the moor, 
 
 The birds at rest above thee, 
 Had they light of life to see, 
 Sense of soul like thee and me 
 Soon might each a witness be 
 
 How doatingly I love thee.
 
 XXIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 By the night-sky's purple ether, 
 And by even's sweetest weather. 
 That oft has blest us both together, — 
 
 The moon that shines above thee. 
 And shews thy beauteous cheek so blooming, 
 And by pale age's winter coming, 
 The charms, and casualties of woman, 
 
 I will for ever love thee. 
 
 This song is written nearly in the metre of one by 
 Burns, " O were I on Parnassus' Hill," and the 
 subject is the same, but in the execution they are 
 quite different. Clare has a great delight in try- 
 ing to run races with other men, and unluckily this 
 cannot always be attempted without subjecting him 
 to the charge of imitating ; but he will be found free 
 from this imputation in all the best parts of his 
 poetry, and in the present instance it may be worth 
 while comparing him with his prototype, to see how 
 little he stands in need of such assistance. The 
 propensity to emulate another is a youthful emotion, 
 and in his friendless state it afforded him an obvi- 
 ous, and, perhaps, the only mode of endeavouring 
 to ascertain what kind and degree of ability he pos- 
 sessed as a Poet. 
 
 This song, " The Meeting," was written at 
 Ilelpstone, where Clare is again residing with his
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXV 
 
 parents, working for any one who will employ hira, 
 but without any regular occupation. He had an 
 engagement during the greater part of the year with 
 Mr. AVilders, of Bridge-Casterton, two miles north 
 of Stamford; where the river Gwash, which crosses 
 the road, gave him a subject for one of his Sonnets, 
 (p. 203.) His wages were nine shillings a week, 
 and his food; out of which he had to pay one 
 shilling and sixpence a week for a bed, it being im- 
 possible that he could return every night to Help- 
 stone, a distance of nine miles : but at the beginning 
 of November, his employer proposed to allow him 
 only seven shillings a week, on which he quitted 
 his service and returned home. 
 
 It was an accident which led to the publication 
 of these Poems. In December 1818, Mr. Edward 
 Drurj% Bookseller, of Stamford, met by chance 
 with the Sonnet to the Setting Sun, written on a 
 piece of paper in which a letter had been wrapped 
 up, and signed J. C Having ascertained the name 
 and residence of the writer, he went to Helpstone, 
 where he saw some other poems with which he was 
 much pleased. At his request, Clare made a 
 collection of the pieces he had written, and added 
 some others to them. They were then sent to 
 London, and the publishers selected those which 
 form the present volume. They have been printed 
 
 c
 
 XXvi INTRODUCTION. 
 
 with the usual corrections only of orthography and 
 grammar, in such instances as allowed of its being 
 done without changing the words : the proofs were 
 tlien revised by Clare, and a few alterations were 
 made at his desire. The original MSS. may be seen 
 at Messrs. Taylor and Hessey's. 
 
 The Author and his Poems are now before the 
 public ; and its decision will speedily fix the fate of 
 the one, and, ultimately, that of the other: but 
 whatever be the result to either, this will at least 
 be granted, that no Poet of our country has shewn 
 greater ability, under circumstances so hostile to its 
 developement. And all this is found here without 
 any of those distressing and revolting alloys, which 
 too often debase the native worth of genius, and 
 make him who was gifted with powers to command 
 admiration, live to be the object of contempt or 
 pity. The lower the condition of its possessor, the 
 more unfavourable, generally, has been the effect of 
 genius on his life. That this has not been the case 
 with Clare may, perhaps, be imputed to the abso- 
 lute depression of his fortune. It is certain that he 
 bas not had the opportunity hitherto of being injured 
 by prosperity; and that he may escape in future, it 
 is hoped that those persons who intend to shew 
 him kindness, will not do it suddenly or partially, 
 but so as it will yield him permanent benefit. Yet
 
 INTRODUCTION. XXVll 
 
 when we hear the consciousness of possessing talent, 
 and the natural irritability of the poetic temperament, 
 pleaded in extenuation of the follies and vices 
 of men in high life, let it be accounted no mean 
 praise to such a man as Clare, that, with all the 
 excitements of their sensibility in his station, he has 
 preserved a fair character, amid dangers which pre- 
 sumption did not create, and difficulties which dis- 
 cretion could not avoid. In the real troubles of 
 life, when they are not brought on by the miscon- 
 duct of the individual, a strong mind acquires the 
 power of righting itself after each attack, and this 
 philosophy, not to call it by a better name, Clare 
 possesses. If the expectations of " better life," 
 which he cannot help indulging, should all be dis- 
 appointed, by the coldness with which this volume 
 may be received, he can 
 
 " put up with distress, and be content." 
 
 (p. 4) 
 
 In one of his letters he says, " If my hopes 
 don't succeed, the hazard is not of much conse- 
 quence : if I fall, I am advanced at no great dis- 
 tance from my low condition : if I sink for want of 
 friends, my old friend Necessity is ready to help 
 me, as before. It was never my fortune as yet to 
 meet advancement from friendship: my fate has 
 ever been hard labour among the most vulgar and
 
 XXVIU INTRODUCTION. 
 
 lowest conditions of men; and very small is the 
 pittance hard labour allows nie, though I always 
 toil'd even beyond my strength to obtain it." — To 
 see a man of talent struggling under great adversity 
 with such a spirit, must surely excite in every gene- 
 rous heart the wish to befriend him. But if it be 
 otherwise, and he should be doomed to remediless 
 misery, 
 
 " Why let the stricken deer go weep. 
 
 The hart ungalled play ; 
 For some must watch, while some must sleep, — 
 
 Thus runs the world away."
 
 CONTENTS. 
 
 POEMS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Helpstone 1 
 
 Address to a Lark, singing in Winter 12 
 
 Tlie Fate of Amy.— A Tale 16 
 
 Evening 30 
 
 What is Life? 35 
 
 On a lost Greyhound lying on the Snow 37 
 
 A Reflection in Autumn 41 
 
 The Robin 42 
 
 Kpigram 44 
 
 Address to Plenty, in Winter 45 
 
 The Fountain ^ 59 
 
 To an Insignificant J'lower, obscurely blooming in a lonely 
 
 Wild 62 
 
 Elegy on the Ruins of Pickworth, Rutlandshire. Hastily 
 
 composed, and written with a Pencil on the Spot. ... 65 
 
 Noon 69 
 
 The Village Funeral 73 
 
 Early Rising 79 
 
 My Mary 82 
 
 I'o a I^ose-bud in humble Life 88
 
 XXX CONTENTS. 
 
 Page 
 
 Tlie Universal Epitaph 91 
 
 Familiar Epistle, to a Friend 92 
 
 The Harvest Morning 98 
 
 On Beauty , 103 
 
 On an Infant's Grave 104 
 
 Dolly's Mistake ; or, the Ways of the Wake 103 
 
 On Cruelty Ill 
 
 On the Death of a beautiful young Lady 114 
 
 Falling Leaves 116 
 
 Tlie Contrast of Beauty and Virtue 118 
 
 To an April Daisy 120 
 
 To Hope 122 
 
 An Effusion to Poesy, on receiving a Damp from a genteel 
 Opinionist in Poetry, of some sway, as I am told, in 
 
 the literary World 123 
 
 The Poet's Wish 125 
 
 Summer Evening 1 30 
 
 Summer Morning 1 39 
 
 Dawnings of Genius I47 
 
 To a cold Beauty, insensible of Love 150 
 
 Patty 152 
 
 On Youth 154 
 
 The Adieu j55 
 
 Crazy Nell. — A true Story 208 
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 Upon the Plain. — A Ballad 159 
 
 The Country Girl j 53 
 
 Patty of the Vale 165
 
 CONTENTS. XXXI 
 
 Page 
 
 Sad was the Day 167 
 
 Friend Lubin 169 
 
 To-day the Fox must Die. — A Hunting Song 170 
 
 My last Shilling 173 
 
 Her I Love 176 
 
 My Love, thou art a Nosegay sweet 178 
 
 My Love's like a Lily 179 
 
 True Love 181 
 
 The First of May.— A Ballad 182 
 
 SONNETS. 
 
 The Setting Sun 187 
 
 The Primrose 188 
 
 Christian Faith 189 
 
 The Moon 190 
 
 The Gipsy's Evening Blaze 191 
 
 A Scene J 92 
 
 To the Glow-worm 193 
 
 The Ant 194 
 
 To Hope 195 
 
 A Winter Scene 196 
 
 Evening 197 
 
 To the Winds 198 
 
 Native Scenes 199 
 
 To a favourite Tree 200 
 
 Approach of Spring 201 
 
 Summer 202 
 
 The River Gwash 203
 
 XXXll CONTENTS. 
 
 Pane 
 
 To Religion 204 
 
 Anxiety 205 
 
 Expectation 205 
 
 To my Oaten Reed 207 
 
 Glossary , 217
 
 POEMS.
 
 POEMS. 
 
 HELPSTONE. 
 
 Hail, humble Helpstone ! where thy vallies spread, 
 And thy mean village lifts its lowly head ; 
 Unknown to grandeur, and unknown to fame; 
 No minstrel boasting to advance thy name : 
 Unletter'd spot! unheard in poets' song; 
 Where bustling labour drives the hours along ; 
 Where dawning genius never met the day; 
 Where useless ignorance slumbers life away ; 
 Unknown nor heeded, where, low genius tries 
 Above the vulgar and the vain to rise.
 
 4 HELPSTONE. 
 
 Mysterious Fate ! who can on thee depend ? 
 Thou opes the hour, but hides its doubtful end : 
 In Fancy's view the joys have long appear'd, 
 Where the glad heart by laughing plenty's cheer'd; 
 And Fancy's eyes as oft, as vainly, fill ; 
 At first but doubtful, and as doubtful still. 
 So little birds, in winter's frost and snow, 
 Doom'd, like to me, want's keener frost to know ; 
 Searching for food and " better life," in vain, 
 Each hopeful track the yielding snows retain ; 
 First on the ground each fairy dream pursue. 
 Though sought in vain ; yet bent on higher view. 
 Still chirp, and hope, and wipe each glossy bill ; 
 And undiscourag'd, undishearten'd still, 
 Hop on the snow-cloth'd bough, and chirp again. 
 Heedless of naked shade and frozen plain : 
 Till, like to me, these victims of the blast. 
 Each foolish, fruitless wish resign'd at last. 
 Are glad to seek the place from whence they went 
 And put up with distress, and be content.
 
 HELPSTONE. :> 
 
 Hail, scenes obscure ! so near and dear to me, 
 The church, the brook, the cottage, and the tree : 
 Still shall obscurity rehearse the song, 
 And hum your beauties as I stroll along. 
 Dear, native spot ! which length of time endears ; 
 The sweet retreat of twenty lingering years, 
 And, oh ! those years of infancy the scene ; 
 Those dear delights, where once they all have been ; 
 Those golden days, long vanish'd from the plain ; 
 Those sports, those pastimes, now belov'd in vain ; 
 When happy youths in pleasure's circle ran, 
 Nor thought what pains awaited future man ; 
 No other thought employing, or employ 'd. 
 But how to add to happiness enjoy 'd : 
 Each morning wak'd with hopes before unknown. 
 And eve, possessing, made each wish their own ; 
 The day gone by left no pursuit undone. 
 Nor one vain wish, save that it went too soon ; 
 Each sport, each pastime, ready at their call. 
 As soon as wanted they possess'd them all :
 
 6 HELPSTONE. 
 
 These joys, all known in happy infancy, 
 
 And all I ever knew, were spent in thee. 
 
 And who, but loves to view where these were past ? 
 
 And who that views, but loves them to the last ? 
 
 Feels his heart warm to view his native place, 
 
 A fondness still those past delights to trace ? 
 
 The vanish'd green to mourn, the spot to see 
 
 Where flourish'd many a bush and many a tree ? 
 
 Wliere once the brook, for now the brook is gone, 
 
 O'er pebbles dimpHng sweet went whimpering on ; 
 
 Oft on whose oaken plank I've wondering stood, 
 
 (That led a pathway o'er its gentle flood), 
 
 To see the beetles their wild mazes run, 
 
 With jetty jackets glittering in the sun : 
 
 So apt and ready at their reels they seem. 
 
 So true the dance is figur'd on the stream. 
 
 Such justness, such correctness they impart. 
 
 They seem as ready as if taught by art. 
 
 In those past days, for then I lov'd the shade. 
 
 How oft I've sigh'd at alterations made ;
 
 HELPSTONE. 
 
 To see the woodman's cruel axe employ'cl, 
 A tree beheaded, or a bush destroy'd : 
 Nay e'en a post, old standard, or a stone 
 Moss'd o'er by age, and branded as her own. 
 Would m my mind a strong attachment gain, 
 A fond desire that there they might remain ; 
 And all old favourites, fond taste approves, 
 Griev'd me at heart to witness their removes. 
 
 t 
 
 Thou far tied pasture, long evanish'd scene 
 Where nature's freedom spread the flow'ry green ; 
 AVhere golden kingcups open'd into view ; 
 Where silver daisies in profusion grew ; 
 And, tottering, hid amidst those brighter gems, 
 Where silken grasses bent their tiny stems ; 
 Where the pale lilac, mean and lowly, grew. 
 Courting in vain each gazer's heedless view ; 
 Wliile cowslips, sweetest flowers upon the plain. 
 Seemingly bow'd to shun the hand, in vain :
 
 8 HELPSTONE. 
 
 Wliere lowing oxen roam'd to feed at large. 
 And bleating there the shepherd's woolly charge, 
 Whose constant calls thy echoing vallies cheer'd, 
 Thy scenes adom'd, and rural life endear'd ; 
 No calls of hunger pity's feelings wound, 
 'Twas wanton plenty rais'd the joyful sound : 
 Thy grass in plenty gave the wish'd supply, 
 Ere sultry suns had wak'd the troubling fly ; 
 Then blest retiring, by thy bounty fed, 
 They sought thy shades, and found an easy bed. 
 
 But now, alas ! those scenes exist no more ; 
 The pride of life with thee, like mine, is o'er. 
 Thy pleasing spots to which fond memory clings, 
 Sweet cooling shades, and soft refrpshing springs. 
 And though fate's pleas'd to lay their beauties by 
 In a dark corner of obscurity, 
 As fair and sweet they bloom'd thy plains among. 
 As bloom those Edens by the poets sung ;
 
 HELPSTONE. 
 
 1» 
 
 Now all laid waste by desolation's hand, 
 Whose cursed weapon levels half the land. 
 Oh ! who could see my dear green willows fall, 
 What feeling heart, but dropt a tear for all ? 
 Accursed Wealth ! o'er-bounding human laws. 
 Of every evil thou remain'st the cause. 
 Victims of want, those wretches such as me, 
 Too truly lay their wretchedness to thee : 
 Thou art the bar that keeps from being fed. 
 And thine our loss of labour and of bread ; 
 Thou art the cause that levels every tree. 
 And woods bow down to clear a way for thee. 
 
 Sweet rest and peace ! ye dear, departed charms. 
 Which industry once cherish'd in her arms ; 
 When ease and plenty, known but now to few, 
 Were known to all, and labour had its due ; 
 When mirth and toil, companions through the day, 
 Made labour light, and pass'd the hours away ; 
 
 B 5
 
 10 HELPSTONE. 
 
 When nature made the fields so dear to me, 
 Thin scattering many a bush and many a tree ; 
 Where the wood minstrel sweetly join'd among, 
 And cheer'd my needy toilings with a song ; 
 Ye perish'd spots, adieu ! ye ruin'd scenes. 
 Ye well known pastures, oft frequented greens ! 
 Though now no more, fond Memory's pleasing pains, 
 Within her breast your every scene retains. 
 Scarce did a bush spread its romantic bower, 
 To shield the lazy shepherd from the shower ; 
 Scarce did a tree befriend the chattering pye. 
 By lifting up its head so proud and high ; 
 No, not a secret spot did then remain. 
 Throughout each spreading wood and winding plain, 
 But, in those days, my presence once possess'd, 
 The snail-horn searching, or the mossjf nest. 
 
 Oh, happy Eden of those golden years 
 Which memory cherishes, and use endears,
 
 HELPSTONE. 11 
 
 Thou dear, beloved spot ! may it be thine 
 
 To add a comfort to my life's decline, 
 
 ^VTien this vain world and I have nearly done. 
 
 And Time's drain'd glass has little left to run. 
 
 When all the hopes, that charm'd me once, are o'er, 
 
 To warm my soul in extacy no more. 
 
 By disappointments prov'd a foolish cheat. 
 
 Each endmg bitter, and beginning sweet ; 
 
 When weary age the grave, a rescue, seeks. 
 
 And prints its image on my wrinkled cheeks,— 
 
 Those charms of youth, that I again may see, 
 
 May it be mine to meet my end in thee ; 
 
 And, as reward for all my troubles past. 
 
 Find one hope true — to die at home at last !
 
 12 
 
 ADDRESS TO A LARK, 
 
 SINGING IN WINTER. 
 
 Ay, little Larky ! what's the reason, 
 Singing thus in winter season ? 
 Nothing, surely, can be pleasing 
 
 To make thee sing ; 
 For I see nought but cold and freezing. 
 
 And feel its sting. 
 
 Perhaps, all done with silent mourning. 
 Thou think'st that summer is returning, 
 And this the last, cold, frosty morning. 
 
 To chill thy breast ; 
 If so, I pity thy discerning : 
 
 And so I've guess'd.
 
 ADDRESS TO A LARK. 13 
 
 Poor, little Songster ! vainly cheated ; 
 Stay, leave thy singing uncompleted ; 
 Drop where thou wast beforehand seated, 
 
 In thy warm nest ; 
 Nor let vain wishes be repeated, 
 
 But sit at rest. 
 
 Tis winter ; let the cold content thee : 
 Wish after nothing till its sent thee. 
 For disappointments will torment thee, 
 
 Which will be thine : 
 I know it well, for I've had plenty 
 
 Misfortunes mine. 
 
 Advice, sweet Warbler ! don't despise it : 
 None know what's what, but he that tries it; 
 And then he well knows how to prize it, 
 
 And so do I : 
 Thy case, with mine I sympathise it, 
 
 With many a sigh.
 
 14 ADDRESS TO A LARK. 
 
 Vain Hope ! of tliee I've had my portion ; 
 • Mere flimsy cobweb ! changing ocean ! 
 That flits the scene at every motion. 
 
 And still eggs on, 
 With sweeter view, and stronger notion 
 
 To dwell upon : 
 
 Yes, I've dwelt long on idle fancies, 
 Strange and uncommon as romances. 
 On future luck my noddle dances, 
 
 What I would be ; 
 But, ah ! when future time advances, 
 
 All's blank to me. 
 
 Now twenty years I've pack'd behind me, 
 Since hope's deluding tongue inclin'd me 
 To fuss myself. But, Warbler, mind me. 
 
 It's all a sham ; 
 And twenty more's as like to find me 
 
 Just as I am. 
 
 y
 
 ADDRESS TO A LARK. 15 
 
 I'm poor enough, there's plenty knows it ; 
 Obscure ; how dull, my scribbling shows it : 
 Then sure 'twas madness to suppose it, 
 
 What I was at, 
 To gain preferment ! there I'll close it : 
 
 So mum for that. 
 
 Let mine, sweet Bird, then be a warning : 
 
 Advice in season don't be scorning, 
 
 But wait till Spring's first days are dawning 
 
 To glad and cheer thee ; 
 And then, sweet Minstrel of the morning, 
 
 I'd wish to hear thee.
 
 16 
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 A TALE. 
 
 Beneath a sheltering wood's warm side, 
 
 Where many a tree expands 
 Its branches o'er the neighbouring brook, 
 
 A ruin'd cottage stands : 
 
 Though now left desolate, and lost 
 
 Its origin, and all ; 
 Owls hooting from the roofless walls, 
 
 Rejoicing in its fall ; 
 
 A time was once, remembrance knows. 
 Though now the time's gone by. 
 
 When that was seen to flourish gay. 
 And pleasing to the eye.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY 17 
 
 On that same ground the brambles hide, 
 
 And stinking weeds o'errun, 
 An orchard bent its golden boughs, 
 
 And redden'd in the sun. 
 
 Yon nettles where they're left to spread, 
 
 There once a garden smil'd ; 
 And lovely was the spot to view, 
 
 Though now so lost and wild : 
 
 And where the sickly alder loves 
 
 To top the mouldering wall ; 
 And ivy's kind encroaching care 
 
 Delays the tottering fall ; 
 
 There once a mother's only joy, 
 
 A daughter lovely, fair, 
 As ever bloom'd beneath the sun. 
 
