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 WELCOME STRANGER |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
THE WELCOME STRANGER
‘Come suke begin to blow the fire
‘—The storm beats high—I hope no harm
‘And now we're up its my desire
‘To get this dithering stranger warm’
‘—The storm beats high—I hope no harm
‘And now we're up its my desire
‘To get this dithering stranger warm’
‘But stay—poor soul he wants some cloaths
‘Then fetch him down my best supply
‘Altho but very mean god knows
‘They're comfortable clean and dry’
‘Then fetch him down my best supply
‘Altho but very mean god knows
‘They're comfortable clean and dry’
‘Thus robin spoke before he knew
Or ask'd his guest the cause that brought,—
But where real goodnes does pursue
To save!—demands their every thought
Or ask'd his guest the cause that brought,—
But where real goodnes does pursue
To save!—demands their every thought
He heard a noise! and up he got
Pierc'd deep with sorrows not his own
And to recieve a friend or not
Instant his door was open thrown
Pierc'd deep with sorrows not his own
And to recieve a friend or not
Instant his door was open thrown
Aloud he cries ‘you're welcome here!’
His bowels did with pity yearn
The unseen stranger trampl'd near
And lowly thank'd him in return
His bowels did with pity yearn
The unseen stranger trampl'd near
And lowly thank'd him in return
187
And O such epithets so mild
On the lost man they both bestow'd
‘Poor dear lost soul’ and ‘wandering child’
In the dark cottage sweetly flowd
On the lost man they both bestow'd
‘Poor dear lost soul’ and ‘wandering child’
In the dark cottage sweetly flowd
But when the kindling fire was litt
And show'd a man most nobly drest
Their soothings fled and sorley frit
Poor robin thus excuses prest
And show'd a man most nobly drest
Their soothings fled and sorley frit
Poor robin thus excuses prest
‘Sir, I beg pardon for I'm sure
‘I never thought of such a man.—
‘God knows my heart altho I'm poor
‘I feel for other sir I can’
‘I never thought of such a man.—
‘God knows my heart altho I'm poor
‘I feel for other sir I can’
‘But still I own I was to[o] free
‘So muzzling in the darkness hid
‘I talk'd too fast ere I could see
‘And now I'm vex'd because I did’
‘So muzzling in the darkness hid
‘I talk'd too fast ere I could see
‘And now I'm vex'd because I did’
‘We live almost unknown to all
‘No gentleman came here before
‘None but poor-men who some times call
‘To crave a morsel at the door’
‘No gentleman came here before
‘None but poor-men who some times call
‘To crave a morsel at the door’
‘So sir you see my wife and I
‘Took you to be as one of them.—
‘But still the worst on't is be-gu'y
‘We've nothing fit for gentlemen!’
‘Took you to be as one of them.—
‘But still the worst on't is be-gu'y
‘We've nothing fit for gentlemen!’
‘For what few sorry things we've got
‘Are trifling and will ne'er amount.—
‘But tho I shou'd'n't grudge my lot
‘I'm sorry sir on your account’
‘Are trifling and will ne'er amount.—
‘But tho I shou'd'n't grudge my lot
‘I'm sorry sir on your account’
‘To see a gentleman so wet
‘In hopes 'while-back to find relief
‘And to be disappointed yet
‘I'm sure sir yourn's the worst of grief’
‘In hopes 'while-back to find relief
‘And to be disappointed yet
‘I'm sure sir yourn's the worst of grief’
188
‘I'm vex'd.—but ere the stranger rose
And interrupted with a smile
‘Old Man forbear no wants disclose
‘Peace peace and be at ease awhile’
And interrupted with a smile
‘Old Man forbear no wants disclose
‘Peace peace and be at ease awhile’
‘If so you think you think amiss
‘Whats here I little thought to see
‘Your “worst of grief” to me is bliss
‘Old man I mean humanity!’
‘Whats here I little thought to see
‘Your “worst of grief” to me is bliss
‘Old man I mean humanity!’
I find it here,—my lost distress
‘And seeming grief you share a part
‘Nor is it outwardly to bless
‘No thou art honest from the heart!’
