The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
SONG
[Young Jemmy the pride of the Hamlett and mill]
Young Jemmy the pride of the Hamlett and mill
The pride of the [border] the vally and Hill
Once the pride of the lasses—well—so he is still
Altho hes undone the poor maid of the mill
Still he lives in the vally
With maidens to dally
Altho hes undone the poor maid of the mill
The pride of the [border] the vally and Hill
Once the pride of the lasses—well—so he is still
Altho hes undone the poor maid of the mill
Still he lives in the vally
With maidens to dally
Altho hes undone the poor maid of the mill
When the Hamlett and mill are all sleeping quite still
And night slowly creeping hides vally and Hill
He oft kisses the maiden in secret by the mill
To see the coy maiden that liv'd at the mill
Who few in the vally
Tho dozens woulds dally
So coy was the maiden that liv'd at the mill
And night slowly creeping hides vally and Hill
He oft kisses the maiden in secret by the mill
To see the coy maiden that liv'd at the mill
Who few in the vally
Tho dozens woulds dally
So coy was the maiden that liv'd at the mill
But one night (and he deems its Sunday night still)
Then he used the maid for what we all do well on the Hill
‘Come, come’ ‘But—’ ‘O’ never mind that if you will’
‘I'll for ever love sally—the maid of the mill
He still cooing and billing
At last she was willing
‘Oh my lovley sweet sally, the maid of the mill
Then he used the maid for what we all do well on the Hill
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‘I'll for ever love sally—the maid of the mill
He still cooing and billing
At last she was willing
‘Oh my lovley sweet sally, the maid of the mill
Think then of the ‘slanders and dally here still’
‘Or Judgment you'll [soon] find is shame for the Maid of the Hill
‘Come, come’ ‘Yes’ ‘But’ ‘O' never mind that if you will
‘Ill for ever love sally the maid of the mill
Now his heart was all wooing
O he long'd to be doing
‘O how I love sally the maid of the Hill
‘Or Judgment you'll [soon] find is shame for the Maid of the Hill
‘Come, come’ ‘Yes’ ‘But’ ‘O' never mind that if you will
‘Ill for ever love sally the maid of the mill
Now his heart was all wooing
O he long'd to be doing
‘O how I love sally the maid of the Hill
‘Now now never mind [dearie] O' my charmer sit still
‘Well well to be sure on these [OMITTED] [OMITTED] meadow rill
‘Coud Jem now be so fond [of doing] your will?
‘If you ever lov'd Jemmy dearest maid of the mill
O the billing and cooing
He so long'd to be doing
‘If you ever lov'd Jemmy [dearest] maid of the mill
‘Well well to be sure on these [OMITTED] [OMITTED] meadow rill
‘Coud Jem now be so fond [of doing] your will?
‘If you ever lov'd Jemmy dearest maid of the mill
O the billing and cooing
He so long'd to be doing
‘If you ever lov'd Jemmy [dearest] maid of the mill
‘—Well, well,—but I says, then we never need wait’—
‘If you'll [swear to] marry me & then Say I, [will]’
Now Jemmys soon busy [OMITTED] when I will
For he could not speak plain to the maid of the mill
As the poor maiden sigh'd
Jemmy still half reply'd
For he could not speak plain to the maid of the mill
‘If you'll [swear to] marry me & then Say I, [will]’
Now Jemmys soon busy [OMITTED] when I will
For he could not speak plain to the maid of the mill
As the poor maiden sigh'd
Jemmy still half reply'd
For he could not speak plain to the maid of the mill
‘Now Jemmy (O dearest) since you've just had your will
‘I hope you'll be loving and marry me still’
‘Ah the church Jemmy pleads we cannot wait till’
‘Till when?’ asketh sadly the lovley sweet maid of the mill
‘Come never talk of parting
‘'Tis time we were starting—’
‘—Till when?’ ‘Ah tis done—so return to [the] mill’.
‘I hope you'll be loving and marry me still’
‘Ah the church Jemmy pleads we cannot wait till’
‘Till when?’ asketh sadly the lovley sweet maid of the mill
‘Come never talk of parting
‘'Tis time we were starting—’
‘—Till when?’ ‘Ah tis done—so return to [the] mill’.
| The early poems of John Clare | |