 Was nurs'd and cherish'd there.
 
 18 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 The cottage then was known around ; 
 
 The neighbouring village swains 
 Would often wander by to view 
 
 That charmer of the plains. 
 
 Where softest blush of roses wild. 
 And hawthorn's fairest blow. 
 
 But meanly serve to paint her cheek, 
 And bosom's rival snow ; 
 
 The loveliest blossom of the plains. 
 
 The artless Amy prov'd ; 
 In nature's sweetest charms adorn'd, 
 
 Those charms by all belov'd. 
 
 Sweet Innocence ! the beauty's thine 
 
 That every bosom warms. 
 Fair as she was, she liv'd alone 
 
 A stranger to her charms.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 19 
 
 Unmov'd the praise of swains she heard, 
 
 Nor proud at their despair ; 
 But thought they scoff'd her when they prais'd ; 
 
 And knew not she was fair. 
 
 Nor did she for the joys of youth 
 
 Forsake her mother's side, 
 Who then by age and pain infirm'd, 
 
 On her for help relied. 
 
 No tenderer mother to a child 
 
 Throughout the world could be ; 
 And, in return, no daughter prov'd 
 
 More dutiful than she. 
 
 The pains of age she sympathiz'd. 
 
 And sooth'd, and wish'd to share : 
 In short, the aged, helpless dame 
 
 Was Amy's only care.
 
 20 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 But age had pains, and they were all : 
 Life's cares they little knew ; 
 
 Its billows ne'er encompass'd them. 
 They waded smoothly through. 
 
 The tender father, now no more, 
 Did for them both provide ; 
 
 The wealth his industry had gain'd, 
 All wants to come supplied. 
 
 Kind heaven upon their labours smil'd ; 
 
 Industry gave increase ; 
 The cottage was contentment's own 
 
 Abode of health and peace. 
 
 Alas ! the tongue of Fate is seal'd. 
 
 And kept for ever dumb : 
 To-morrow's met with blinded eyes ; 
 We know not what's to come.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 2 1 
 
 Blithe as the lark, as cricket gay 
 
 That chirrup'd on the hearth, 
 This Sun of Beauty's time was spent 
 
 In inoffensive mirth. 
 
 Meek as the lambs that throng'd her door, 
 
 As innocent as they. 
 Her hours pass'd on, and charms improv'd 
 
 With each succeeding day. 
 
 So, smiling on the sunny plain. 
 
 The lovely daisies blow. 
 Unconscious of the careless foot 
 
 That lays their beauty low. 
 
 So blooms the lily of the vale ; 
 
 (Ye beauties, oh, be wise !) 
 Untimely blasts o'ertake its bloom, 
 
 It withers, and it dies.
 
 2'2 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 The humble cottage lonely stood 
 Far from the neighbouring vill ; 
 
 Its church, that topp'd the willow groves. 
 Lay far upon the hill : 
 
 Which made all company desir'd. 
 
 And welcome to the dame ; 
 And oft to tell the village news, 
 
 The neighbouring gossips came. 
 
 Young Edward mingled with the rest : 
 
 An artful swain was he, 
 Who laugh'd, and told his merry jests ; 
 
 For custom made him free : 
 
 And oft with Amy to^d and play'd, 
 
 While, harmless as the dove, 
 Her artless, unsuspecting heart 
 
 But little thought of love.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 But frequent visits gain'd esteem. 
 Each time of longer stay; 
 
 And custom did his name endear :— 
 He stole her heart away.' 
 
 So fairest flowers adorn the wild ; 
 
 And most endanger'd stand 
 The soonest seen, — a certain prey 
 
 To some destroying hand. 
 
 Her choice was fix'd on him alone ; 
 
 The rest but vainly strove : 
 And worse than all the rest is he ; 
 
 But blind the eyes of love. 
 
 Of him full many a maid complain'd. 
 
 The lover of an hour, 
 That like the ever changing bee, 
 
 Sipp'd sweets from every flower.
 
 34 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 Alas ! those slighted pains are small, 
 
 If all such maidens know ; 
 But she was fair, and he design'd 
 
 To work her further woe. 
 
 Her innocence his bosom fir'd, 
 
 So long'd to be enjoy'd; 
 And he, to gain his wish'd-for ends, 
 
 Each subtle art employ'd. 
 
 Ah ! he employed his subtle arts, 
 
 Alas, too sad to tell ; 
 The winning ways which he employed, 
 
 Succeeded but too well. 
 
 So artless, innocent, and young, 
 
 So ready to believe ; 
 A stranger to the world was she, 
 
 And easy to deceive.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 25 
 
 Ah ! now farewel to beauty's boast, 
 
 Charms so admir'd before ; 
 Now innocence has lost its sweets. 
 
 Her beauties bloom no more. 
 
 The flowers the sultry summer kills. 
 
 Spring's milder suns restore ; 
 But innocence, that fickle charm, 
 
 Blooms once, and blooms no more. 
 
 The swains who lov'd, no more admire. 
 
 Their hearts no beauty warms ; 
 And maidens triumph in her fall, 
 
 That envied once her charms. 
 
 Lost was that sweet simplicity; 
 
 Her eye's bright lustre fled; 
 And o'er her cheeks, where roses bloom'd, 
 
 A sickly paleness spread. 
 
 c
 
 26 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 So fades the flower before its time, 
 Where canker-worms assail ; 
 
 So droops the bud upon its stem. 
 Beneath the sickly gale. 
 
 The mother saw the sudden change, 
 Where health so lately smil'd ; 
 
 Too much — and, oh ! suspecting more, 
 Grew anxious for her child. 
 
 And all the kindness in her power, 
 
 The tender mother shows ; 
 In hopes such kindly means would make 
 
 Her fearless to disclose. 
 
 And oft she hinted, if a crime, 
 Through ignorance beguil'd — 
 
 Not to conceal the crime in fear, 
 For none should wrong her child :
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 27 
 
 Or, if the rose that left her cheek 
 
 Was banish'd by disease, 
 " Fear God, my child ! " she oft would say.. 
 
 " And you may hope for ease." 
 
 And still she pray'd, and still had hopes 
 
 There was no injury done ; 
 And still advis'd the ruin'd girl, 
 
 The world's deceit to shun. 
 
 And many a cautionary tale 
 
 Of hapless maiden's fate, 
 From trusting man, to warn her, told; 
 
 But told, alas ! too late. 
 
 A tender mother's painful cares, 
 
 In vain the loss supply ; 
 The wide-mouth'd world, fts sport and scorn 
 
 Than meet, she'd sooner die.
 
 28 THE FATE OF AMY. 
 
 Advice but aggravated woe ; 
 
 And ease, an empty sound ; 
 No one could ease the pains she felt. 
 
 But he vrho gave the wound. 
 
 And he, wild youth, had left her now, 
 
 Unfeeling as the stone : 
 Fair maids, beware, lest careless ways 
 
 Make Amy's fate your own. 
 
 Ill-fated girl ! too late she found. 
 
 As but too many find, 
 False Edward's love as light as down, 
 
 And vows as fleet as wind. 
 
 But one hope's left, and that she sought. 
 To hide approaching shame ; 
 
 And Pity, while she drops a tear. 
 Forbears the rest to name.
 
 THE FATE OF AMY. 29 
 
 The widow'd mother, though so old, 
 
 And ready to depart, 
 Was not ordain'd to live her time ; 
 
 The sad news broke her heart. 
 
 Borne down beneath a weight of years, 
 
 And all the pains they gave. 
 But little add^ weight requir'd 
 
 To crush her in the grave. 
 
 The strong oak braves the rudest wind ; 
 
 While, to the breeze, as well 
 The sickly, aged willow falls, — 
 
 And so the mother fell. 
 
 Beside the pool the willow bends. 
 
 The dew-bent daisy weeps ; 
 And where the turfy hillock swells, 
 
 The luckless Amy sleeps.
 
 30 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 Now grey-ey'd hazy Eve's begun 
 
 To shed her balmy dew, 
 Insects no longer fear the sun, 
 
 But come in open view. 
 
 Now buzzing, with unwelcome din, 
 The heedless beetle bangs 
 
 Against the cow-boy's dinner tin, 
 That o'er his shoulder hangs. 
 
 And on he keeps in heedless pat. 
 Till, quite enrag'd, the boy 
 
 Pulls off his weather-beaten hat, 
 Resolving to destroy.
 
 EVENING. 
 
 Yet thoughtless that he wiong'd the clown. 
 
 By blows he'll not be driven, 
 But buzzes on, till batter'd down 
 
 For unmeant injury given. 
 
 Now from each hedge-row fearless peep 
 
 The slowly-pacing snails, 
 Betraying their meand'ring creep, 
 
 In silver-slimy trails. 
 
 The dew-worms too in couples start. 
 
 But leave their holes in fear ; 
 For in a moment they will part. 
 
 If aught approaches near. 
 
 The owls mope out, and scouting bats 
 
 Begin their giddy round ; 
 While countless swarms of dancing gnats 
 
 Each water-pudge surround. 
 
 SI
 
 32 EVENING. 
 
 And 'side yon pool, as smooth as glass. 
 
 Reflecting every cloud, 
 Securely hid among the grass, 
 
 The crickets chirrup loud. 
 
 That rural call, " Come mulls! come mulls!" 
 
 From distant pasture grounds, 
 All noises now to silence lulls, 
 
 In soft and ushering sounds ; 
 
 While echoes weak, from hill to hill 
 
 Their dying sounds deplore, 
 That whimper faint and fainter still , 
 
 Till they are heard no more. 
 
 The breezes, once so cool and brief. 
 
 At Eve's approach all died ; 
 N one's left to make the aspen leaf 
 
 Twirl up its hoary side.
 
 EVENING. 33 
 
 But breezes all are useless now ; 
 
 The hazy dun, that spreads 
 Her moist'ning dew on every bough, 
 
 Sufficient coolness sheds. 
 
 The flowers, reviving from the ground, 
 
 Perk up again and peep. 
 While many diflferent tribes around 
 
 Are shutting up to sleep. 
 
 « 
 Now let me, hid in cultur'd plain. 
 
 Pursue my evening walk, 
 
 Where each way beats the nodding grain. 
 
 Aside the narrow baulk ; 
 
 While fairy visions intervene. 
 
 Creating dread surprize, 
 
 From distant objects dimly seen, 
 
 That catch the doubtful eyes. 
 
 C5
 
 34 EVENING, 
 
 And fairies now, no doubt, unseen. 
 
 In silent revels sup ; 
 With dew-drop bumpers toast their queen. 
 
 From crow-flower's golden cup. 
 
 Although about these tiny things 
 
 Folks make so much ado ; 
 I never heed the darksome rings. 
 
 Where they are said to go : 
 
 But superstition still deceives ; 
 
 And fairies still prevail ; 
 While stooping genius e'en believes 
 
 The customary tale. 
 
 Oh, loveliest time ! oh, sweetest hours 
 
 The musing soul can find ! 
 Now, Evening, let thy soothing powers 
 
 At freedom fill the mind.
 
 WHAT IS LIFE? 
 
 And what is Life? — An hour-glass on the run, 
 A mist retreating from the morning sun, 
 
 A busy, bustling, still repeated dream ; 
 Its length? — A minute's pause, a moment's thought ; 
 
 And happiness ? — A bubble on the stream, 
 That in the act of seizing shrinks to nought. 
 
 What are vain Hopes? — The puflSng gale of morn, 
 That of its charms divests the dewy lawn. 
 
 And robs each flow'ret of its gem, — and dies ; 
 A cobweb hiding disappointment's thorn. 
 
 Which stings more keenly through the thin disguise.
 
 36 WHAT IS LIFE. 
 
 And thou, O Trouble ? — nothing can suppose, 
 (And sure the power of wisdom only knows,) 
 
 What need requireth thee : 
 So free and Hberal as thy bounty flows, 
 
 Some necessary cause must surely be : 
 But disappointments, pains, and every woe 
 
 Devoted wretches feel. 
 The universal plagues of life below, 
 
 Are mysteries still 'neath Fate's unbroken seal. 
 
 And what is Death ? is still the cause unfound ? 
 That dark, mysterious name of horrid sound ? — 
 
 A long and lingering sleep, the weary crave. 
 And Peace ? where can its happiness abound ? — 
 
 No where at all, save heaven, and the grave. 
 
 Then what is Life ? — When stripp'd of its disguise, 
 A thing to be desir'd it cannot be ;
 
 WHAT IS LIFE. 
 
 Since every thing that meets our foolish eyes 
 Gives proof suflScient of its vanity. 
 
 Tis but a trial all must undergo ; 
 
 To teach unthankful mortals how to prize 
 
 That happiness vain man's denied to know, 
 Until he's call'd to claim it in the skies. 
 
 ON A LOST GREYHOUND 
 
 LYING ON THE SNOW. 
 
 Ah, thou poor, neglected hound ! 
 
 Now thou'st done with catching hares, 
 Thou raayst lie upon the ground. 
 
 Lost, for what thy master cares.
 
 38 ON A LOST GREYHOUND. 
 
 To see thee lie, it makes me sigh : 
 
 A proud, hard hearted man ! 
 But men, we know, like dogs may go, 
 
 When they've done all they can. 
 
 And thus, from witnessing thy fate, 
 
 Thoughtful reflection wakes ; 
 Though thou'rt a dog, with grief I say't. 
 
 Poor man thy fare partakes : 
 Like thee, lost whelp, the poor man's help, 
 
 Erewhile so much desir'd, 
 Now harvest's got, is wanted not, 
 
 Or little is requir'd. 
 
 So now, the overplus will be 
 
 As useless negroes, all 
 Turn'd in the bitter blast, like thee 
 
 Mere cumber-grounds, to fall :
 
 ON A LOST GREYHOUND. 39 
 
 But this reward, for toil so hard, 
 
 Is sure to meet return 
 From Him, whose ear is always near, 
 
 When the oppressed mourn. 
 
 For dogs, as men, are equally 
 
 A link of Nature's chain, 
 Form'd by that hand that formed me, 
 
 Which formeth nought in vain. 
 All life contains, as 'twere by chains, 
 
 From Him still perfect are ; 
 Nor does He think the meanest link 
 
 Unworthy of His care. 
 
 So let us both on Him rely, 
 
 And He'll for us provide ; 
 Find us a shelter warm and dry, 
 
 And every thing beside.
 
 40 ON A LOST GREYHOUND. 
 
 And while fools, void of sense, deride 
 
 My tenderness to thee ; 
 I'll take thee home, from whence I've come : 
 
 So rise, and gang with me. 
 
 Poor, patient thing ! he seems to hear 
 
 And know what I have said ; 
 He wags his tail, and ventures near. 
 
 And bows his mournful head. 
 Thou'rt welcome : come ! and though thou'rt dumb, 
 
 Thy silence speaks thy pains ; 
 So with me start, to share a part. 
 
 While I have aught remains.
 
 41 
 
 A REFLECTION IN AUTUMN. 
 
 Now Autumn's come, adieu the pleasing greens, 
 The charming landscape, and the flow'ry plain ! 
 
 All have deserted from these motley scenes, 
 With blighted yellow ting d, and russet stain. 
 
 Though desolation seems to triumph here. 
 
 Yet this is Spring to what we still shall find : 
 
 The trees must all in nakedness appear, 
 'Reft of their foliage by the blustiy wind. 
 
 Just so 'twill fare with me in Autumn's Life ; 
 
 Just so I'd wish : but may the trunk and all 
 Die with the leaves ; nor taste that wintry strife, 
 
 When sorrows urge, and fear impedes the fall.
 
 4^ 
 
 THE ROBIN. 
 
 Now the snow hides the ground, little birds leave 
 
 the wood, 
 And fly to the cottage to beg for their food ; 
 While the Robin, domestic, more tame than the rest, 
 With its wings drooping down, and its feathers 
 
 undrest. 
 Comes close to our windows, as much as to say, 
 " I would venture in, if I could find a way : 
 I'm starv'd, and I want to get out of the cold ; 
 Oh ! make me a passage, and think me not bold." 
 Ah, poor little creature ! thy visits reveal 
 Complaints such as these, to the heart that can feel : 
 Nor shall such complainings be urged in. vain; 
 I'll make thee a hole, if I take out a pane.
 
 THE ROBIN. 43 
 
 Come in, and a welcome reception thou'lt find : 
 
 I keep no grimalkin to murder inclin'd. 
 
 But oh, little Robin ! be careful to shun 
 
 That house, where the peasant makes use of a gun ; 
 
 For if thou but taste of the seed he has strew'd, 
 
 Thy life as a ransom must pay for the food : 
 
 His aim is unerring, his heart is as hard ; 
 
 And thy race, though so harmless, he'll never regard. 
 
 Distinction with him, boy, is nothing at all ; 
 
 Both the Wren, and the Robin, with Sparrows must 
 
 fall. 
 For his soul (though he outwardly looks like a man,) 
 Is in nature a wolf of the Apennine clan ; 
 Like them his whole study is bent on his prey : 
 Then be careful, and shun what is meant to betray. 
 Come, come to my cottage ; and thou shalt be free 
 To perch on my ftnger, and sit on my knee : 
 Thou shalt eat of the crumbles of bread to thy fill, 
 And have leisure to clean both thy feathers and bill.
 
 44 THE ROBIN. 
 
 Then come, little Robin ! and never believe 
 Such warm invitations are meant to deceive : 
 In duty I'm bound to show mercy on thee, 
 Since God don't deny it to sinners like me. 
 
 EPIGRAM. 
 
 For fools that would wish to seem learned and 
 wise, 
 This receipt a wise man did bequeath : — 
 " Let 'em have the free use of their ears and their 
 eyes ; 
 " But their tongue," says he, " tie to their teeth."
 
 45 
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY, 
 
 IN WINTER. 
 
 O THOU Bliss ! to riches known. 
 
 Stranger to the poor alone ; 
 
 Giving most where none's requir'd, 
 
 Leaving none where most's desir'd ; 
 
 Who, sworn friend to miser, keeps 
 
 Adding to his useless heaps 
 
 Gifts on gifts profusely stor'd. 
 
 Till thousands swell the mouldy hoard : 
 
 While poor, shatter'd Poverty, 
 
 To advantage seen in me, 
 
 With his rags, his wants, and pain, 
 
 Waking pity but in vain, 
 
 Bowing, cringing at thy side. 
 
 Begs his mite, and is denied.
 
 46 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 O, thou Blessing ! let not me 
 Tell as vain my wants to thee ; 
 Thou, by name of Plenty stil'd. 
 Fortune's heir, her favourite child. 
 'Tis a maxim — hunger feed, 
 Give the needy when they need ; 
 He, whom all profess to serve. 
 The same maxim did observe : 
 Their obedience here, how well. 
 Modern times will plainly tell. 
 Hear my wants, nor deem me bold. 
 Not without occasion told : 
 Hear one wish ; nor fail to give ; 
 Use me well, and bid me live. 
 
 'Tis not great, what I solicit; 
 Was it more, thou couldst not miss it : 
 Now the cutting winter's come, 
 'Tis but just to find a home. 
 In some shelter, dry and warm. 
 That will shield me from the storm.
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 47 
 
 Toiling in the naked fields, 
 Where no bush a shelter yields, 
 Needy Labour dithering stands. 
 Beats and blows his numbing hands ; 
 And upon the crumping snows 
 Stamps, in vain, to warm his toes. 
 Leaves are fled, that once had power 
 To resist a summer shower ; 
 And the wind so piercing blows, 
 Winnowing small the drifting snows. 
 The summer shade of loaded bough 
 Would vainly boast a shelter now : 
 Piercing snows so searching fall, 
 They sift a passage through them all. 
 Though all's vain to keep him warm, 
 Poverty must brave the storm. 
 Friendship none, its aid to lend : 
 Health alone his only friend ; 
 Granting leave to live in pain, 
 Giving strength to toil in vain ;
 
 48 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 To be, while winter's horrors last, 
 The sport of every pelting blast. 
 
 Oh, sad sons of Poverty ! 
 Victims doom'd to misery ; 
 Who can paint what pain prevails 
 O'er that heart which want assails ? 
 Modest Shame the pain conceals : 
 No one knows, but he who feels. 
 Oh, thou charm which Plenty crowns. 
 Fortune ! smile, now Winter frowns : 
 Cast around a pitying eye ; 
 Feed the hungry ere they die. 
 Think, oh ! think upon the poor, 
 Nor against them shut thy door : 
 Freely let thy bounty flow, 
 On the sons of want and woe. 
 