‘And seeming grief you share a part
‘Nor is it outwardly to bless
‘No thou art honest from the heart!’
‘Thou didst recieve me good or bad
‘Thou gave me instantly relief
‘With thy own clothes I may be clad
‘Then is there any room for grief?’
‘Thou gave me instantly relief
‘With thy own clothes I may be clad
‘Then is there any room for grief?’
‘No!—this old hut believe me brings
‘More solid comforts to my mind
‘Then all the luxury of kings
‘Or richest pallaces can find!’
‘More solid comforts to my mind
‘Then all the luxury of kings
‘Or richest pallaces can find!’
‘Man has not where to lay his head’
‘—When lost—on this—I wish'd and sigh'd
‘But now (bless god) all doubts are fled
‘And every wish is well supply'd’
‘—When lost—on this—I wish'd and sigh'd
‘But now (bless god) all doubts are fled
‘And every wish is well supply'd’
‘My luck was great to wander here
‘I love the poor mans social glee
‘Then pray resume your former cheer
‘T'will be more happines to me’
‘I love the poor mans social glee
‘Then pray resume your former cheer
‘T'will be more happines to me’
Here he was stopt for robins heart
Of warmest praises got so full
That Bold or not he must impart
In spite of Judies twitch and pull!
Of warmest praises got so full
That Bold or not he must impart
In spite of Judies twitch and pull!
189
‘God bless you sir your very ways
‘Shows a great gentleman I'm sure
‘For our proud bug-struts now-a-days
‘Will not bear talking to the poor.’
‘Shows a great gentleman I'm sure
‘For our proud bug-struts now-a-days
‘Will not bear talking to the poor.’
‘When one's wi' them why there I stand
‘At every word I'm forc'd to bow
‘My grey head bare and Hat in hand
‘For age makes nothing wi' 'em now!’
‘At every word I'm forc'd to bow
‘My grey head bare and Hat in hand
‘For age makes nothing wi' 'em now!’
‘Then it's not fashion—no that drops
‘As soon as ever they begin
‘For scorning to level with such fops
‘Men like your honor gives it in’
‘As soon as ever they begin
‘For scorning to level with such fops
‘Men like your honor gives it in’
‘So deuce take these concieted cre'tur's
‘They cause such altering 'mong 'em all
‘That when one gets before ones betters
‘We can't tell how to do a't 'all’
‘They cause such altering 'mong 'em all
‘That when one gets before ones betters
‘We can't tell how to do a't 'all’
Here sukie gave a shake and squint
He saw—and criticiz'd no more
Full well he knew the silent hint
Was meant in manners to give oer
He saw—and criticiz'd no more
Full well he knew the silent hint
Was meant in manners to give oer
The stranger now from top to toe
Equip'd in robins Best so tight
Made him begin again to show
What if conceal'd would not be right
Equip'd in robins Best so tight
Made him begin again to show
What if conceal'd would not be right
‘Them things’ quoth robin ‘one by one
‘Are sweet and clean sir every way
‘So never fear to keep 'em on
‘You'll catch no harm I'll 'bound to say’
‘Are sweet and clean sir every way
‘So never fear to keep 'em on
‘You'll catch no harm I'll 'bound to say’
190
‘I'm free again—but now the plan
‘'Bout that is alter'd—since I find
‘Your honor such a gentleman
‘To talk a little I dont mind’
‘'Bout that is alter'd—since I find
‘Your honor such a gentleman
‘To talk a little I dont mind’
‘So let me tell you sir my cot
‘Is at your service while you stay
‘And to the little all we've got
‘You're welcome as the flowers in may!’
‘Is at your service while you stay
‘And to the little all we've got
‘You're welcome as the flowers in may!’