 Hills and dales no more are seen, 
 In their dress of pleasing green ;
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 4i> 
 
 Summer's robes are all thrown by, 
 For the clothing of the sky ; 
 Snows on snows in heaps combine, 
 Hillocks, rais'd as moimtains, shine, 
 And at distance rising proud, 
 Each appears a fleecy cloud. 
 Plenty, now thy gifts bestow ; 
 Exit bid to every woe : 
 Take me in, shut out the blast, 
 Make the doors and windows fast; 
 Place me in some cornei, where. 
 Lolling in an elbow chair, 
 Happy, blest to my desire, 
 I may find a rouzing fire ; 
 While in chimney-corner nigh, 
 Coal, or wood, a fresh supply, 
 Ready stands for laying on, 
 Soon as t'other's burnt and gone. 
 Now and then, as taste decreed, 
 In a book a page I'd read; 
 
 D
 
 50 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 And inquiry to amuse, 
 
 Peep at something in the news ; 
 
 See who's married, and who's dead, 
 
 And who, through bankrupt, beg their bread : 
 
 ^Vliile on hob, or table nigh, 
 
 Just to drink before I'm dry, 
 
 A pitcher at my side should stand. 
 
 With the barrel nigh at hand. 
 
 Always ready as I will'd. 
 
 When 'twas empty, to be fill'd ; 
 
 And, to be possess'd of all, 
 
 A corner cupboard in the wall. 
 
 With store of victuals lin'd complete. 
 
 That when hungry I might eat. 
 
 Then would I in Plenty's lap, 
 
 For the first time take a nap ; 
 
 Falling back in easy lair. 
 
 Sweetly slumb'ring in my chair ; 
 
 With no reflective thoughts to wake 
 
 Pains that cause my heart to ache,
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 51 
 
 Of contracted debts long made,^ 
 In no prospect to be paid ; 
 And, to want, sad news severe, 
 Of provisions getting dear : 
 While the winter, shocking sight, 
 Constant freezes day and night, 
 Deep and deeper falls the snow, 
 Labour's slack, and wages low. 
 These, and more, the poor can tell. 
 Known, alas ! by them too well, 
 Plenty ! oh, if blest by thee, 
 Never more should trouble me. 
 Hours and weeks will sweetly glide, 
 Soft and smooth as flows the tide. 
 Where no stones or choaking grass 
 Force a curve ere it can pass : 
 And as happy, and as blest, 
 As beasts drop them down to rest, 
 When in pastures at their will. 
 They have roam'd and eat their fill ;
 
 5^ ADBRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 Soft as nights in summer creep, 
 
 So should I then fall asleep ; 
 
 "\ThiIe sweet visions of delight, 
 
 So enchanting to the sight, 
 
 Sweetly swimming o'er my eyes, 
 
 Would sink me into extacies. 
 
 Nor would Pleasure's dreams once more. 
 
 As they oft have done before, 
 
 Cause be to create a pain. 
 
 When I woke to find them vain : 
 
 Bitter past, the present sweet. 
 
 Would my happiness complete. 
 
 Oh ! how easy I should lie, 
 
 With the fire up-blazing high, 
 
 (Summer's artificial bloom,) 
 
 That like an oven keeps the room, 
 
 Or lovely May, as mild and warm : 
 
 While, without, the raging storm 
 
 Is roaring in the chimney-top, 
 
 In no likelihood to drop ;
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 53 
 
 And the witchen-branches nigh. 
 O'er my snug box towering high, 
 That sweet shelter'd stands beneath, 
 In convulsive eddies wreathe. 
 Then while, tyrant-like, the storm 
 Takes delight in doing harm, 
 Down before him crushing all. 
 Till his weapons useless fall ; 
 And as in oppression proud. 
 Peal his bowlings long and loud. 
 While the clouds, with horrid sweep, 
 Give (as suits a tyrant's trade) 
 The sun a minute's leave to peep, 
 To smile upon the ruins made ; 
 And to make complete the blast, 
 While the hail comes hard and fast, 
 RattUng loud against the glass ; 
 And the snowy sleets, that pass, 
 Driving up in heaps remain 
 Close adhering to the pane,
 
 54 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 Stop the light, and spread a gloom, 
 Suiting sleep, around the room : — 
 Oh, how blest mid these alarms, 
 I should bask in Fortune's arms, 
 Who defying every frown, 
 Hugs me on her downy breast. 
 Bids my head lie easy down. 
 And on winter's ruins rest. 
 So upon the troubled sea, 
 F.mblfimatin simile. 
 Birds are known to sit secure. 
 While the billows roar and rave, 
 Slumbering in their safety sure, 
 Rock'd to sleep upon the wave. 
 So would I still slumber on, 
 Till hour-telling clocks had gone, 
 And from the contracted day, 
 One or more had click 'd away. 
 Then with sitting wearied out, 
 I for change's sake, no doubt,
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 Just might wish to leave my seat, 
 And to exercise my feet, 
 Make a journey to the door, 
 Put my nose out, but no more ; 
 There to village taste agree, 
 Mark how times are like to be. 
 How the weather's getting on, 
 Peep in ruts where carts have gone, 
 Or, by stones, a sturdy stroke, 
 View the hole the boys have broke : 
 Then, to pause on ills to come, 
 Just look upward on the gloom ; 
 See fresh storms approaching fast, 
 View them busy in the air. 
 Boiling up the brewing blast ; 
 Still fresh horrors scheming there. 
 Black and dismal rising high, . 
 From the north they fright the eye : 
 Pregnant with a thousand storms. 
 Huddled in their icy arms.
 
 56 ADDRESS TO PLENTY, 
 
 Heavy hovering as they come, 
 Some as mountains seem — and some 
 Jagg'd as craggy rocks appear, 
 Dismally advancing near : 
 Fancy, at the cumbrous sight, 
 Chills and shudders with affright. 
 Fearing lest the air, in vain. 
 Strives her station to maintain, 
 And wearied, yielding to the skies, 
 The world beneath in ruin lies. 
 So may fancy think and feign ; 
 Fancy oft imagines vain : 
 Nature's laws by wisdom penn'd. 
 Mortals cannot comprehend ; 
 Power almighty Beii.g gave. 
 Endless Mercy stoops to save ; 
 Causes, hid from mortals' sight, 
 Prove " whatever is, is right." 
 Then to look again below, 
 Labour's former life I'd view,
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 Who, still beating through the snow. 
 Spite of storms their toils pursue, 
 Forc'd out by sad necessity. 
 That sad fiend that forces me. 
 Troubles, then no more my own. 
 Which I but too long had known. 
 Might create a care, a pain ; 
 Then I'd seek my joys again : 
 Pile the fire up, fetch a drink, 
 Then sit down again and think ; 
 Pause on all my sorrows past, 
 Think how many a bitter blast. 
 When it snow'd, and hail'd, and blew, 
 I have toil'd and batter'd through. 
 Then to ease reflective pain, 
 To my sports I'd fall again. 
 Till the clock had counted ten ; 
 When I'd seek my downy bed, 
 Easy, happy, and well fed. 
 
 d3
 
 5S ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 
 
 Then might peep the morn in vain. 
 Through the rimy misted pane ; 
 Then might bawl the restless cock. 
 And the loud-tongued village clock ; 
 And the flail might lump away, 
 Waking soon the dreary day : 
 They should never waken me, 
 Independent, blest, and free ; 
 Nor, as usual, make me start, 
 Yawning sigh with heavy heart. 
 Loth to ope my sleepy eyes, 
 Weary still, in pain to rise, 
 With aching bones and heavy head, 
 Worse than when I went to bed. 
 With nothing then to raise a sigh. 
 Oh how happy should I lie 
 Till the clock was eight, or more. 
 Then proceed as heretofore. 
 Best of blessings ! sweetest charm ! 
 Boon these wishes while they're warm ;
 
 ADDRESS TO PLENTY. 59 
 
 My fairy visions ne'er despise ; 
 As reason thinks, thou realize : 
 Depress'd with want and poverty, 
 I sink, I fall, denied by thee. 
 
 THE FOUNTAIN. 
 
 Her dusky mantle Eve had spread ; 
 The west sky glower'd with copper red ; 
 
 Sun bid " good night," and slove to bed 
 'Hind black cloud's mimick'd mountain ; 
 
 When weary from my toil I sped, 
 To seek the purling fountain.
 
 60 THE FOUNTAIN. 
 
 Labour had gi'en it up for good, 
 
 Save swains their folds that beetling stood. 
 
 While Echo list'ning in the wood. 
 Each knock kept 'stinctly counting ; 
 
 The Moon just peep'd her horned hood. 
 Faint glimmering in the fountain. 
 
 Ye gently dimpled, curling streams, 
 Rilling as smooth as summer dreams, 
 
 111 pair'd to yours life's current seems. 
 When Hope, rude cataracts mounting, 
 
 Bursts cheated into vain extremes, 
 Far from the peaceful fountain. 
 
 I'd just streak'd down, and with a swish 
 Whang'd off my hat soak'd like a fish, 
 
 When 'bove what heart could think or wish- 
 For chance there's no accounting — 
 
 A sweet lass came with wooden dish. 
 And dipt it in the fountain.
 
 THE FOUNTAIN. 61 
 
 I've often found a rural charm 
 
 In pastoral song my heart to warm, 
 
 But, faith, her beauties gave alarm, 
 'Bove all I'd seen surmounting ; 
 
 And when to the spring she stretch'd her arm, 
 My heart chill'd in the fountain. 
 
 Simple, witching, artless maid, 
 So modestly she ofFer'd aid, 
 
 " And will you please to drink ? " she said ; 
 My pulse beat past the counting ; 
 
 Oh ! Innocence such charms display'd, 
 I can't forget the fountain. 
 
 Ere, lonely, home she 'gan proceed, 
 I said — what's secrecy indeed. 
 
 And ofFer'd company as need. 
 The moon was highly mounting ; 
 
 And still her charms — I'd scorn the deed — 
 Were pure as was the fountain.
 
 62 THE FOUNTAIN. 
 
 Ye leaning palms, that seem to look 
 Pleas'd o'er your image in the brook ; 
 
 Ye ashes, harbouring pye and rook. 
 Your shady boughs be mounting ; 
 
 Ye Muses, leave Castalia's nook. 
 And sacred make the fountain. 
 
 TO AN INSIGNIFICANT FLOWER, 
 
 OBSCURELY ELOOMING IN A LONELY WILD. 
 
 And though thou seem'st a weedling wild. 
 Wild and neglected like to me ; 
 
 Thou still art dear to nature's child, 
 And I will stoop to notice thee.
 
 TO AN INSIGNIFICANT FLOWER. 63 
 
 For oft, like thee, in wild retreat, 
 
 Array'd in humble garb like thee, 
 There's many a seeming weed proves sweet, 
 
 As sweet as garden-flowers can be. 
 
 And, like to thee, each seeming weed 
 
 Flowers unregarded, like to thee 
 Without improvement runs to seed, 
 
 Wild and neglected like to me. 
 
 And, like to thee, when beauty's cloth'd 
 
 In lowly raiment, like to thee ; 
 Disdainful pride, by beauty loath'd. 
 
 No beauties there can ever see. 
 
 For, like to thee, my Emma blows, 
 
 A flower like thee I dearly prize ; 
 And, like to thee, her humble clothes 
 
 Hide every charm from prouder eyes.
 
 64 TO AN INSIGNIFICANT FLOWER. 
 
 But though, like thee, a lowly flower, 
 
 If fancied by a polish'd eye. 
 She soon would bloom beyond my power, 
 
 The finest flower beneath the sky. 
 
 And, like to thee, lives many a swain 
 With genius blest ; but, like to thee, 
 
 So humble, lowly, mean, and plain, 
 No one will notice them, or me. 
 
 So, like to thee, they live unknown. 
 
 Wild weeds obscure ; and, like to thee, 
 
 Their sweets are sweet to them alone : 
 The only pleasure known to me. 
 
 Yet when I'm dead, let's hope I have 
 Some friend in store, as I'm to thee. 
 
 That will find out my lowly grave. 
 And heave a sigh to notice me.
 
 65 
 
 ELEGY ON THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH, 
 
 RUTLANDSHIRE. 
 
 liASTlLY COMPOSED, AND WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL ON 
 
 THE SPOT. 
 
 ► 
 
 These buried ruins, now in dust forgot, 
 
 These heaps of stone the only remnants seen, — 
 
 " The Old Foundations" still they call the spot, 
 Which plainly tells inquiry what has been — 
 
 A time was once, though now the nettle grows 
 In triumph o'er each heap that swells the ground, 
 
 When they, in buildings pil'd, a village rose, 
 With here a cot, and there a garden crown'd. 
 
 And here while grandeur, with unequal share, 
 Perhaps maintain'd its idleness and pride. 
 
 Industry's cottage rose contented there, 
 
 With scarce so much as wants of life supplied.
 
 66 ELEGY ON THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH. 
 
 Mysterious cause ! still more mysterious planned, 
 (Although undoubtedly the will of Heaven :) 
 
 To think what careless and unequal hand 
 Metes out each portion that to man is given. 
 
 While vain extravagance, for one alone, 
 
 Claims half the land his grandeur to maintain ; 
 
 What thousands, not a rood to call their own. 
 Like me but labour for support in vain ? 
 
 Here we see Luxury surfeit with excess ; 
 
 There Want, bewailing, beg from door to door ; 
 Still meeting sorrow where he meets success, 
 
 By lengthening life that liv'd in vain before. 
 
 Ye scenes of desolation spread around, 
 
 Prosperity to you did once belong ; 
 And, doubtless, where these brambles claim the 
 
 ground, 
 The glass once flow'd to hail the ranting song.
 
 ELEGY ON THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH. 67 
 
 Tlie ale-house here might stand, each hamlet's boast ; 
 
 And here, where alder rich from ruin grows, 
 The tempting sign — but what was once is lost : 
 
 Who would be proud of what this world bestows ? 
 
 How Contemplation mourns their lost decay. 
 To view their pride laid level with the ground ; 
 
 To see, where labour clears the soil away, 
 What fragments of mortality abound. 
 
 There's not a rood of land demands our toil. 
 There's not a foot of ground we daily tread. 
 
 But gains increase from time's devouring spoil, 
 But holds some fragment of the human dead. 
 
 The very food, which for support we have. 
 Claims for its share an equal portion too ; 
 
 The dust of many a long-forgotten grave 
 
 Serves to manure the soil from whence it grew.
 
 68 ELEGY ON THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH. 
 
 Since first these ruins fell, hoy/ changed the scene ! 
 
 What busy, bustling mortals now unknown. 
 Have come and gone, as though there nought had 
 been. 
 
 Since first Oblivion call'd the spot her own. 
 
 Ye busy, bustling mortals, known before, 
 Of what you've done, where went, or what you see, 
 
 Of what your hopes attain'd to, (now no more,) 
 For everlasting lies a mystery. 
 
 Like yours, awaits for me that common lot; 
 
 'Tis mine to be of every hope bereft : 
 A few more years and I shall be forgot. 
 
 And not a vestige of my memory left.
 
 69 
 
 NOON. 
 
 All how silent and how still, 
 Nothing heard but yonder mill ; 
 While the dazzled eye surveys 
 All around a liquid blaze ; 
 And amid the scorching gleams, 
 If we earnest look, it seems 
 As if crooked bits of glass 
 Seem'd repeatedly to pass. 
 Oh, for a puffing breeze to blow ; 
 But breezes are all strangers now 
 N ot a twig is seen to shake. 
 Nor the smallest bent to quake ; 
 From the river's muddy side, 
 Not a curve is seen to glide; 
 And no longer on the stream, 
 Watching lies the silver bream.
 
 70 NOON, 
 
 Forcing, from repeated springs, 
 " Verges in successive rings." 
 Bees are faint, and cease to hum, 
 Birds are overpower'd and dumb. 
 Rural voices all are mute, 
 Tuneless lie the pipe and flute : 
 Shepherds with their panting sheep, 
 In the swaliest corner creep, 
 And from the tormenting heat 
 All are wishing to retreat. 
 Huddled up in grass and flowers, 
 Mowers wait for cooler hours ; 
 And the cow-boy seeks the sedge. 
 Ramping in the woodland hedge, 
 While his cattle o'er the vales 
 Scamper with uplifted tails ; . 
 Others not so wild and mad, 
 That can better bear the gad, 
 Underneath the hedge-row lujuge. 
 Or, if nigh, in waters plunge.
 
 NOON. 71 
 
 Oh l to see how flovpers are took, 
 
 How it grieves me when K look : 
 
 Ragged-robins, once so pink, 
 
 Now are turn'd as black as ink, 
 
 And the leaves being scorch'd so much, 
 
 Even crumble at the touch ; 
 
 Drowking lies the meadow-sweet. 
 
 Flopping down beneath one's feet : 
 
 While to all the flowers that blow. 
 
 If in open air they grow, 
 
 Th' injurious deed alike is done 
 
 By the hot relentless sun. 
 
 E'en the dew is parched up 
 
 From the teazle's jointed cup : 
 
 O poor birds ! where must ye fly, 
 
 Now your water-pots are dry ? 
 
 If ye stay upon the heath, 
 
 Ye'll be choak'd and clamm'd to death : 
 
 Therefore leave the shadeless goss, 
 
 Seek the spring-head lin'd with moss;
 
 7*2 Noo]y. 
 
 There your little feet may stand. 
 Safely printing on the sand ; 
 While, in full possession, where 
 Purling eddies ripple clear. 
 You with ease and plenty blest, 
 Sip the coolest and the best. 
 Then away ! and wet your throats ; 
 Cheer me with your warbling notes ; 
 'Twill hot noon the more revive ; 
 While I wander to contrive 
 For myself a place as good. 
 In the middle of a wood : 
 There aside some mossy bank, 
 Where the grass in bunches rank 
 Lifts its down on spindles high, 
 Shall be where I'll choose to lie ; 
 Fearless of the things that creep, 
 There I'll think, and there I'll sleep ; 
 Caring not to stir at all, 
 Till the dew begms to fall,
 
 /o 
 
 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 
 
 To yon low church, with solemn sounding knell, 
 Which t'other day, as rigid fate decreed, 
 
 Mournfully knoU'd a widow's passing bell, 
 The village funeral's warned to proceed. 
 
 Mournful indeed ! the orphans' friends are fled : 
 Their father's tender care has long been past; 
 
 The widow's toil was all their hope of bread, 
 And now the grave awaits to seize the last. 
 
 ^ But that providing Power, for ever nigh, 
 The universal friend of all distress, 
 Is sure to hear their supplicating cry, 
 And prove a father to the fatherless.
 
 r\ 
 
 f4 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 
 
 Now from the low, mud cottage on the moor, 
 By two and two sad bend the weeping train ; 
 
 The coffin, ready near the propt-up door, 
 Now slow proceeds along the wayward lane. 
 
 While, as they nearer draw in solemn state. 
 The village neighbours are assembled round ; 
 
 And seem with fond anxiety to wait 
 
 The sad procession in the burial ground. 
 
 Yet every face the face of sorrow wears ; 
 
 And now the solemn scene approaches nigh, 
 Each to make way for the slow march prepares, 
 
 And on the coffin casts a serious eye. 
 
 Now walks the curate through the silent crowd. 
 In snowy surplice loosely banded round ; 
 
 Now meets the corse, and now he reads aloud 
 In mournful tone along the burial ground.
 
 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 7& 
 
 The church they enter, and adown the aisle, 
 Which more than usual wears a solemn hue, 
 
 They rest the coffin on set forms awhile, 
 Till the good priest performs the office due. 
 
 And though by duty aw'd to silence here. 
 The orphans' griefs so piercing force a way ; 
 
 And, oh ! so moving do their griefs appear, 
 The worthy pastor kneels, in tears, to pray. 
 
 The funeral rites perform'd, by custom thought 
 
 A tribute sacred and essential here, 
 Now to the last, last place the body's brought. 
 
 Whence all, dread fate ! are summon'd to appear. 
 
 The church-yard round a mournful view displays, 
 Views where mortality is plainly penu'd-; 
 
 Drear seem the objects which the eye surveys, 
 .As objects pointing to our latter end.
 
 7t» THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 
 
 There the lank nettles sicken ere they seed. 
 Where from old trees eve's cordial vainly falls 
 
 To raise or comfort each dejected w^eed, 
 
 While pattering drops decay the crumbling walls. 
 
 Here stand, far distant from the pomp of pride, 
 Mean little stones, thin scatter'd here and there ; 
 
 By the scant means of Poverty applied. 
 The fond memorial of her friends to bear. 
 
 O Memory ! thou sweet, enliv'ning power. 
 Thou shadow of that fame all hope to find ; 
 
 ITie meanest soul exerts her utmost power. 
 To leave some fragment of a name behind. 
 
 Now crowd the sad spectators round to see 
 The deep sunk grave, whose heap of swelling mold. 
 
 Full of the fragments of mortality. 
 
 Makes the heart shudder while the eyes behold.
 
 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 77 
 
 Aw'd is the mind, by dreaded truths imprest, 
 To think that dust, which they before them see. 
 
 Once liv'd like them : chill Conscience tells the rest, — 
 That, like that dust, themselves must shortly be. 
 
 The gaping grave now claims its destin'd prey, 
 ♦' Ashes to ashes — dust to dust," is given ; 
 
 The parent earth receives her kindred clay, 
 And the soul starts to meet its home in heaven. 
 
 Ah, helpless babes ! now grief in horror shrieks, 
 Now sorrow pauses dumb : each looker-on 
 
 Knows not the urging language which it speaks, — 
 A friend — provider — this world's all — is gone ! 
 
 Envy and malice now have lost their aim, 
 
 Slander's reproachful tongue can rail no more ; 
 
 Her foes now pity where they us'd to blame; 
 The faults and foibles of this life are o'er.
 
 78 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 
 
 The orphans' grief and sorrow, so severe, 
 To every heart in pity's language speak ; 
 
 E'en the rough sexton can't withhold the tear, 
 That steals unnotic'd down his furrow'd cheek. 
 
 Who but is griev'd to see the fatherless 
 Stroll with their rags unnotic'd through the street? 
 
 What eye but moistens at their sad distress, 
 And sheds compassion's tear whene'er they meet? 
 
 Yon workhouse stands as" their asylum now. 
 The place where poverty demands to live ; 
 
 Where parish bounty scowls his scornful brow, 
 And grudges the scant fare he's forc'd to give. 
 
 Oh, may I die before I'm doom'd to seek 
 That last resource of hope, but ill supplied ; 
 
 To claim the humble pittance once a week. 
 Which justice forces from disdainful pride! —
 
 THE VILLAGE FUNERAL. 79 
 
 AVhere the lost orphan, lowly bendhig, weeps, 
 Unnotic'd by the heedless as they pass. 
 
 There the grave closes where a mother sleeps. 
 With brambles platted on the tufted grass. 
 
 EARLY RISING. 
 
 Just at the early peep of dawn, 
 While brushing through the dewy lawn. 
 And viewing all the sweets of morn 
 
 That shine at early rising ; 
 
 Ere the ploughman yok'd his team, 
 Or sun had power to gild the stream. 
 Or woodlarks 'gan their morning hymn 
 
 To hail its early rising ;
 
 80 EARLY RISING. 
 
 With modest look and bashful eye, 
 Artless, innocent, and shy, 
 A lovely maiden pass'd me by. 
 
 And charm'd my early rising. 
 
 Her looks had every power to wound, 
 Her voice had music in the sound, 
 When modestly she turn'd around 
 
 To greet my early rising. 
 
 Good nature forc'd the maid to speak ; 
 And good behaviour, not to seek. 
 Gave sweetness to her rosy cheek, 
 
 Improv'd by early rising. 
 
 While brambles caught her passing by. 
 And her fine leg engag'd my eye. 
 Oh, who could paint confusion's dye. 
 
 The blush of early rising !
 
 EARLY RISING. 
 
 While offering help to climb the stile, 
 A modest look and winning smile 
 (Love beaming in her eyes the while) 
 
 Repaid my early vising. 
 
 Aside the green hill's steepy brow, 
 Where shades the oak its darksome bough, 
 The maiden sat to milk her cow, 
 
 The cause of early rising. 
 
 The wild rose mingling with the shade, 
 
 Stung with envy, clos'd to fade. 
 
 To see the rose her cheeks displayed, 
 
 The fruits of early rising. 
 
 The kiss desir'd — against her will, 
 To take the milk-pail up the hill, — 
 Seem'd from resistance sweeter still : 
 
 Thrice happy early rising I 
 3e 
 
 81
 
 02 EARLY RISING. 
 
 And often since, aside the grove, 
 I've hied to meet the girl I love ; 
 Repeating truths that time shall prove, 
 
 Which past at early rising. 
 
 May it be mine to spend my days 
 
 With her, whose beauty claims my praise ; 
 
 Then joy shall crown my rural lays, 
 
 ■ And bless my early rising. 
 
 MY MARY. 
 
 Who lives where beggars rarely speed, 
 And leads a hum-drum life indeed. 
 As none beside herself would lead ? 
 
 My Mary.
 
 MY MARY. 83 
 
 MTio lives where noises never cease, 
 And what wi' hogs, and ducks, and geese, 
 Can never have a minute's peace ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who, nearly battled to her chin. 
 
 Bangs down the yard through thick and thin. 
 
 Nor picks her road, nor cares a pin ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who, save in Sunday's bib and tuck. 
 
 Goes daily waddling like a duck. 
 
 O'er head and ears in grease and muck ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Unus'd to pattens or to clogs. 
 
 Who takes the swill to serve the hogs. 
 
 And steals the milk for cats and dogs ? 
 
 My Mary.
 
 84 MY MARY. 
 
 Who, frost and snow, as hard as nails. 
 Stands out o' doors, and never fails 
 To wash up things and scour the pails ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who bustles night and day, in short, 
 At all catch jobs of every sort, 
 And gains her mistress' favour for't ? 
 
 ' My Mary. 
 
 And who is oft repaid with praise, 
 In doing what her mistress says. 
 And yielding to her whimray ways ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 For there's none apter, I believe. 
 At " creeping up a mistress' sleeve," 
 Than this low kindred stump of Eve, 
 
 My Mary.
 
 MY MARY. 85 
 
 Who when the baby's all , 
 
 To please its mamma kisses it, 
 
 And vows no rose on earth's so sweet ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 But when her mistress is not nigh, 
 Who swears, and wishes it would die, 
 And pinches it and makes it cry ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Oh, rank deceit ! what soul could think — 
 
 But gently there, revealing ink : 
 
 At faults of thine thy friend must wink, 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who, not without a " spark o' pride," 
 Though strong as grunter's bristly hide, 
 Doth keep her hair in papers tied ? 
 
 My Mary,
 
 86 MY MARY. 
 
 And, mimicking the gentry's way, 
 Who strives to speak as fine as they. 
 And minds but every word they say ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 And who, though's well bid blind to see, 
 As her to tell ye A from B, 
 Thinks herself none o' low degree ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who prates and runs o'er silly stuff, 
 And 'mong the boys makes sport enough. 
 So ugly, silly, droll and rough ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Ugly ! Muse, for shame of thee, 
 What faults art thou a going to see 
 In one, that's 'lotted out to be 
 
 My Mary ?
 
 MY MARY. 
 
 Who low in stature, thick and fat, 
 Turns brown from going without a hat, 
 Though not a pin the worse for that ? 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 Who's laugh'd at too by every whelp, 
 For failings which she cannot help ? 
 But silly fools will laugh and chelp. 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 For though in stature mighty small. 
 And near as thick as thou art tall, 
 The hand made thee, that made us all. 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 And though thy nose hooks down too much, 
 And prophesies thy chin to touch; 
 I'm not so nice to look at such. 
 
 My Mary.
 
 88 MY MARY. 
 
 No, no; about thy nose and chin, 
 Its hooking out, or bending in, 
 I never heed or care a pin, 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 And though thy skin is brown and rough, 
 And form'd by nature hard and tough, 
 All suiteth me ! so that's enough. 
 
 My Mary. 
 
 TO A ROSE-BUD IN HUMBLE LIFE. 
 
 Sweet, uncultivated blossom, 
 Rear'd in spring's refreshing dews, 
 
 Dear to every gazer's bosom. 
 Fair to every eye that views ;
 
 TO A ROSEBUD IN HUMBLE LIFE. 89 
 
 Opening bud, whose youth can charm us, 
 
 Thine be many a happy hour ; 
 Spreading rose, whose beauty warms us. 
 
 Flourish long, my lovely flower ! 
 
 Though pride looks disdainful on thee. 
 
 Scorning scenes so mean as thine, 
 Although fortune frowns upon thee. 
 
 Lovely blossom, ne'er repine ; 
 Health unbought is ever wi' thee. 
 
 What their wealth can never gain ; 
 Innocence doth garments gi'e thee, 
 
 Such as fashion apes in vain. 
 
 When fit time and reason grant thee 
 
 Leave to quit thy parent tree, 
 May some happy hand transplant thee 
 
 To a station suiting thee :
 
 90 TO A ROSEBUD IN HUMBLE LIFE. 
 
 On some lover's worthy bosom, 
 
 May'st thou then thy sweets resign ; 
 
 And may each unfolding blossom 
 Open charms as sweet as thine. 
 
 Till that time, may joys unceasing 
 
 Thy bard's every wish fulfil ; 
 When that's come, may joys increasing 
 
 Make thee blest and happier still : 
 Flourish fair, thou flower of Jessys ; 
 
 Pride of each admiring swain ; 
 Envy of despairing lasses ; 
 
 Queen of Walkherd's lonely plain.
 
 91 
 
 THE UNIVERSAL EPITAPH. 
 
 No flattering praises daub my stone, 
 
 My frailties and my faults to hide ; 
 My faults and failings all are known — 
 
 I liv'd in sin — in sin I died. 
 And oh ! condemn me not, I pray, 
 
 You who my sad confession view ; 
 But ask your soul, if it can say. 
 
 That I'm a viler man than you.
 
 92 
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLE, 
 
 TU A FRIEND. 
 
 " Friendship, peculiar boon of lieav'n, 
 The noblest mind's delight and pride ; 
 To men and angels only giv'n, 
 To all the lower world denied : 
 llij gentle flows of guiltless jojs 
 On fools and villains ne'er descend, 
 In vain for thee the tyrant sighs. 
 And hugs a flatterer for a friend." 
 
 Johnson. 
 
 This morning, just as I awoken, 
 
 A black cloud hung the south unbroken ; 
 
 Thinks I, just now we'll have it soakin' : 
 
 I rightly guess'd. 
 'Faith ! glad were I to see the token, 
 
 I wanted rest.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLE. 9i 
 
 And, 'fex ! a pepp'ring day there's been on't; 
 But cautioa'd right with what I'd seen on't, 
 Keeping at home has kept me clean on't; 
 
 Ye know my creed : 
 Fool-hardy work, I ne'er was keen on't — 
 
 But let's proceed. 
 
 I write to keep from mischief merely, 
 Fire-side comforts 'joying cheerly ; 
 And, brother chip, I love ye dearly. 
 
 Poor as ye be ! 
 With honest heart and soul, sincerely, . 
 
 They're alj to me. 
 
 This scrawl, mark thou the application, 
 Though hardly worth thy observation, 
 Meaneth an humble invitation 
 
 On some day's end : 
 Of all ragg'd-raufl5ns in the nation. 
 
 Thou art the friend.
 
 94 FAMILIAR EPISTLE, 
 
 I've long been aggravated shocking, 
 To see our gentry folks so cocking : 
 But sorrow's often catch'd by mocking, 
 
 The truth I've seen ; 
 Their pride may want a shoe or stocking, 
 
 For like has been. 
 
 Pride's power's not worth a roasted onion 
 I'd's lief be prison mouse wi' Bunyan, 
 As I'd be king of our dominion, 
 
 Or any other. 
 When shuffled through ; it's my opinion, 
 
 One's good as t'other. 
 
 Nor would I gie from otF my cuflf, 
 A single pin for all such stuff : 
 Riches ! rubbish ! a pinch of snufF 
 
 Would dearly buy ye ; 
 Who's got ye, keeps ye, that's enough : 
 
 I don't envy ye.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLE. 95 
 
 If fate's so kind to let's be doing, 
 
 That's — just keep cart on wheels a going ; 
 
 O'er my half-pint I can be crowing. 
 
 As well's another : 
 But when there's this and that stands owing, 
 
 O curse the bother ! 
 
 For had I money, like a many, 
 
 I'd balance, even to a penny. 
 
 Want ! thy confinement makes me scranny : 
 
 That spirit's mine, 
 I'd sooner gi'e than take from any ; 
 
 But worth can't shine. 
 
 O Independence ! oft I bait ye ; 
 How blest I'd be to call ye matey ! 
 Ye fawning, flattering slaves I hate ye : 
 
 ■ Mad, harum-scarum ! 
 If rags and tatters under-rate me. 
 Free still I'll wear 'em.
 
 96 FAMILIAR EPISTLE, 
 
 But hang all sorrows, now I'll bilk 'em ; 
 What's past shall go so : time that shall come. 
 Or bad, or worse, or how it will come, 
 
 I'll ne'er despair ; 
 Poor as I am, friends shall be welcome 
 
 As rich men's are. 
 
 So from my heart, old friend, I'll greet ye : 
 No outside brags shall ever cheat ye ; 
 Wi' what I have, wi' such I'll treat ye, 
 
 Ye may believe me ; 
 I'll shake your rags whene'er I meet ye, 
 
 If ye deceive me. 
 
 So mind ye, friend, what's what, I send it : 
 My letter's plain, and plain I'll end it: 
 Bad's bad enough, but worse won't mend it ; 
 
 So I'll be happy, ® 
 
 And while I've sixpence left I'll spend it 
 
 In cheering nappy.
 
 FAMILIAR EPISTLE. 97 
 
 A hearty health shall crown my story : — 
 Dear, native England ! I adore ye ; 
 Britons, may ye with friends before ye 
 
 Ne'er want a quart. 
 To drink your king and country's glory 
 
 Wi' upright heart ! 
 
 POSTSCRIPT. 
 
 I've oft meant tramping o'er to see ye ; 
 But, d— d old Fortune, (God forgi'e me !) 
 She's so cross-grain'd and forked wi' me. 
 
 Be e'er so willing, 
 With all my jingling powers 'tint i* me 
 
 To scheme a shilling. 
 
 And Poverty, with cursed rigour. 
 Spite of industry's utmost vigour, 
 Dizens me out in such a figure 
 
 I'm sham'd being seen ; 
 'Sides my old shoon, (poor Muse, ye twig her,) 
 
 Wait roads being clean. 
 
 JF
 
 98 FAMILIAR EPISTLE. 
 
 Then here wind-bound till Fate's confeir'd on't, 
 I wait ye, friend ; and take my word on't, 
 I'll, spite of fate, scheme such a hoard on't, 
 
 As we won't lack : 
 So no excuses shall be heard on't. 
 
 Yours, random Jack. 
 
 THE HARVEST MORNING. 
 
 Cocks wake the early morn with many a crow ; 
 Loud striking village clock has counted four ; 
 The labouring rustic hears his restless foe. 
 And weary, of his pains complaining sore, 
 Hobbles to fetch his horses from the moor : 
 Some busy 'gin to team the loaded com 
 Which night throng'd round the barn's becrowded 
 
 door. 
 Such plenteous scenes the farmer's yard adorn. 
 Such noisy, busy toils now mark the harvest morn.
 
 THE HARVEST MORNING. . 99 
 
 The bird-boy's pealing horn is loudly blow'd ; 
 The waggons jostle on with rattling sound; 
 And hogs and geese now throng the dusty road, 
 Grunting and gabbling, in contention, round 
 The barley ears that litter on the ground. 
 What printing traces mark the waggon's way ; 
 What dusty bustling wakens echo round ; 
 How drive the sun's warm beams the mist away ; 
 How labour sweats and toils, and dreads the sultry 
 day! 
 
 His scythe the mower o'er his shoulder leans. 
 And whetting, jars with sharp and tinkling sound. 
 Then sweeps again 'mong corn and crackling beans. 
 And swath by swath flops lengthening o'er the 
 
 ground ; 
 While 'neath some friendly heap, snug shelter'd 
 
 roimd 
 From spoiling sun, lies hid the heart's delight; 
 And hearty soaks oft hand the bottle round.
 
 100 THE HARVEST MORNING. 
 
 Their toils pursuing with redoubled might — 
 Great praise to him be due that brought its birth to 
 light. 
 
 Upon the waggon now, with eager bound, 
 The lusty picker whirls the rustling sheaves ; 
 Or, resting ponderous creaking fork aground. 
 Boastful at once whole shocks of barley heaves : 
 The loading boy revengeful inly grieves 
 To find his unmatch'd strength and power decay ; 
 The barley horn his garments interweaves ; 
 Smarting and sweating 'neath the sultry day, 
 With muttering curses stung, he mauls the heaps 
 away. 
 
 A motley group the clearing field surrounds : 
 Sons of humanity, oh ne'er deny 
 The humble gleaner entrance in your grounds ; 
 Winter's sad cold, and Poverty are nigh. 
 Grudge no I from Providence the scant supply :
 
 THE HARVEST MORNING. 101 
 
 You'll never miss it from your ample store. 
 Who gives denial, — harden'd, hungry hound, — 
 May never blessings crowd his hated door ! 
 But he shall never lack, that giveth to the poor. 
 
 Ah, lovely Emma ! mingling with the rest. 
 Thy beauties blooming in low life unseen, 
 Thy rosy cheeks, thy sweetly swelling breast ; 
 But ill it suits thee in the stubs to glean. 
 O Poverty ! how basely you demean 
 The imprison'd worth your rigid fates confine ; 
 Not fancied charms of an Arcadian queen, 
 So sweet as Emma's real beauties shine : 
 Had Fortune blest, sweet girl, this lot had ne'er 
 been thine. 
 
 The sun's increasing heat now mounted high, 
 Refreshment must recruit exhausted power; 
 The waggon stops, the busy tool's thrown by. 
 And 'neath a shock's enjoy'd the bevering hour.
 
 10'2 THE HARVEST MORNING. 
 
 The bashful maid, sweet health's engaging flower, 
 Lingering behind, o'er rake still blushing bends; 
 And when to take the horn fond swains implore, 
 With feign'd excuses its dislike pretends. 
 So pass the bevering hours, so harvest morning ends. 
 
 O rural life ! what charms thy meanness hide; 
 What sweet descriptions bards disdain to sing ; 
 What loves, what graces on thy plains abide : 
 Oh, could I soar me on the Muse's wing, 
 What rifled charms should my researches bring ! 
 Pleas'd would I wander where these charms 
 
 reside ; 
 Of rural sports and beauties would I sing ; 
 Those beauties. Wealth, which you in vain deride, 
 Beauties of richest bloom, superior to your pride.
 
 103 
 
 ON BEAUTY. 
 
 Beauty, how changing and how frail ! 
 
 As skies in April showers, 
 Or as the summer's minute-gales, 
 
 Or as the morning flowers. 
 
 As April skies, so beauty shades ; 
 
 As summer gales, so beauty flies; 
 As morning flower at evening fades, 
 
 So beauty's tender blossom dies.
 
 104 
 
 ON AN INFANT'S GRAVE. 
 
 Beneath the sod where smiling creep 
 
 The daisies into view, 
 The ashes of an infant sleep, 
 
 Whose soul's as smiling too ; 
 Ah ! doubly happy, doubly blest, 
 
 (Had I so happy been ! ) 
 Recall'd to heaven's eternal rest. 
 
 Ere it knew how to sin. 
 
 Thrice happy infant ! great the bliss 
 
 Alone reserv'd for thee ; 
 Such joy 'twas my sad fate to miss. 
 
 And thy good luck to see ;
 
 ON AN infant's GRAVE 105 
 
 For oh ! when all must rise again, 
 
 And sentence then shall have. 
 What crowds will wish with me, in vain, 
 
 They'd fiU'd an infant's grave. 
 
 DOLLY'S MISTAKE; 
 
 OR, THE WAYS OF THE WAKE. 
 
 Ere the sun o'er the hills, round and red, 'gan a 
 peeping. 
 
 To beckon the chaps to their ploughs. 
 Too thinking and restless aH night to be sleeping, 
 
 1 brush'd off to milking my cows ; 
 To get my jobs forward, and eager preparing 
 
 To be off in time to the wake. 
 Where yielding so freely a kiss for a fairing, 
 
 I made a most shocking mistake. 
 
 f3
 
 106 dolly's mistake. 
 
 Young Ralph met me early, and off we were steering-, 
 
 I cuddled me close to his side ; 
 The neighbours, while passing, my fondness kept 
 jeering, 
 
 " Young Ralph's timely suited !" they cried. 
 But he bid me mind not their evil pretensions, 
 
 " Fools mun," says he, " talk for talk's sake;" 
 And, kissing me, " Doll, if you've any 'prehensions, 
 
 " Let me tell you, my wench, you mistake." 
 
 My cows when we pass'd them kept booing and 
 mooing. 
 In truth, but they made me to stare ; 
 As much as to say, " Well, now, Dolly, you're going, 
 
 Mind how you get on at the fair." 
 While bidden " good speed" from each gazing be- 
 holder, 
 " Good journey away to the wake," 
 The mowers stopp'd whetting, to look o'er tj.eir 
 shoulder. 
 Saying, " Dolly, don't make a mistake."
 
 dolly's mistake. 107 
 
 I couldn't but mind the fine morning so charming. 
 
 The dew-drops they glitter' d like glass ; 
 And all o'er the meads were the buttercups swarm- 
 
 ing* 
 
 Like so many suns in the grass : 
 I thought as we pass'd them, if such a thing could 
 be. 
 
 What a fine string of beads they would make ; 
 But when I could think of such nonsense, it would be 
 
 Because I had made no mistake. 
 
 So on his arm hanging, with stories beguiling. 
 
 Of what he would buy me when there, 
 The road cutting short with his kissing and smiling, 
 
 He 'veigl'd me off to the fair : 
 Such presents he profi'er'd before I could claim 'em, 
 
 To keep while I liv'd for his sake. 
 And what I lik'd best, o'er and o'er begg'd me name 
 'em, 
 
 That he mightn't go make a mistake.
 
 108 dolly's mistake. 
 
 And, lud, what a crushing and crowding were wi' 
 'em, 
 
 What noises are heard at a fair ; 
 Here some sell so cheap, as they'd even go gi' 'em, 
 
 If conscience would take, they declare : 
 Some so good, 'tis e'en worth more than money to 
 buy 'em. 
 
 Fine gingerbread nuts and plum-cake ; 
 For truth they bid Ralph, ere he treated me, try 'em, 
 
 And then thei-e could be no mistake. 
 
 A sly Merry Andrew was making his speeches. 
 
 With chaps and girls round him a swarm, 
 And, " Mind," said he, fleering, " ye chubby-fac'd 
 witches. 
 
 Your fairings don't do you some harm." 
 The hay-cocks he nam'd, in the meads passing by 'em. 
 
 When weary we came from the wake. 
 So soft, so inviting, for rest we mun try 'em ; 
 
 What a fool should I be to mistake.
 
 DOLLY S MISTAKE. 109 
 
 But promis'd so faithful, behaviour so clever, 
 
 Such gifts as Ralph cramm'd in my hand, 
 How could I distrust of his goodness ? O never ! 
 
 And who could his goodness withstand ? 
 His ribbons, his fairings, past counting, or nearly. 
 
 Some return when he press'd me to make. 
 Good manners mun give, while he lov'd me so 
 dearly : 
 
 Ah ! where could I see the mistake ? 
 
 'Till dark night he kept me, with fussing and lying. 
 
 How he'd see me safe home to my cot ; 
 Poor maiden, so easy, so free in complying, 
 
 I the showman's good caution forgot : 
 All bye-ways he led me, 'twas vain to dispute it, 
 
 The moon blush'd for shame, naughty rake ! 
 Behind a cloud sneaking — but darkness well 
 suited 
 
 His baseness, who caus'd the mistake.
 
 no DOLLY S MISTAKE. 
 
 In vain do I beg him to wed and have done wi't, 
 
 So fair as he promis'd we should ; 
 We cou'dn't do worse than as how we've begun wi't. 
 
 Let matters turn out as they would : 
 But he's always a talking 'bout wedding expenses. 
 
 And the wages he's gotten to take ; 
 Too plain can I see through his evil pretences. 
 
 Too late I find out the mistake. 
 
 Oh, what mun I do with my mother reprovin'. 
 
 Since she will do nothing but chide ? 
 For when old transgressors have been in the oven, 
 
 They know where the young ones may hide. 
 In vain I seek pity with plaints and despairings, 
 
 Always ding'd on the nose with the wake : 
 Young maidens ! be cautious who give you your 
 fairings ; 
 
 Ye see what attends a mistake.
 
 Ill 
 
 ON CRUELTY. 
 
 Compassion sighs, and feels, and weeps, 
 
 Retracing every pain 
 Inhuman man, in vengeance, heaps 
 
 On all the lower train. 
 
 Ah, Pity ! oft thy heart has bled. 
 
 As galling now it bleeds ; 
 And tender tears thy eyes have shed 
 
 To witness cruel deeds. 
 
 The lash that weal'd poor Dobbin's hide, 
 The strokes that cracking fall 
 
 On dogs, dumb cringing by thy side — 
 Ah! thou hast felt them all.
 
 112 ON CRUELTY. 
 
 The burthen'd asses, 'mid the laugh 
 To see them whipp'd, would move 
 
 Thy soul to breathe in their behalf 
 Humanity and love. 
 
 E'en 'plaining flies to thee have spoke, 
 
 Poor trifles as they be ; 
 And oft the spider's web thou'st broke, 
 
 To set the captive free. 
 
 The pilfering mouse, entrapp'd and cag'd 
 
 Within the wiry grate, 
 Thy pleading powers has oft engag'd 
 
 To mourn its rigid fate. 
 
 How beat thy breast with conscious woes, 
 
 To see the sparrows die : 
 Poor little thieves of many foes, 
 
 Their food they dearly buy.
 
 ON CRUELTY. H3 
 
 Where nature groans, where nature cries 
 
 Beneath the butcher's knife, 
 How vain, how many were thy sighs. 
 
 To save such guiltless life. 
 
 And ah ! that most inhuman plan. 
 
 Where reason's name's ador'd, 
 Unfriendly treatment — man to man — 
 
 Thy tears have oft deplor'd. 
 
 Nor wise, nor good shall e'er deride 
 
 The tear in Pity's eye; 
 Though laugh'd to scorn by senseless pride, 
 
 From them it meets a sigh.
 
 114 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF A BEATJTIFTTL 
 YOUNG LADY. 
 
 Ye meaner beauties cease your pride, 
 Where borrow'd charms adorn ; 
 
 Here nature aid of art defied, 
 And blossom'd all its own. 
 
 The rose your paint but idly feigns, 
 Bloom'd nature's brightest dyes ; 
 
 The gems your wealthy pride sustains, 
 Were natives of her eyes. 
 
 • 
 
 But what avails superior charms * 
 
 To boast of when in power. 
 
 Since, subject to a thousand harms, 
 They perish like a flower.
 
 ON THE DEATH OF A YOUNG LADY. 115 
 
 Alas ! we've nought to boast of here, 
 
 And less to make us proud ; 
 The brightest sun but rises clear 
 
 To set behind a cloud. 
 
 Those charms which every heart subdue, 
 
 Must all their powers resign ; 
 Those eyes, like suns, too bright to view, 
 
 Have now forgot to shine. 
 
 Her beauties so untimely fell, 
 
 AVliat mortal would be proud ? 
 The day return'd, and found her well, 
 
 But left her in her shroud. 
 
 To day the blossom buds and blooms. 
 
 But who a day can trust ? 
 Since the to-morrow, when it comes. 
 
 Condemns it to the dust.
 
 116 
 
 FALLING LEAVES. 
 
 Hail, falling leaves! that patter round, 
 
 Admonishers and friends ; 
 jReflection wakens at the sound — 
 
 So, Life, thy pleasure ends. 
 
 How frail the bloom, how short the stay, 
 
 That terminates us all ! 
 To day we flourish green and gay, 
 
 Like leaves to-morrow fall. 
 
 Alas ! how short is fourscore years, 
 Life's utmost stretch, — a span ; 
 
 And shorter still, when past, appears 
 The vain, vain life of man.
 
 FALLING LEAVES. 117 
 
 These falling leaves once flaunted high, 
 
 O pride ! how vain to trust : 
 Now wither'd on the ground they lie, 
 
 And mingled with the dust. 
 
 So death serves all — and wealth and pride 
 
 Must all their pomp resign ; 
 E'en kings shall lay their crowns aside, 
 
 To mix their dust with mine. 
 
 The leaves, how once they cloth' d the trees, 
 
 None's left behind to tell ; 
 The branch is naked to the breeze ; 
 
 We know not whence they fell. 
 
 A few more years, and I the same 
 
 As they are now, shall be, 
 With nothing left to tell my name. 
 
 Or answer, " Who was he?"
 
 1 1 8 FALLING LEAVES. 
 
 Green turf's allow'd forgotten heap 
 
 Is all that I shall have. 
 Save that the little daisies creep 
 
 To deck my humble grave. 
 
 THE CONTRAST OF BEAUTY AND 
 VIRTUE. 
 
 " Beauty's a transitory joy, 
 
 " But Virtue's sweets shall never cloy." 
 
 As o'er the gay pasture went rocking a clown, 
 A gay, gaudy butter-cup's gold-fringed gown 
 
 Engag'd his attention, as passing her by ; 
 And rudely to gain her he stooped adovvii, 
 
 Its beauty so dazzled his eye.
 
 THE CONTRAST, 119 
 
 By outside appearance the senseless are caught. 
 But Beauty's gay triumph is foolish and short ; 
 
 With nothing to gain the attention beside, 
 Possession soon sickens — and fleet as a thought, 
 
 Beauty slips us forgotten aside. 
 
 As snifting and snufting the clodhopper goes, 
 And finding no sweetness for charming his nose, 
 
 Frail Beauty's delusion soon wearied his eye ; 
 And away the gay flowret he heedlessly throws, 
 
 To wither unnotic'd, and die. 
 
 Ye young, giddy wenches ! gay butter-cups ! mind, 
 So tempting your dresses, your nature so kind. 
 
 Virgin beauty once tasted, no longer endures ; 
 The charm that should please us, fair Virtue, re- 
 signed, 
 
 A butter-cup's fortune is yours.
 
 120 THE CONTRAST. 
 
 Let modesty's sweetness your blossoms adorn, 
 Be Virtue your guard, as the rose has her thorn; 
 
 Then as chemists the sweets of the roses secure, — 
 When Beauty's no more, still to please is your own, 
 
 For Virtue's charms ever endure. 
 
 TO AN APRIL DAISY. 
 
 Welcome, old comrade ! peeping once again : 
 Our meeting 'minds me of a pleasant hour : 
 
 Spring's pencil pinks thee in that blushy stain, 
 And Summer glistens in thy tinty flower. 
 
 Hail, beauty's gem ! disdaining time nor place ; 
 
 Carelessly creeping on the dunghill's side ; 
 Demeanour's softness in thy crimpled face 
 
 Decks thee in beauties unattain'd by pride.
 
 TO AN APRIL DAISY. 121 
 
 Hail, Venturer ! once again that fearless here 
 Encampeth on the hoar hill's sunny side ; 
 
 Spring's early messenger ! thou'rt doubly dear; 
 And winter's frost by thee is well supplied. 
 
 Now winter's frowns shall cease their pelting rage, 
 But winter's woes I need not tell to thee ; 
 
 Far better luck thy visits well presage. 
 And be it thine and mine that luck to see. 
 
 Ah, may thy smiles confirm the hopes they tell ; 
 
 To see thee frost- bit I'd be griev'd at heart ; 
 I meet thee happy, and I wish thee well. 
 
 Till ripening summer summons us to part. 
 
 Then like old mates, or two who've neighbours been. 
 We'll part, in hopes to meet :>ther year; 
 
 And o'er thy exit from this changing scene. 
 We'll mix our wishes in a tokening tear. 
 
 G
 
 n'z 
 
 TO HOPE. 
 
 Come, flattering Hope ! now woes distress me, 
 
 Thy flattery I desire again ; 
 Again rely on thee to bless me, 
 
 To find thy vainness doubly vain. 
 
 Though disappointments vex and fetter, 
 And jeering whisper thou art vain ; 
 
 Still must I rest on thee for better, 
 Still hope — and be deceiv'd again. 
 
 I can't but listen to thy prattle ; 
 
 I still must hug thee to my breast : 
 Like weaning child that's lost its rattle, 
 
 Without my toy 1 cannot rest.
 
 123 
 
 AN EFFUSION TO POESY, 
 
 ON RECEIVING A DAMP FROM A GENTEEL OPINIONIST IN 
 
 POETRY, OF SOME SWAY, AS I AM TOLD, IN 
 
 THE LITERARY WORLD. 
 
 Despis'd, unskiU'd, or how I will, 
 
 Sweet Poesy ! I'll love thee still ; 
 
 Vain (cheering comfort ! ) though I be, 
 
 t still must love thee, Poesy. 
 
 A poor, rude clown, and what of that ? 
 
 I cannot help the will of fate, 
 
 A lowly clown although I be ; 
 
 Nor can I help it loving thee. 
 
 Still must I love thee, sweetest charm! 
 
 Still must my soul in raptures warm ; 
 
 Still must my rudeness pluck the flower, 
 
 That's plucked in an evil hour,
 
 124 AN EFFUSION TO POESY. 
 
 While Learning scowls her scornful brow, 
 And damps my soul — I know not how. 
 Labour ! 'cause thou'rt mean and poor, 
 Learning spurns thee from her door ; 
 But despise me as she will, 
 Poesy ! I love thee still. 
 When on pillow'd thorns I weep, 
 And vainly stretch me down to sleep ; 
 Then, thou charm from heav'n above, 
 Comfort's cordial dost thou prove : 
 Then, engaging Poesy ! 
 Then how sweet to talk with thee. 
 And be despis'd, or how I will, 
 1 cannot help but love thee still. 
 Endearing charm ! vain though I be, 
 I still must love thee, Poesy. 
 Still must I ! ay, I can't refrain : 
 Damp'd, despis'd, or scornd again, 
 With vain, unhallowed liberty 
 Still must 1 sing thee, Poesy.
 
 AN EFFUSION TO POESY. 125 
 
 And poor, and vain, and press'd beneath 
 Oppression's scorn although I be, 
 Still will I bind my simple wreath, 
 Still will I love thee, Poesy. 
 
 THE POET'S WISH. 
 
 A WISH will rise in every breast, 
 
 For something more than what's possess'd ; 
 
 Some trifle still, or more or less, 
 
 To make complete one's happiness. 
 
 And, faith ! a wish will oft incline 
 
 To harbour in this breast of mine ; 
 
 And oft old Fortune hears my case, 
 
 Told plain as nose upon her face. 
 
 But vainly do we beggars plead. 
 
 Although not ask'd before we need :
 
 l<26 THE POET S WISH. 
 
 i Old Fortune, like sly Farmer Dapple, 
 
 { ^Vhere there's an orchard flings her apple ; 
 
 i 
 
 I But where there's no return to make ye, 
 She turns her nose up, " Deuce may take ye." 
 So rich men get their wealth at will, 
 And beggars — why, they're beggars still. 
 
 But 'tis not thoughts of being rich 
 That make my wishing spirit itch ; 
 'Tis just an independent fate. 
 Betwixt the little and the great ; 
 No out-o'-the-way nor random wish; 
 No ladle crav'd for silver dish : 
 'Tis but a comfortable seat. 
 While without work both ends would meet. 
 'TIS just get hand to mouth with ease, 
 And read, and study as I please : 
 A little garret, warm and high. 
 As loves the Muse sublime to fly.
 
 THE poet's wish. 1^7 
 
 With all my friends encircled round 
 In golden letters, richly bound ; 
 Dear English poets ! luckless fellows, 
 As born to such, so fate will tell us ; 
 Might I their flow'ry themes peruse, 
 And be as happy in my Muse, 
 Like them sublimely high to soar, 
 Without their fate — so cursed poor ! 
 While one snug room, not over small, 
 Contain'd my necessary all ; 
 And night and day left me secure 
 'Mong books, my chiefest furniture ; 
 With littering papers, many a bit 
 Scrawl'd by the Muse in fancied fit. 
 And curse upon that routing jade, 
 My territories to invade, 
 Who finds me out in evil hour. 
 To brush, and clean, and scrub, and scour ; 
 And with a dreaded brush or broom 
 Disturbs my learned lumber-room.
 
 ^28 THE poet's WISH. 
 
 Such busy things I hate to see, 
 Such troublers ne'er shall trouble me : 
 Let dust keep gathering on the ground, 
 And roping cobwebs dangle round ; 
 Let spiders weave their webs at will ; 
 Would cash, when wanted, pockets till. 
 To pint it just at my desire, 
 My drooping Muse with ale inspire. 
 And fetch at least a roll of bread. 
 Without a debt to run or dread. 
 Such comforts, would they were but mine, 
 To something more I'd ne'er incline : 
 But happiest then of happy clowns, 
 
 I'd sing all cares away ; 
 And pitying moaarchs capp'd with crowns, 
 
 I'd see more joys than they. 
 
 Thus wish'd a bard, whom fortune scorns. 
 To find a rose among the thorns ;
 
 THE poet's wish. 129 
 
 And musing o'er each heavy care. 
 His pen stuck useless in his hair. 
 His muse was dampt, nor fir'd his soul, 
 And still unearn'd his penny roll ; 
 Th' unfinish'd labours of his head 
 Were listless on the table spread ; 
 When lo ! to bid him hope no more, 
 A rap — an earthquake ! jars the door ; 
 His heart drops in his shoes with doubt : 
 " What fiend has found my lodging out?" 
 Poor trembling tenants of the quill ! — 
 " Here, sir, I bring my master's bill." — 
 He heav'd a sigh, and scratch'd his head, 
 And credit's mouth with promise fed : 
 Then sat in terror down again, 
 Invok'd the Muse, and scrigg'd a strain ; 
 A trifling something glad to get, 
 To earn a dinner, and discharge the debt. 
 
 gs
 
 130 
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 
 
 The sinking sun is taking leave, 
 
 And sweetly gilds the edge of Eve, 
 
 While huddling clouds of purple dye, 
 
 Gloomy hang the western sky. 
 
 Crows crowd croaking over head, 
 
 Hastening to the woods to bed. 
 
 Cooing sits the lonely dove. 
 
 Calling home her absent love. 
 
 With '* Kirchup! kirchup !" 'mong the wheats. 
 
 Partridge distant partridge greets ; 
 
 Beckoning hints to those that roam, 
 
 That guide the squander'd covey home. 
 
 Swallows check their winding flight. 
 
 And twittering on the chimney light.
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 131 
 
 Round the pond the martins flirt. 
 Their snowy breasts bedaub'd with dirt, 
 While the mason, 'neath the slates, 
 Each moitar-bearing bird awaits : 
 By art untaught, each labouring spouse 
 Curious daubs his hanging house. 
 Bats flit by in hood and cowl ; 
 Through the barn-hole pops the owl ; 
 From the hedge, in drowsy hum, 
 Heedless buzzing beetles bum, 
 Haunting every bushy place, 
 Flopping in the labourer's face. 
 Now the snail hath made his ring ; 
 And the moth with snowy wing 
 Circles round in winding whirls, 
 Through sweet evening's sprinkled pearls, 
 On each nodding rush besprent; 
 Dancing on from bent to bent : 
 Now to downy grasses clung, 
 Resting for a while he's hung ;
 
 132 SUMMER EVENING. 
 
 Then, to ferry o'er the stream. 
 Vanishing as flies a dream ; 
 Playful still his hours to keep, 
 Till his time has come to sleep ; 
 In tall grass, by fountain head, 
 Weary then he drops to bed. 
 From the hay-cock's moisten'd heaps, 
 Startled frogs take vaunting leaps; 
 And along the shaven mead, 
 Jumping travellers, they proceed : 
 Quick the dewy grass divides. 
 Moistening sweet their speckled sides ; 
 From the grass or flowret's cup, 
 Quick the dew-drop bounces up. 
 Now the blue fog creeps along. 
 And the bird's forgot his song : 
 Flowers now sleep within their hoods ; 
 Daisies button into buds ; 
 From soiling dew the butter-cup 
 Shuts his golden jewels up ;
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 133 
 
 And the rose and woodbine they 
 Wait again the smiles of day. 
 'Neath the willow's wavy boughs, 
 Dolly, singing, milks her cows ; 
 While the brook, as bubbling by. 
 Joins in murmuring melody. 
 Dick and Dob, with jostling joll. 
 Homeward drag the rumbling roll ; 
 Whilom Ralph, for Doll to wait, 
 Lolls him o'er the pasture gate. 
 Swains to fold their sheep begin ; 
 Dogs loud barking drive them in. 
 Hedgers now along the road 
 Homeward bend beneath their load ; 
 And from the long funow'd seams, 
 Ploughmen loose their weary teams : 
 Ball, with urging lashes weal'd. 
 Still so slow to drive a-field. 
 Eager blundering from the plough. 
 Wants no whip to drive him now ;
 
 134 SUMMER EVENING 
 
 At the stable-door he stands, 
 Looking round for friendly hands 
 To loose the door its fast'ning pin, 
 And let him with his corn begin. 
 Round the yard, a thousand ways, 
 Beasts in expectation gaze. 
 Catching at the loads of hay 
 Passing fodd'rers tug away. 
 Hogs with grumbling, deaf'ning noise. 
 Bother round the server boys ; 
 And, far and near, the motley group 
 Anxious claim their suppering-up. 
 From the rest, a blest release. 
 Gabbling home, the quarreling geese 
 Seek their warm straw-litter'd shed. 
 And, waddling, prate away to bed. 
 'Nighted by unseen delay. 
 Poking hens, that lose their way, 
 On the hovel's rafters rise, 
 Slumbering there, the fox's prize.
 
 i 
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 135 
 
 Now the cat has ta'en her seat. 
 With her tail curl'd round her feet ; 
 Patiently she sits to watch 
 Sparrows fighting on the thatch. 
 Now Doll brings th' expected pails, 
 And dogs begin to wag their tails ; 
 With strokes and pats they're welcom'd in. 
 And they with looking wants begin : 
 *) Slove in the milk-pail brimming o'er, 
 She pops their dish behind the door. 
 Prone to mischief boys are met, 
 'Neath the eaves the ladder's set, 
 Sly they climb in softest tread, 
 To catch the sparrow on his bed ; 
 Massacred, O cruel pride ! 
 Dash'd against the ladder's side. 
 Curst barbarians ! pass me by ; 
 Come not, Turks, my cottage nigh ; 
 Sure my sparrows are my own. 
 Let ye then my birds alone.
 
 136 SUMMER EVENING. 
 
 Come, poor birds ! from foes severe 
 Fearless come, you're vv^elcome here ; 
 My heart yearns at fate like yours, 
 A sparrow's life's as sweet as ours. 
 Hardy clowns ! grudge not the wheat 
 Which hunger forces birds to eat : 
 Your blinded eyes, worst foes to you, 
 Can't see the good which sparrows do. 
 Did not poor birds with watching rounds 
 Pick up the insects from your grounds. 
 Did they not tend your rising grain, 
 You then might sow to reap in vain. 
 Thus Providence, right understood, 
 Whose end and aim is doing good, 
 Sends nothing here without its use ; 
 Though ignorance loads it with abuse, 
 And fools despise the blessing sent, 
 And mock the Giver's good intent.— 
 O God, let me what's good pursue, 
 Let me the same to others do
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 137 
 
 As I'd have others do to me, 
 And learn at least humanity. 
 
 Dark and darker glooms the sky ; 
 Sleep 'gins close the labourer's eye : 
 Dobson leaves his greensward seat, 
 Neighbours where they neighbours meet 
 Crops to praise, and work in hand, 
 And battles tell from foreign land. 
 While his pipe is puflSng out. 
 Sue he's putting to the rout. 
 Gossiping, who takes delight 
 To shool her knitting out at night. 
 And back-bite neighbours 'bout the town — 
 Who's got new caps, and who a gown. 
 And many a thing, her evil eye 
 Can see they don't come honest by. 
 Chattering at a neighbour's house. 
 She hears call out her frowning spouse ; 
 
 b
 
 138 SUMMER EVENING. 
 
 Prepared to start, she soodles home, 
 Her knitting twirling o'er her thumb, 
 As, loth to leave, afraid to stay, 
 She bawls her story all the way : 
 The tale so fraught with 'ticing charms, 
 Her apron folded o'er her arms, 
 She leaves the unfinished tale, in pain. 
 To end as evening comes again ; 
 And in the cottage gangs with dread. 
 To meet old Dobson's timely frown, 
 Who grumbling sits, prepar'd for bed, 
 While she stands chelping 'bout the town. 
 
 The night-wind now, with sooty wings. 
 In the cotter's chimney sings ; 
 Now, as stretching o'er the bed. 
 Soft I raise my drowsy head. 
 Listening to the ushering charms, 
 That shake the elm tree's mossy arms :
 
 SUMMER EVENING. 139 
 
 Till sweet slumbers stronger creep, 
 Deeper darkness stealing round. 
 
 Then, as rock'd, I sink to sleep, 
 'Mid the wild wind's lulling sound. 
 
 SUMMER MORNING. 
 
 The cocks have now the morn foretold. 
 
 The sun again begins to peep ; 
 The shepherd, whistling to his fold. 
 
 Unpens and frees the captive sheep. 
 
 O'er pathless plains, at early hours, 
 
 The sleepy rustic sloomy goes ; 
 The dews, brush'd off from grass and flowers, 
 
 Bemoistening sop his harden'd shoes ;
 
 140 SUMMER MORNING. 
 
 For every leaf that forms a shade, 
 And every flowret's silken top, 
 
 And every shivering bent and blade, 
 Stoops, bowing with a diamond drop. 
 
 But soon shall fly those pearly drops, 
 The red, round sun advances higher ; 
 
 And stretching o'er the mountain tops, 
 Is gilding sweet the village spire. 
 
 Again the bustling maiden seeks 
 Her cleanly pail, and eager now, 
 
 Rivals the morn with rosy cheeks. 
 And hastens off to milk her cow ; 
 
 While echo tells of Colin near. 
 
 Blithe, whistling o'er the misty hills : 
 
 The powerful magic fills her ear, 
 
 And through her beating bosom thrills.
 
 SUMMER MORNING. 141 
 
 'Tis sweet to meet the morning breeze, 
 
 Or list the giggling of the brook; 
 Or stretch'd beneath the shade of trees 
 
 Peruse and pause on nature's book ; 
 
 When nature every sweet prepares 
 
 To entertain our wish'd delay, — 
 The images which morning wears, 
 
 The wakening charms of early day ! 
 
 ' Now let me tread the meadow paths, 
 
 While glittering dew the ground illumes, 
 As, sprinkled o'er the withering swaths, 
 Their moisture shrinks in sweet perfumes ; 
 
 And hear the beetle sound his horn ; 
 
 And hear the skylark whistling nigh, 
 Sprung from his bed of tufted corn, 
 
 A hailing minstrel in the sky.
 
 14'2 SUMMER MORNING. 
 
 First sunbeam, calling night away, 
 To see how sweet thy summons seems, 
 
 Split by the willow's wavy grey, 
 
 Aud sweetly dancing on the streams : 
 
 How fine the spider's web is spun, 
 
 Unnoticed to vulgar eyes; 
 Its silk thread glittering in the sun, 
 
 Art's bungling vanity defies. 
 
 Roaming while the dewy fields 
 'Neath their morning burthen lean ; 
 
 While its crop my searches shields. 
 Sweet I scent the blossomed bean : 
 
 Making oft remarking stops ; 
 
 Watching tiny, nameless things, 
 Climb the grass's spiry tops. 
 
 Ere they try their gauzy wings.
 
 SUMMER MORNING. 143 
 
 So emerging into light, 
 
 Froto the ignorant and vain. 
 Fearful Genius takes her flight, 
 p Skimming o'er the lowly plain. 
 
 Now in gay, green, glossy coat, 
 
 On the shivering, benty baulk, 
 The free grasshopper chirps his note, 
 
 Bounding on from stalk to stalk. 
 
 And the bee at early hours 
 
 Sips the tawny bean's perfumes ; 
 While butterflies infest the flowers. 
 
 Just to shew their glossy plumes. 
 
 So industry oft seeks the sweet, 
 I Which weary labour ought to gain ; 
 And oft the bliss the idle meets, 
 
 « 
 
 And heaven bestows the bliss in vain.
 
 144 SUMMER MORNING. 
 
 Pleas'd, I list the rural themes 
 
 Heartening up the ploughman's toil ; 
 
 Urging on the jingling teams, 
 As they turn the mellow soil. 
 
 Industry's care abounds again, 
 
 As now the peace of night is gone ; 
 
 Many a murmur wakes the plain, 
 Many a waggon rumbles on. 
 
 Tlie swallow wheels his circling flight. 
 And o'er the water's surface skims ; 
 
 Then on the cottage chimney lights, 
 
 And twittering chants his morning hymns. 
 
 Station'd high, a towering height, 
 
 On the sun-gilt weathercock. 
 Now the jackdaw takes his flight, 
 
 frighted by the striking clock.
 
 SUMMER MORNING, 145 
 
 Snug the weary, watching thrush, 
 
 Sits to prune her speckled breast, 
 Where the woodbine, round the bush 
 
 Weaving, hides her mortar'd nest ; 
 
 Till the cows, with hungry low. 
 
 Pick the rank grass from her bower ; 
 
 Startled then — dead leaves below 
 Quick receive the pattering shower. 
 
 Now the scythe the morn salutes, 
 
 In the meadow tinkling soon ; 
 While on mellow-tootling flutes 
 
 Sweetly breathes the shepherd's tune. 
 
 Where the bank the stream o'erlooks, 
 
 And the wreathing worms are found, 
 
 Anglers sit to bait their hooks, 
 
 On the hill with wild thyme crown'd. 
 
 H
 
 146 SUMMER MORNING. 
 
 While the treach'rous watching stork 
 With the heedless gudgeon flies. 
 
 Bobbing sinks the vanish'd cork, 
 And the roach becomes a prize. 
 
 'Neath the black-thorn's stunted bush, 
 Cropp'd by wanton oxen down, 
 
 Whistling o'er each culling rush. 
 Cow-boys plat a rural crown. 
 
 As slow the hazy mists retire, 
 
 Crampt circle's more distinctly seen ; 
 
 Thin scatter'd huts, and neighbouring spire. 
 Drop in to stretch the bounded scene. 
 
 Brisk winds the lighten'd branches shake, 
 By pattering, plashing drops confess'd ; 
 
 And, where oaks dripping shade the lake. 
 Print crimpling dimples on its breast.
 
 SUMM£R MORNING. 147 
 
 The misted brook, its edges reek ; 
 
 Sultry Noon is drawing on ; 
 The east has lost its ruddy streak, 
 
 And Morning sweets are almost gone. 
 
 Now as Morning takes her leave. 
 And while swelter'd nature mourns, 
 
 Let me, waiting soothing Eve, 
 Seek my cot till she returns. 
 
 D AWNINGS OF GENIUS. 
 
 Genius ! a pleasing rapture of the mind, 
 A kindling warmth to learning unconfin'd, 
 Glows in each breast, flutters in every vein, 
 From art's refinement to th' uncultur'd swain.
 
 148 DAWNINGS OF GENIUS. 
 
 Hence is that warmth the lowly shepherd proves. 
 
 Pacing his native fields and willow groves ; 
 
 Hence is that joy, when every scene unfolds. 
 
 Which taste endears and latest memory holds ; 
 
 Hence is that sympathy his heart attends, 
 
 When bush and tree companions seem and friends ; 
 
 Hence is that fondness from his soul sincere. 
 
 That makes his native place so doubly dear. 
 
 In those low paths which Poverty surrounds, 
 
 The rough, rude ploughman, off his fallow-grounds, 
 
 (That necessary tool of wealth and pride,) 
 
 While moil'd and sweating by some pasture's side, 
 
 Will often stoop inquisitive to trace 
 
 The opening beauties of a daisy's face ; 
 
 Oft will he witness, with admiring eyes, 
 
 The brook's sweet dimples o'er the pebbles rise ; 
 
 And often, bent as o'er some magic spell, 
 
 He'll pause, and pick his shaped stone and shell : 
 
 Raptures the while his inward powers inflame, 
 
 And joys delight him which he cannot name;
 
 DAWNINGS OF GENIUS. 149 
 
 Ideas picture pleasing views to mind, 
 For which his language can no utterance find ; 
 Increasing beauties, fresh'ning on his sight, 
 Unfold new charms, and witness more delight ; 
 So while the present please, the past decay. 
 And in each other, losing, melt away. 
 Thus pausing wild on all he saunters by, 
 He feels enraptur'd though he knows not why ; 
 And hums and mutters o'er his joys in vain, 
 And dwells on something which he can't explain. 
 The bursts of thought with which his soul's perplex'd, 
 Are bred one moment, and are gone the next; 
 Yet still the heart will kindling sparks retain, 
 And thoughts will rise, and Fancy strive again. 
 So have I mark'd the dying ember's light. 
 When on the hearth it fainted from my sight, 
 With glimmering glow oft redden up again, 
 And sparks crack'd brightening into life, in vain ; 
 Still lingering out its kindling hope to rise. 
 Till faint, and fainting, the last twinkle dies.
 
 150 DAWNINGS OF GENIUS. 
 
 Dim burns the soul, and throbs the fluttering 
 heart, 
 Its painful, pleasing feelings to impart ; 
 Till by successless sallies wearied quite, 
 The Memory fails, and Fancy takes her flight. 
 The wick confin'd within its socket dies. 
 Borne down and smother'd in a thousand sighs. 
 
 TO A COLD BEAUTY, 
 
 INSENSIBLE OF LOVE. 
 
 Eliza, farewel ! ah, most lovely Eliza, 
 
 So much as thy beauties excel ; 
 So much as I love thee, so much as I prize thee, 
 
 Unfeeling Eliza, farewel ! 
 The heart without feeling, the beauty's but small. 
 
 Though tempting it be to the view ; 
 The warmth of a soul crowns the beauty of all, 
 
 V^'^ithout it thou'rt nothing — adieu !
 
 TO A COLD BEAUTY. 151 
 
 Thou Image of Beauty, endeavour is vain 
 
 To vrarm thee to life and to love, 
 Could I but the skill of the artist attain, 
 
 And steal thee a soul from above ; 
 Though as fair as the statue he finish'd art thou, 
 
 'Twere folly his plan to pursue ; 
 I would give thee feeling, but cannot tell how ; 
 
 I would love thee, dear — but, adieu ! 
 
 To all that life sweetens eternally lost, 
 
 Where love makes a heaven below, 
 Thy bosom's congealed in apathy's frost. 
 
 As white and as cold as the snow : 
 Since no spark of soul its dead tenant can warm. 
 
 Thou Icicle hung on Spring's brow, 
 I'll turn my sighs from thee to mix with the storm ; 
 
 The storm's full as tender as thou.
 
 152 TO A COLD BEAUTY. 
 
 That heart where no feelings or raptures can dwell, 
 
 Be its owner in person most fair, 
 Were beauty a bargain to buy or to sell, 
 
 I never would purchase it there : 
 So cold to the joys that in sympathy burn, 
 
 Joys none but true love ever knew. 
 How lost should I be could I prove no return : 
 
 I wish to be happy — adieu ! 
 
 PATTY. 
 
 Ye swampy falls of pasture ground. 
 
 And rushy spreading greens ; 
 Ye rising swells in brambles bound, 
 
 And freedom's wilder'd scenes ; 
 I've trod ye oft, and love ye dear, 
 
 And kind was fate to let me ; 
 On you I found my all, for here 
 
 Twas first my Patty met me.
 
 PATTY. 153 
 
 Flow on, thou gently plashing stream, 
 
 O'er weed-beds wild and rank ; 
 Delighted I've enjoy'd my dream 
 
 Upon thy mossy bank : 
 Bemoistening many a weedy stem, 
 
 I've watch'd thee wind so clearly ; 
 And on thy bank I found the gem 
 
 That makes me love thee dearly. 
 
 Thou wilderness, so rudely gay ; 
 
 Oft as I seek thy plain, 
 Oft as I wend my steps away, 
 
 And meet my joys again, 
 And brush the weaving branches by 
 
 Of briars and thorns so matty ; 
 So oft reflection warms a sigh, — 
 
 Here first I met my Patty. 
 
 H 3
 
 154 
 
 ON YOUTH. 
 
 Ah, youth's sweet joys! why are ye gone astray ? 
 
 Fain would I follow could I find a plan : 
 To my great loss are ye exchang'd away. 
 
 For that sad sorrow- ripening name — a man. 
 Far distant joys ! the prospect gives me pain : 
 
 Ah, happiness ! and hast thou no return? 
 No kind concern to call thee back again. 
 
 And bid this aching bosom cease to mourn ? 
 The daisies' hopes have met another Spring, 
 
 Poor standard tenants on a stormy plain ; 
 The lark confirms it on his russet wing ; 
 
 And why alone am I denied ? in vain : 
 Ah, youth is fled ! 
 
 A second blossom I but vainly crave : 
 The flower, that opes with peace to come. 
 
 Is budding in the grave.
 
 155 
 
 THE ADIEU. 
 
 Lone Lodge in the bend of the valley, farewel! 
 
 Thou spot, ever dear to my view ; 
 My anguish my bosom's forbidden to tell. 
 
 While wandering I bid thee adieu. 
 Stain'd Rose-bud ! thou once of my ballad the pride, 
 
 Till proof brought thy canker to view ; 
 Though heedlessly now thou hast roam'd from thy 
 guide, 
 
 I still wish thy foes may be few. 
 
 My love thou hast never yet known to deceive, 
 
 I vow'd ever constant to be ; 
 And thy faithful returns did as firmly believe, 
 
 Till proof found a failing in thee.
 
 156 THE ADIEU. 
 
 Thou'rt lovely, I own it in many a sigh, 
 
 But what has such beauty to win? 
 The night-shade, it blossoms as fair to the eye, 
 
 That harbours dead poison within. 
 
 Rosebud ! thou subject of many a song, 
 Thy defilement's too plain to my view ; 
 
 1 love thee, but cannot forgive thee the wrong ; 
 I hope, but it's vainly ; — adieu ! 
 
 Resolv'd never more to behold you again, 
 Or to visit the spot where you dwell, 
 
 My last look I'm leaving on Walkherd's lov'd plain, 
 My last vow I'm breathing — farewel !
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 I 
 
 ►
 
 UPON THE PLAIN. 
 
 A BAIXAD. 
 
 Upon the plain there hv'd a swain, 
 
 A flock his whole employ ; 
 Unknown love's cares, and all its snares, 
 
 To damp his humble joy. 
 
 Industry toils, while Fortune smiles. 
 
 To bless him with increase ; 
 Contentment made his humble trade 
 
 A scene of health and peace.
 
 160 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 But Cupid sly, whose jealous eye 
 
 Envied his happiness, 
 With pointed darts and subtle arts 
 
 Resolv'd on his distress. 
 
 Though first in vain he work'd his brain, 
 
 Yet, practis'd in deceit, 
 Fresh schemes and plans were nigh his hands ; 
 
 And some were sure to hit. 
 
 In fatal hour he prov'd his power ; 
 
 A shepherd's form he's ta'en, 
 With crook and song he hums along, 
 
 And thus accosts the swain : 
 
 " Go, friend," he cried, " to yonder side 
 The h«dge that bounds the plain, 
 
 For there a lamb has lost its dam, 
 And bleats for help in vain."
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 161 
 
 Intent to start, his tender heart 
 
 O'erlooks the subtle snare, 
 The swain's beguil'd, pleas'd Cupid smil'd, 
 
 Fair Florimel was there. 
 
 The roses red her cheeks bespread. 
 
 Her bosom's lily white; 
 To view her charms each bosom warms, 
 
 JEnraptur'd at the sight. 
 
 Her heaving breast, her slender waist. 
 
 Her shape genteel and tall. 
 Her charms divine unrivall'd shine, 
 
 Alike confess'd by all. 
 
 Beneath the shade, the lovely maid 
 
 Lay shelter'd from the sun. 
 O luckless swain ! go, fly the plain, 
 
 Or stay and be undone.
 
 162 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 For, ah ! 'twas prov'd, by them that lov'd, 
 
 She own'd a scornful eye ; 
 Her pride was vain, the way to gain 
 
 Her pity, was to die. 
 
 Stretch'd on the green, her beauty's seen 
 
 To all advantage there ; 
 To meet the breeze that fann'd the trees, 
 
 Her snowy neck was bare. 
 
 She meets his view ; sweet Peace, adieu ! 
 
 And pleasures known before : 
 He sighs, approves, admires, and loves ; 
 
 His heart's his own no more.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 163 
 
 THE COUNTRY GIRL. 
 
 Oh, dear ! what fine thinkings beset me, 
 Since the young farmer yesterday met me, 
 To tell me for truth he would get me 
 
 Some service more fitting in town : 
 For he said 'twas a shame, and he swore too, 
 That I should be serv'd so, and more too, 
 And that he was vex'd o'er and o'er too, 
 
 To see me so sadly run down. 
 
 When to thank him, for curtsey'ng I dropp'd me, 
 He said 'twas all foolish, and stopp'd me ; 
 And into his arms, oh ! he popp'd me, 
 And crumpled my bonnet awry :
 
 164 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 The tray sav'd the fall, till he mov'd it, 
 And this way and that way he shov'd it ; 
 Good behaviour, he said, how he lov'd it. 
 When maids were not foolish and shy. 
 
 Oh, dear ! what fine thinkings beset me, 
 Since the young farmer promis'd, and met me. 
 Of what he would do and would get me, 
 
 How my heart pittipatters about : 
 Though fear — none but fools make a trade on- 
 He swore when he saw what I play'd on, 
 " My word is my bond, pretty maiden ! " 
 
 Then why need I harbour a doubt ? 
 
 Though the tale-clacking grass's foul stainmg 
 In my holiday clothes is remaining, 
 I ne'er shall go make a complaining, 
 IVe promise of better in town :
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 So Chub needn't come again croaking. 
 To maul one about, so provoking, 
 I know what is what, without joking, 
 There's nought got by pleasing a clown. 
 
 PATTY OF THE VALE. 
 
 Where lonesome woodlands close surrounding 
 
 Mark the spot a solitude, 
 And nature's uncheck'd scenes abounding 
 
 Form a prospect wild and rude, 
 A cottage cheers the spot so glooming, 
 
 Hid in the hollow of the dale, 
 Where, in youth and beauty blooming. 
 
 Lives sweet Patty of the Vale.
 
 166 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 Gay as the Iambs her cot surrounding, 
 
 Sporting wild the shades among, 
 O'er the hills and bushes bounding, 
 
 Artless, innocent, and young, 
 Fresh, as blush of morning roses, 
 
 Ere the mid-day suns prevail, 
 Fair, as lily-bud uncloses, 
 
 Blooms sweet Patty of the Vale. 
 
 Low and humble though her station, 
 
 Dress though mean she's doom'd to wear. 
 Few superiors in the nation 
 
 With her beauty can compare. 
 What are riches ? — not worth naming. 
 
 Though with some they may prevail ; 
 Their's be choice of wealth proclaiming. 
 
 Mine is Patty of the Vale.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 167 
 
 Fools may fancy wealth and fortune 
 
 Join to make a happy pair, 
 And for such the god importune, 
 
 With full many a fruitless prayer : 
 I, their pride and wealth disdaining 
 
 Should my humble hopes prevail, 
 Happy then, would cease complaining, 
 
 Blest with Patty of the Vale. 
 
 SAD WAS THE DAY. 
 
 Sad was the day when my Willy did leave me. 
 Sad were the moments that wing'd him away ; 
 
 And oh, most distressing, and most it did grieve me, 
 To witness his looks while I begg'd him to stay.
 
 16S SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 It hurt him to think that in vain was I crying, 
 Which I couldn't help, though I knew it so too ; 
 
 The trumpets all sounding, the colours all flying, 
 A soldier my Willy — my Willy must go. 
 
 The youths, never heeding to-morrow and danger, 
 Kept laughing and toasting their girls o'er their 
 beer ; 
 But oh, my poor Willy, just like a lost stranger. 
 Stood speechless among them, half dead as it 
 were. 
 He kiss'd me — 'twas all — not a word when he 
 started. 
 And oh, in his silence too much I could see, 
 He knew for a truth, and he knew, broken hearted, 
 That kiss was the last he should ever give me.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 169 
 
 FRIEND LUBIN. 
 
 Friend Lubin loves his Saturdays, 
 
 That bring him rest on Sundays ; 
 But fVhittler loves contrary ways, 
 
 And wishes all were Mondays. 
 The Labourer doats on welcome night 
 
 To rest his weary limbs ; 
 And Misses in the day delight. 
 
 To shew their dressy whims. 
 
 But oh, the day and night to me, 
 
 The Saturday or Monday, 
 I care not which- a- way they be, 
 
 Or working day or Sunday : 
 
 I
 
 170 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 Oh no, I care not what they be, 
 Though night I most approve ; 
 
 But oh, the day is dear to me, 
 That brings me to my love. 
 
 TO-DAY THE FOX MUST DIE. 
 
 A HUNTING SONG. 
 
 The cock awakes the rosy dawn, 
 
 And tells approaching day, 
 While Reynard sneaks along the lawn 
 
 Belated with his prey : 
 Oh never think to find thy home. 
 
 But for thy safety fly ; 
 The sportsman's long proclaim'd thy doom, 
 
 " To-day a Fox shall die."
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 171 
 
 The bugle blows, the sporting train 
 
 Swift mount the snorting steed, 
 Each fence defiance bids in vain 
 
 Their progress to impede; 
 The cover broke, they drive along, 
 
 And raise a jovial cry; 
 Each dog barks chorus to my song, 
 
 " To-day a Fox shall die." 
 
 Like lightning o'er the hills they sweep, 
 
 The readiest roads they go ; 
 The five-barr'd gate with ease they leap : 
 
 Hark forward, tally ho ! 
 The mist hangs on, and scents him strong, 
 
 The moisture makes it lie ; 
 The woods re-echo to my song, 
 
 " This day the Fox must die."
 
 172 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 Old Reynard finding shifts in vain, 
 
 While hounds and horns pursue, 
 Now leaves the woods to try the plain. 
 
 The bugle sounds a view : 
 Old Threadbrake gaily leads the throng ; 
 
 His bold unerring cry 
 Confirms the burthen of my song, 
 
 " This day a Fox shall die." 
 
 His funeral knell the bugle blows, 
 
 His end approaches near, 
 He reels and staggers as he goes. 
 
 And drops his brush with fear ; 
 More eager now they press along, 
 
 And louder still the cry. 
 All join in chorus to my song, 
 
 " To-day the Fox must die."
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 173 
 
 MY LAST SHILLING. 
 
 O DISMAL disaster! O troublesome lot! 
 What a heart-rending theme for my musing I've got : 
 Then pray what's the matter ? — O friend, I'm not 
 willing, 
 
 The thought grieves me sore, 
 
 Now I'm driven to shore — 
 And must I then spend my last shilling, last shilling? 
 And must I then spend my last shilling? 
 
 O painful reflection ! thou whole of my store, 
 That for these three months in my breeches I wore ; 
 To spend thee, to spend thee, the thought turns me 
 chiUing :
 
 174 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 Oh, must I in spite 
 
 Of all reason, this ni^t, 
 A farewel bid to my last shilling, last shilling, 
 A farewel bid to my last shilling ? 
 
 How oft in my corner I've bother'd my pate, 
 First mourn'd at my shilling, and then at my fate, 
 To think the world's riches — though painful and 
 killing, 
 While I here endure 
 The sad pain past a cure. 
 Of being drain'd to my very last shilling, last 
 
 shilling, 
 Of being drain'd to my veiy last shilling. 
 
 O couldst thou but answer, dear whole of my store, 
 I'd ask thee a question : Thus friendless and poor, 
 Tis whether thou wouldst to forsake me be willing?
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 175 
 
 Or whether it still 
 
 Would be more to thy will 
 To stay, and be call'd my last shilling, last shilling ? 
 To stay, and be call'd my last shilling? 
 
 Thou source of reflection, my friend, and my all ! 
 For tho' I'm left friendless thou stick'st to thy stall ; 
 And through each vexing trouble seem'st cheery and 
 willing : 
 
 Thee to keep I'll contrive, 
 
 For I'm sure I shan't thrive 
 If ever I spend such a shilling, a shilling, 
 If ever I spend such a shilling. 
 
 So still, old companion, stick true to the breeches, 
 And wear this old pocket thread-bare to its 
 
 stitches ; 
 For ever to keep thee I really am willing :
 
 176 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 And who knows, but what thou 
 (Though I'm hard ashore now) 
 
 May turn out a lucky last shilling, last shilling. 
 
 May turn out a lucky last shilling ? 
 
 HER I LOVE. 
 
 Rose, in full blown blushes dyed, 
 
 Pink, maturely spread. 
 Carnations, boasting all their pride 
 
 Of melting white and red. 
 Are charms confess'd by every eye ; 
 
 But, ah ! how faint they prove 
 To paint superior charms, when nigh 
 
 The cheek of her I love.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 177 
 
 Ripe cherry on its parent tree, 
 
 With full perfection grac'd, 
 Red coral in its native sea, 
 
 To all advantage plac'd ; 
 What charms they boast the eye to please, 
 
 And beauty to improve : 
 But, ah ! all's lost, when match'd with these 
 
 The lips of her I love. 
 
 The pulpy plum, when ripeness swells 
 
 Its down-surrounding blue — 
 The dews besprent on heather bells, 
 
 Reflecting brighter hue — 
 The azure sky, when stars appear 
 
 Its blueness to improve, 
 Fade into dullest shades, when near 
 
 The eyes of her I love. 
 
 I 3
 
 178 SONGS AND BALLADS, 
 
 Sweet is the blossom'd bean's perfume, 
 
 By morning breezes shed ; 
 And sweeter still the jonquil's bloom, 
 
 When eve bedews its head ; 
 The perfume sweet of pink and rose, 
 
 And violet of the grove : 
 But ah ! how sweeter far than those, 
 
 The kiss of her I love. 
 
 MY LOVE, THOU ART A NOSEGAY 
 SWEET. 
 
 My love, thou art a nosegay sweet, 
 My sweetest flower I prove thee ; 
 
 And pleas'd I pin thee to my breast. 
 And dearly do I love thee.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 17^ 
 
 And when, my nosegay, thou shalt fade. 
 As sweet a flower thou'lt prove thee ; 
 
 And as thou witherest on my breast, 
 For beauty past I'll love thee. 
 
 And when, my nosegay, thou shalt die. 
 And heaven's flower shalt prove thee ; 
 
 My hopes shall follow to the sky, 
 And everlasting love thee. 
 
 MY LOVE'S LIKE A LILY. 
 
 My love's like a lily, my love's like a rose. 
 My love's like a smile the spring mornings disclose ; 
 And sweet as the rose, on her cheek her love glows, 
 WTien sweetly she smileth on me :
 
 180 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 But as cold as the snow of the lily, my rose 
 Behaves to pretenders, whoever they be ; 
 
 In vain higher stations their passions disclose, 
 To win her affections from me. 
 
 My love's hke a lily, my love's like a rose, 
 My love's like the smile the spring mornings dis- 
 close; 
 And fair as the lily, and sweet as the rose, 
 
 My love's beauty bloometh to me : 
 And smiles of more pleasure my heart only knows, 
 
 To think that pretenders, whoever they be, 
 But vainly their love and their passions disclose; 
 
 My love remains constant to me.
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. ISl 
 
 TRUE LOVE. 
 
 True love, the virgin's first fond passion, 
 How blest the swain to prove it ! 
 
 Should Hymen snatch the lucky hour, 
 No power on earth can move it. 
 
 When death such loving hearts divides. 
 And love on earth is blasting ; 
 
 Firm fix'd the hope in heaven remains. 
 Where love is everlasting.
 
 182 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 THE FIRST OF MAY. 
 
 A BALLAD. 
 
 Fair blooms the rose upon the green, 
 
 Pretending to excel ; 
 But who another rose has seen, 
 
 A different tale can tell. 
 The morning smiles, the lark's begun 
 
 To welcome in the May : 
 Be cloudless, skies ! look out, bright sun ! 
 
 And haste my love away. 
 
 Though graceful round the maidens move. 
 
 That join the rural ball. 
 Soon shall they own my absent love 
 
 The rival of them all.
 
 ► 
 
 SONGS AND BALLADS. 183 
 
 Go, wake your shepherdess, ye lambs ! 
 
 And murmur her delay : 
 Chide her neglect, ye hoarser dams ! 
 
 And call my love away. 
 
 Ye happy swains, with each a bride. 
 
 Were but the angel there, 
 While slighted maids despair'd and sigh'd, 
 
 You'd court th' unequall'd fair. 
 Dry up, ye dews ! nor threat'ning hing, 
 
 To soil her best array : 
 Ye birds ! with double vigour sing, 
 
 And urge my love away. 
 
 Welcome, sun ! the dews are fled. 
 
 The lark has rais'd his song ; 
 The daisy nauntles up its head, — 
 
 Why waits my love so long ?
 
 184 SONGS AND BALLADS. 
 
 As flowrets fade, the pleasures bloom. 
 
 All hastening to decay : 
 The day steals on, and showers may come ; 
 
 This instant haste away. 
 
 What now, ye fearful cringing sheep ! 
 
 Who meets your wondering eyes ? 
 What makes you 'neath the maples creep, 
 
 In homaging surprise ? 
 No ladies tread our humble green : 
 
 Ah ! welcome wonders, hail ! 
 I witness your mistaken queen 
 
 Is Patty of the Vale.
 
 SONNETS.
 
 IHE SETTING SUN. 
 
 This scene, how beauteous to a musing mind. 
 
 That now swift slides from my enchanting view ; 
 The Sun sweet setting yon far hills behind, 
 
 In other worlds his visits to renew : 
 What spangled glories all around him shine ; 
 
 What nameless colours, cloudless and serene, 
 (A heav'nly prospect, brightest in decline,) 
 
 Attend his exit from this lovely scene. 
 So sets the Christian's sun, in glories clear ; 
 So shines his soul at his departure here : 
 
 No clouding doubts, nor misty fears arise, 
 To dim Hope's golden rays of being forgiven ; 
 
 His Sun, sweet setting in the clearest skies. 
 In safe assurance wings the soul to heaven.
 
 188 SONNETS. 
 
 THE PRIMROSE. 
 
 Welcome, pale Primrose ! starting up between 
 Dead matted leaves of ash and oak, that strew 
 The every lawn, the wood, and spinney through, 
 
 Mid creeping moss and ivy's darker green ; 
 How much thy presence beautifies the ground : 
 
 How sweet thy modest, unaffected pride 
 
 Glows on the sunny bank, and wood's warm side. 
 And where thy fairy flowers in groups are found, 
 
 The school-boy roams enchantedly along. 
 Plucking the fairest with a rude delight : 
 
 While the meek shepherd stops his simple song, 
 To gaze a moment on the pleasing sight; 
 
 O'eijoyd to see the flowers that truly bring 
 
 The welcome news of sweet returning Spring.
 
 SONNETS. 189 
 
 CHRISTIAN FAITH. 
 
 What antidote or charm on earth is found. 
 
 To alleviate or soften fate's decree ? 
 To fearless enter on that dark profound, 
 
 Where life emerges in eternity? 
 
 Wisdom, a rushlight vainly boasting power 
 To cheer the terrors sin's first visit gave, 
 
 Denies existence at that dreadful hour, 
 
 And shrinks in horror from a gaping grave. 
 
 O Christianity, thou charm divine ! 
 
 That firmness, faith, and last resource is thine : 
 
 With thee the Christian joys to lose his breath. 
 Nor dreads to find his mortal strength decay; 
 
 But, dear in friendship, shakes the hand of Death, 
 And hugs the pain that gnaws his life away.
 
 190 
 
 50X3rETS. 
 
 THE MOOy
 
 SDNNSTT*. 191 
 
 THE GIPSY'S ETEXLS'G BLAZE. 
 
 To me bov wSdlr pkaemm is ikat 
 
 A grovp ofGipmcj, eeaired cm the 
 
 In some ww Book witere Boceas kas m> pow t ; 
 
 ^Vhere suddcB starts the ndiii imj. blftse bdiBd 
 Shoit, shrubby bashes, nibbled by the sheep. 
 Tint Bosdy OB these short swmrd p&stares keep; 
 
 Now lo^ BOW sees, bow beaditi^ with the wad : 
 
 And now the swarthy sybd kseds redia'd; 
 With prosgling stick ^« stfll reaews dte hhwi. 
 Forcing brisht sparks to twinkle trooi ^ ftue. 
 
 ^lien this I view, the aU-attentire MBd 
 
 Will oft exclaim ^so sironi the sceae perrades), 
 " Gnuit me this lite, thou spirit ot' the shades ! ~
 
 192 SONNETS. 
 
 A SCENE. 
 
 The Landscape's stretching view, that opens wide, 
 With dribbUng brooks, and river's wider floods, 
 And hills, and vales, and darksome lowering 
 woods. 
 
 With green of varied hues, and grasses pied ; 
 The low brown cottage in the shelter'd nook ; 
 
 The steeple, peeping just above the trees 
 
 Whose dangling leaves keep rustling in the breeze ; 
 And thoughtful shepherd bending o'er his hook ; 
 
 And maidens stripp'd, haymaking too, appear ; 
 And Hodge a whistling at his fallow plough ; 
 And herdsman hallooing to intruding cow : 
 
 All these, with hundreds more, far off and near. 
 Approach my sight ; and please to such excess, 
 That language fails the pleasure to express.
 
 SONNETS. 193 
 
 TO THE GLOW-WORM. 
 
 Tasteful Illumination of the night, 
 
 Bright scatter'd, twinkling star of spangled earth ! 
 Hail to the nameless colour'd dark-and-light, 
 
 The witching nurse of thy illumin'd birth. 
 In thy still hour how dearly I delight 
 
 To rest my weary bones, from labour free; 
 In lone spots, out of hearing, out of sight, 
 
 To sigh day's smother'd pains ; and pause on thee. 
 
 Bedecking dangling brier and ivied tree, 
 Or diamonds tipping on the grassy spear ; 
 
 Thy pale-fac'd glimmering light I love to see. 
 Gilding and glistering in the dew-drop near : 
 
 O still-hour's mate ! my easing heart sobs free, 
 While tiny bents low bend with many an added tear. 
 
 K
 
 lc»4 SONNETS. 
 
 THE ANT. 
 
 Thou little Insect, infinitely small, 
 
 What curious texture marks thy minute frame ; 
 How seeming large thy foresight, and withal, 
 
 Thy labouring talents not unworthy fame, 
 To raise such monstrous hills along the plain, 
 
 Larger than moim tains, when compar'd with thee : 
 To drag the crumb dropp'd by the village swain, 
 
 Huge size to thine, is strange, indeed, to me. 
 But that great instinct which foretels the cold, 
 
 And bids to guard 'gainst winter's wasteful power, 
 Endues this mite with cheerfulness to hold 
 
 Its toiling labours through the sultry hour : 
 So that same soothing power, in misery, 
 Cheers the poor pilgrim to eternity.
 
 SONNETS. 11)5 
 
 TO HOPE. 
 
 Ah, smiling cherub ! cheating Hope, adieu! 
 
 No more I'll listen to your pleasing themes ; 
 No moire your flattering scenes with joy renew, 
 
 For ah, I've found them all delusive dreams : 
 Yes, mere delusions all ; therefore, adieu ! 
 
 No more shall you this aching heart beguile ; 
 No more your fleeting joys will I pursue, 
 
 That mock'd my sorrows when they seem'd to 
 smile. 
 And flatter'd tales that never will be true : 
 
 Tales, only told to aggravate distress 
 And make me at my fate the more repine, 
 
 By whispering joys I never can possess. 
 And painting scenes that never can be mine.
 
 196 SONNETS. 
 
 A WINTER SCENE. 
 
 Hail, Scenes of desolation and despair, 
 
 Keen Winter's overbearing sport and scorn ! 
 Torn by his rage, in ruins as you are, 
 
 To me more pleasing than a summer's morn 
 Your shatter'd state appears ; — despoil'd and bare, 
 
 Stripp'd of your clothing, naked and forlorn : — 
 Yes, winter's havock ! wretched as you shine. 
 
 Dismal to others as your fate may seem, 
 Your fate is pleasing to this heart of mine, 
 
 Your wildest horrors I the most esteem : 
 The ice-bound floods that still with rigour freeze, 
 
 The snow-cloth'd valley, and the naked tree. 
 These sympathising scenes my heart can please. 
 
 Distress is their's— and they resemble me.
 
 SONNETS. 197 
 
 EVENING. 
 
 Now glaring daylight's usher'd to a close ; 
 
 And nursing Eve her soothing care renews, 
 To welcome weary labour to repose. 
 
 And cherish nature with reviving: dews. 
 Hail, cooling sweets ! that breathe so sweetly here ; 
 
 Hail, lovely Eve ! whose hours so lovely prove ; 
 Thy silent calm ! to solitude so dear ; 
 
 And oh, this darkness ! dearer still to love. 
 Now the fond lover seeks thy silent plains. 
 
 And with his charmer in fond dalliance strays, 
 Vowing his love, and telling jealous pains 
 
 Which doubtful fancies in their absence raise. 
 Ah ! though such pleasures centre not in me, 
 I love to wander and converse with thee.
 
 1<)8 SONNETS. 
 
 TO THE WINDS. 
 
 Hail, gentle Winds ! I love your murmuring sound; 
 
 The willows charm me, wavering to and fro ; 
 And oft I stretch me on the daisied ground, 
 
 To see you crimp the wrinkled flood below : 
 Delighted more as brisker gusts succeed, 
 
 And give the landscape round a sweeter grace. 
 Sweeping in shaded waves the ripening mead, 
 
 Pufling their rifled fragrance in my face. 
 Painters of Nature ! ye are doubly dear ; 
 
 Her children dearly love your whispering charms : 
 Ah, ye have murmur'd sweet to many an ear 
 
 That now lies dormant in death's icy arms ; 
 And at this moment many a weed ye wave. 
 That hides the bard in his forgotten grave.
 
 SONNETS. 199 
 
 NATIVE SCENES. 
 
 O NATIVE Scenes, for eve- ever dear! 
 
 So blest, so happy as I here have been. 
 
 So charm'd with nature in each varied scene, 
 To leave you all is cutting and severe. 
 
 Ye hawthorn bushes that from winds would 
 screen, 
 Where oft I've shelter'd from a threaten'd shower ; 
 In youth's past bliss, in childhood's happy hour, 
 
 Ye woods I've wandered, seeking out the nest; 
 Ye meadows gay that rear'd rae many a flower, 
 
 Where, pulling cowslips, I've been doubly blest. 
 Humming gay fancies as I pluck'd the prize : 
 
 Oh, fate unkind! beloved scenes, adieu! 
 Your vanish'd pleasures crowd my swimming eyes, 
 
 And make the wounded heart to bleed anew.
 
 •200 SONNETS. 
 
 TO A FAVOURITE TREE. 
 
 Old, favourite Tree ! art thou too fled the scene? 
 
 Could not thy 'dining age the axe delay, 
 And let thee stretch thy shadows o'er the green, 
 
 And let thee die in picturesque decay ? 
 What hadst thou done to meet a tyrant's frown ? 
 
 Small value was the ground on which thou stood ; 
 But gain's rude rage it was that cut thee down. 
 
 And dragg'd thee captive from thy native wood. 
 So gay in summer as thy boughs were dress'd> 
 
 So soft, so cool, as then thy leaves did wave; 
 I knew thee then, and knowing am distress'd : 
 
 And like as Friendship leaning o'er the grave, 
 Loving ye all, ye trees, ye bushes, dear, 
 I wander where you stood, and shed my bosom-tear.
 
 SONNETS. 201 
 
 APPROACH OF SPRING. 
 
 Sweet are the omens of approaching Spring, 
 
 "WTien gay the elder sprouts her winged leaves ; 
 "WTien tootling robins carol-welcomes sing, 
 
 And sparrows chelp glad tidings from the eaves. 
 What lovely prospects wait each wakening hour. 
 
 When each new day some novelty displays ; 
 How sweet the sun-beam melts the crocus flower, 
 
 Whose borrow'd pride shines dizen'd in his rays : 
 Sweet, new-laid hedges flush their tender greens ; 
 Sweet peep the arum-leaves their shelter screens ; 
 
 Ah ! sweet are all which I'm denied to share : 
 Want's painful hindrance sticks me to her stall ; — 
 
 But still Hope's smiles unpoint the thorns of Care, 
 Since Heaven's eternal Spring is free for all. 
 
 k3
 
 20^2 SONNETS. 
 
 SUMMER. 
 
 The oak's slow-opening leaf, of deepening hue, 
 
 Bespeaks the power of Summer once again ; 
 While many a flower unfolds its charms to view, 
 
 To glad the entrance of his sultry reign. 
 "Where peep the gaping, speckled cuckoo-flowers, 
 
 Sweet is each rural scene she brings to pass ; 
 Prizes to rambling school-boys' vacant hours. 
 
 Tracking wild searches through the meadow grass ; 
 The meadow-sweet taunts high its showy wreath, 
 And sweet the quaking grasses hide beneath. 
 
 Ah, 'barr'd from all that sweetens life below, 
 Another Summer still my eyes can see 
 
 Freed from this scorn and pilgrimage of woe, 
 To share the Seasons of Eternity.
 
 SONNETS. 203 
 
 THE RIVER GWASH. 
 
 Where winding Gwash whirls round its wildest 
 scene, 
 
 On this romantic bend I sit me down ; 
 On that side view the meadow's smoothing green, 
 
 Edg'd with the peeping hamlet's checquering 
 brown ; 
 
 Here the steep bank, as dropping headlong down ; 
 While glides the stream a silver streak between. 
 
 As glide the shaded clouds along the sky, 
 Bright'ning and deep'ning, losing as they're seen. 
 In light and shade : to where old willows lean. 
 
 Thus their broad shadow runs the river by. 
 With tree and bush replete, a wilder'd scene. 
 
 And moss and ivy speckling on my eye. 
 Oh, thus while musing wild, I'm doubly blest. 
 My woes unheeding, and my heart at rest.
 
 204 SONNETS. 
 
 TO RELIGION. 
 
 Thou sacred light, that right from wrong discerns ; 
 
 Thou safeguard of the soul, thou heaven on earth ; 
 Thou undervaluer of the world's concerns, 
 
 Thou disregarder of its joys and mirth; 
 Thou only home the houseless wanderers have ; 
 
 Thou prop by which the pilgrim's woes are borne ; 
 Thou solace of the lonely hermit's cave, 
 
 That beds him down to rest on fate's sharp thorn; 
 Thou only hope to sorrow's bosom given ; 
 
 Thou voice of mercy when the weary call ; 
 Thou faith extending to thy home in heaven ; 
 
 Thou peace, thou rest, thou comfort, all in all : 
 O sovereign good ! on thee all hopes depend. 
 Till thy grand source unfolds its realizing end.
 
 SONNETS. 205 
 
 ANXIETY. 
 
 One, o'er heaths wandering in a pitch dark night, 
 
 Making to sounds that hope some village near ; 
 Hermit, retreating to a chinky light, 
 
 Long lost in winding cavern dark and drear ; 
 
 A slave, long banish'd from his country dear. 
 By freedom left to seek his native plains ; 
 
 A soldier, absent many a long, long year, 
 In sight of home ere he that comfort gains ; 
 A thirsty labouring wight, that wistful strains 
 
 O'er the steep hanging bank to reach the stream ; 
 A hope, delay so lingeringly detains. 
 
 We still on point of its disclosure seem : 
 These pictures weakly 'semble to the eye 
 A faint existence of Anxiety.
 
 '206 SONNETS. 
 
 EXPECTATION. 
 
 When Expectation in the bosom heaves, 
 
 What longing, anxious views disturb the mind ; 
 What fears, what hopes, distrust and then believe 
 
 That something which the heart expects to find : 
 How the poor prisoner, ere he's doom'd to die, 
 
 Within his gloomy cell of dreary woe, 
 How does he watch, with Expectation's eye. 
 
 The lingering, long suspense of fate to know. 
 Alas, poor soul ! though different bonds confine ; 
 The walls his prison is, the world is mine.: 
 
 So do I turn my weary eyes above. 
 So do I look and sigh for peace to come. 
 
 So do I long the grave's dark end to prove. 
 And anxious wait my long, long journey home.
 
 SONNETS. 207 
 
 TO MY OATEN REED. 
 
 Thou warble wild, of rough, rude melody, 
 
 How oft I've woo'd thee, often thrown thee by ; 
 
 In many a doubtful rapture touching thee, 
 Waking thy rural notes in many a sigh : 
 Fearing the wise, the wealthy, proud and high. 
 
 Would scorn as vain thy lowly extasy ; 
 
 Deeming presumptuous thy uncultur'd themes. 
 
 Thus vainly courting Taste's unblemish'd eye, 
 To list a simple Labourer's artless dreams, 
 Haply I wander into wide extremes. 
 
 But O thou sweet, wild-winding rhapsody, 
 
 Thou jingling charm that dost my heart control ; 
 
 I take thee up to smother many a sigh. 
 
 And lull the throbbings of a woe-worn soul.
 
 208 
 
 CRAZY XELL. 
 
 A TRUE STORY, 
 
 The sun lowly sinking behind the far trees, 
 
 And, crossing the path, humming home were the 
 
 bees ; 
 And darker and darker it grew by degrees. 
 
 And crows they flock'd quawking to rest : 
 When, unknown to her parents, Nell slove on her 
 
 hat, 
 And o'er the fields hurried— scarce knew she for 
 
 what; 
 But her sweetheart, in taking advantage and that, 
 Had kiss'd, and had promis'd the best.
 
 CRAZY NELL. 209 
 
 Poor maidens ! of husbands so much they conceit, 
 The daisy scarce touch'd rose unhurt from her feet, 
 So eager she hasten'd her lover to meet, 
 
 As to make him to wait was unjust; 
 On the wood, dim discover' d, she fixed her eyes — 
 Such a queer spot to meet in — suspicions might rise ; 
 But the fond word " a sweetheart" such goodness 
 implies, 
 
 Ah, who would a lover distrust ! 
 
 More gloomy and darker — black clouds hung the 
 
 wind, 
 Far objects diminish'd before and behind. 
 More narrow and narrow the circle declin'd, 
 
 And silence reign'd awfully round. 
 When Nelly within the wood-riding sat down ; 
 She listen'd, and lapp'd up her arms in her gown ; 
 Far, far from her cottage, and far from the town, 
 
 And her sweetheart not yet to be found.
 
 210 CRA2Y NELL. 
 
 The miDutes seem'd hours — with impatience she 
 
 heard 
 The flap of a leaf, and the twit of a bird ; 
 The least little trifle that whisper 'd or stirr'd, 
 
 Hope pictur'd her lover as nigh : 
 When wearied with sitting, she wander'd about, 
 And open'd the wood-gate, and gave a look out ; 
 And fain would have halloo'd, but Fear had a doubt 
 
 That thieves might be lurking hard by. 
 
 Far clocks count eleven—" He won't be long now/' 
 Her anxious hopes whisper'd— hoarse wav'd the 
 
 wood bough ; 
 — " He heeds not my fears, or he's false to his vow !" 
 
 Poor Nelly sat doubtful, and sigh'd : 
 The man who had promis'd her husband to be. 
 And to wed on the morrow— her friends all could see 
 That a good-for-nought sort of a fellow was he. 
 
 And they hop'd nothing worse might betide.
 
 CRAZY NELL. 211 
 
 At length, as in fear, slowly tapp'd the wood-gate : 
 'Twas Ben ! — she complain'd so long painful to wait. 
 Deep design hung his looks, he but mumbled " Tis 
 late," 
 
 And pass'd her, and bid her come on. 
 The mind plainly pictures that night-hour of dread. 
 In the midst of a wood ! where the trees over head 
 The darkness increased — a dungeon they spread. 
 
 And the clock at the moment toU'd one ! 
 
 Nell fain would have forc'd, as she foUow'd, some 
 
 chat; 
 And trifled, on purpose, with this thing and that ; 
 And complain'd of the dew-dropping spoiling her 
 hat; 
 
 But nothing Ben's silence would break. 
 Extensive the forest, the roads to and fro. 
 And this way and that way, above and below. 
 As crossing the ridings, as winding they go — 
 
 " Ah ! what road or way can he seek ? "
 
 212 CRAZY NELL. 
 
 Her eye, ever watchful, now caught an alarm; 
 Lights gleam, and tools tinkle, as if nigh a farm : 
 " O don't walk so fast, Ben— I'm fearful of harm !" 
 
 She said, and shrugg'd closer behind. 
 " That light's from my house !" 'twas the first word 
 
 she caught 
 From his lips, since he through the dark wood had 
 
 her brought. 
 A house in a wood ! Oh, good God ! what a thought ; 
 
 What sensations then rush'd on her mind ! 
 
 The things, which her friends and her neighbours had 
 
 said, 
 Afresh at that moment all jump'd in her head; 
 And mistrust, for the first time, now fiU'd her with 
 dread : 
 
 And as she approach'd, she could see 
 How better, for her, their advice to have ta'en ; 
 And she wish'd to herself then she had— but in vain : 
 — A heap of fresh mould, and a spade, she saw plain, 
 
 And a lantern tied up to a tree.
 
 CRAZY NELL. 213 
 
 ** Here they come ! " a voice whispers ; — " Haste ! 
 
 put out the light." 
 " No : dig the grave deeper !" — " Very dark is the 
 
 night." 
 Slow mutterings mingled. — Oh, dismal the sight ! 
 
 —The fate of poor Nelly was plain. 
 Fear chill'd through her heart — but Hope whisper'd 
 
 her — Fly ! 
 Chance seiz'd on the moment, a wind-gust blew high. 
 She slipt in the thicket— he turn'd not his eye, 
 And the grave-diggers waited in vain. 
 
 At that fearful moment, so dreadfully dark, 
 How welcome the song of the shepherd, or lark; 
 How cheery to hearken, and hear the dog bark, 
 
 As through the dark wood she fled fast : 
 But, horror of horrors, all nature was hush ! 
 Not a sound was there heard — save a blackbird, or 
 
 thrush, 
 That, started from sleep, flusker'd out of the bush. 
 
 Which her brushing clothes shook as they past.
 
 214 CRAZY NEJLL. 
 
 Fear now truly pictur'd : she ne'er turn'd her head 
 Either this way or that way — straight forward she 
 
 fled; 
 And Fancy, still hearing the horrors with dread, 
 
 On faster and fearfuUer stole. 
 The matted leaves rustle— the boughs swiftly part, 
 Her hands and her face with the brambles did 
 
 smart ; 
 But, oh ! the worst anguish was felt at her heart, — 
 
 Ben's unkindness struck death to her soul. 
 
 Now glimmering lighter the forest appears, 
 
 And Hope, the sweet comforter, soften'd her fears ; 
 
 Light and liberty, darkness ! thy horror endears ; 
 
 Great bliss did the omen impart : 
 The forest, its end, and its terrors gone by. 
 She breath'd the free air, and she saw the blue sky ; 
 Her own fields she knew — to her home did she 
 
 fly, 
 
 And great was the joy of her heart.
 
 CRAZY NELL. 215 
 
 Oh, prospect endearing ! the village to view, 
 
 The mora sweet appearing, — and gay the cock crew. 
 
 When, mangled by brambles and dabbled in dew. 
 
 She gave a loud rap at the door : 
 The parents in raptures wept over their child ; 
 She mutter'd her terrors — her eyes rolled wild — 
 " They dig the grave deeper ! — Your Nelly's be- 
 guil'd!" 
 
 She said, and she siled on the floor. 
 
 Poor Nell soon recover'd ; but, ah ! to her cost, 
 Her sense and her reason for ever were lost : 
 And scorch'd by the summer, and chill'd by the frost, 
 
 A maniac, restless and wild. 
 Now crazy Nell rambles ; and still she will weep, 
 And, fearless, at night into hovels will creep. — 
 Fond parents ! alas, their afliiction is deep, 
 
 And vainly they comfort their child.
 
 GLOSSARY.
 
 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Bangs, v.n, moves with violence. 
 
 Battled, part, bespattered with mud. 
 
 Battered, v, n. fought his way. 
 
 Beetling, part, striking with a heavy woodan mallet, called a beetle. 
 
 See Folds. 
 Bevering, adj. drinking, (from Bevere, Ital. to drink; whence 
 
 Beverage, and the Beaver of a helmet.) 
 Bird-boy, sub. a boy who frightens birds from the corn. 
 Booing and mooing, part, expressing the noise of cattle when they 
 
 bellow. 
 Bum, i;. n. to rush with a murmuring sound. (Diet. Boom.) 
 Chaps, sub. young fellows. 
 
 Chelp, V, a. to chirp, or make a chattering noise like a bird. 
 Clammed, part, exhausted for want of food. 
 'Clining, for declining. 
 Conceit, v. n. to think extravagantly. 
 Crampt, adj. limited, confined. 
 Crumbles, sub. crumbs. 
 
 Crumping, adj. crushing, witii a low, abrupt noise. 
 Culling, part, for culled, chosen. 
 Curabergrounds, sub. a name for useless trees. " Cut it down, 
 
 why cumbereth it the ground."
 
 220 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Dinged on the nose, — taunted, reproved. 
 
 Dinner-tin, a tin vessel containing his dinner. 
 
 Dithering, part, shaking with cold. — (Ash's Diet. Didder.) 
 
 Drowking, part, drooping, faint with drouth. 
 
 Eggs on, V. n. urges forward. 
 
 'Fex, a petty oath. 
 
 Flaze, sub, a smoky flame,— by contraction probably of Jiash and 
 haze. 
 
 J lops, V. a. outspreads, as it were broad wings. 
 
 Fluskered, v. n. flew with sudden and disordered motion. 
 
 Folds, sub. inclosures made with hurdles, wherein slieep are pen- 
 ned at night. 
 
 Gad, sub. the gad-fly. 
 
 Gie, for give. 
 
 'Gin, for begin. 
 
 Glowered, v. n. stared. (So Burns.) 
 
 Goss, sub. gorse, furze. 
 
 King, V. a. to hang. (So Chaucer.) 
 
 Hob, sub. the ledge or shelf of a fire-grate. 
 
 Kercliup, — the noise of partridges calling to each other. 
 
 'Lotted, for allotted. 
 
 Lump away, v, n to beat with a heavy sound. 
 
 Lunge, V. n. to lurch, to hide, to skulk. 
 
 Matey, sub. for mate. 
 
 Matty, matted, — twisted, interwoven. 
 
 JNIauls, V. a. rudely pushes. 
 
 'Minds, for reminds. 
 
 Mounting, port, equipping. 
 
 Mulls, sub. the name by which milk-maids call their cows. 
 
 Mun, V n. must. 
 
 Nappy, sub. ale.
 
 GLOSSARY. ^^1 
 
 Nauntles, v. n. meekly elevates. 
 
 'Neath, for beneath. 
 
 'Nighted, for benighted. 
 
 Palms, sub. tlie English palm, or sallow. 
 
 Pinks, V. a. imbues with a piuk colour. 
 
 Pint, I), a to drink a pint of ale. 
 
 'Plaining, for complaining. 
 
 'Prehensions, for apprehensions. 
 
 Proggling, adj. meddling, poking. 
 
 Quawking, part, the noise of crows, croaking, cawing. 
 
 Ragg'd muffins, sub. raggamuffins. 
 
 Ridings, sub. the broad green-sward roads which intersect a wood. 
 
 Roll, sub. a large, heavy wooden roller for breaking clods. 
 
 Rocking, part, walking with alternate sideway motion. 
 
 Scrigg'd, V a. forced, or squeezed. 
 
 Searches, sub. researches, 
 
 'Serable, for resemble. 
 
 Shool, V, a. to carry for a pretence. 
 
 'Sides, for besides 
 
 SUed, V. n. fainted, sunk gradually. 
 
 Slive, v.n. to creep about, (Ash's Diet.) to do any thing slyly. 
 
 Slove, prcEt. of slive, — whence slovm. 
 
 Sloomy, adj. dully, — perhaps a contraction of sbw and gloomy. 
 
 Snifting and snutling, part, snuffing. 
 
 Soodles, V. n. goes unwillingly. 
 
 Spinney, sub. a natural wood, — a hedge-row thicket, — a young 
 
 coppice. (Ash's Diet.) 
 Stubs, sub. stubble. 
 
 Sprouts, V. a. puts forth. 
 
 Stall, sub. a shed, a temporary hut. 
 
 Standard, adj. trees or plants that grow unsupported.
 
 •■Z22 GLOSSARY. 
 
 Streaked, part, stretched. So used by Chapman. 
 
 Swaliest, adj. coolest. (Bailey's Diet.) 
 
 Swish, sub. a dash, as of water falling. 
 
 Taunts, v. a. tosses, as if scornful! jr. 
 
 Tint, a contraction of " it is not," 
 
 Tinty, adj. tinted. 
 
 Tools, sub. farming utensils. 
 
 Tootling, adj. the noise made with the tongue in playing on the 
 
 flute. 
 Unmatch'd, adj. used here for unequally matched. 
 'Veigled, for inveigled. 
 'Venturer, for adventurer. 
 
 Waterpudge, sub. or podge, a puddle. (Johnson's Diet.') 
 Wealed, pr<et. of weal, to raise marks on the skin with a whip. 
 Whanged, prcet. threw down with violence. 
 Witdien, sub. quick beam, or quicken-tree. (See Ash's Diet.) The 
 
 quick-beam, wild sorb, or witchen, is a species o/wild ash. 
 
 (Evelyn's Sylva.) 
 Won't, — contraction of " teill not." 
 
 THE END. 
 
 T. Mil/er, Printer, Xob/e Street, 
 Cheapside, London. 
 
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