‘You're tir'd likwise and sleep must need
‘And tho we've gott'n but one bed
‘We should be happier sir indeed
‘Would you but take it in our stead’
‘And tho we've gott'n but one bed
‘We should be happier sir indeed
‘Would you but take it in our stead’
‘No—since night's short’ the stranger cried
‘I'd rather sit up here than go—
‘Well sir’ the cottagers replied
‘Just as you like we'd have yo' do’
‘I'd rather sit up here than go—
‘Well sir’ the cottagers replied
‘Just as you like we'd have yo' do’
Then she reach'd out her homley fare
With every look of real good will
And robin must again repair
To bid his stranger welcome still
With every look of real good will
And robin must again repair
To bid his stranger welcome still
He still kept pressing ‘take some more’
And ‘Sir we're sorry tis our best’
The stranger thank'd him oer and oer
With nod and smile to tell the rest
And ‘Sir we're sorry tis our best’
The stranger thank'd him oer and oer
With nod and smile to tell the rest
And though no dainties set to please
Nor viands grac'd his lowly board
A hard brown loaf and harder cheese
Being all his cottage would afford
Nor viands grac'd his lowly board
A hard brown loaf and harder cheese
Being all his cottage would afford
The stranger was well satisfy'd
With this one step 'bove poverty
For wise good men cannot abide
The rant of noisey Luxury
With this one step 'bove poverty
For wise good men cannot abide
The rant of noisey Luxury
191
And now the things being set aside
Old sukie she retir'd to rest
While robin did more sticks provide
To cheer and warm his welcome guest
Old sukie she retir'd to rest
While robin did more sticks provide
To cheer and warm his welcome guest
Whose tale (not bid) he wish'd to hear
Of all the dangers he'd been in
Howe'er at last (tho much in fear)
Enquirey forc'd him to begin
Of all the dangers he'd been in
Howe'er at last (tho much in fear)
Enquirey forc'd him to begin
‘I hope sir what I ask you'll grant?
‘Yet thats unmanner'dly I trow
‘But you'll excuse me for I can't
‘Do things no better than I know’
‘Yet thats unmanner'dly I trow
‘But you'll excuse me for I can't
‘Do things no better than I know’
‘I want to hear how you this night
‘Was so unlucky to be lost
‘And how your honour came to light
‘Of our old hut that's hid a'most’
‘Was so unlucky to be lost
‘And how your honour came to light
‘Of our old hut that's hid a'most’
‘Well well old man to pleasure you
‘I'll tell it then without excuse
The stranger cried—‘exactley true
‘And first of all my name is Bruce’
‘I'll tell it then without excuse
The stranger cried—‘exactley true
‘And first of all my name is Bruce’
‘From stamford town this night I've came
‘But how I cannot find it out
‘For which I own I'm much to blame
‘Tho 't'was not late when I set out’
‘But how I cannot find it out
‘For which I own I'm much to blame
‘Tho 't'was not late when I set out’
‘But what I thought was getting oer
‘(As seeming likely to abate)
‘Turn'd to rain harder than before
‘And that allur'd me to my fate’
‘(As seeming likely to abate)
‘Turn'd to rain harder than before
‘And that allur'd me to my fate’
‘For had it rain'd when I was there
‘I never should have come away
‘But as it look'd so nice and fair
‘I thought I'd better go then stay’
‘I never should have come away
‘But as it look'd so nice and fair
‘I thought I'd better go then stay’
192
‘While darkness soon at earlier hour
‘Hid every house and every tree
‘Then to find roads I had no power
‘For every road was strange to me’
‘Hid every house and every tree
‘Then to find roads I had no power
‘For every road was strange to me’
‘And o when ones benighted so
‘What fancies darkness will beget
‘What dismal seeming pits below
‘Lie gapeing every foot we set’
‘What fancies darkness will beget
‘What dismal seeming pits below
‘Lie gapeing every foot we set’
‘Some times I hardly dar'd to move
‘When I so very lost had got
‘Before I prog'd my stick to prove
‘The road as wether sound or not’
‘When I so very lost had got
‘Before I prog'd my stick to prove
‘The road as wether sound or not’
‘Nay all the while I was in fear
‘And always had a scene to dred
‘For thoughts of unseen dangers near
‘For ever serv'd to fill my head’
‘And always had a scene to dred
‘For thoughts of unseen dangers near
‘For ever serv'd to fill my head’
‘At length by drenching rain half drown'd
‘I at your Cottage did advance
‘At which you wonder how I found
‘Indeed old man twas all by chance’
‘I at your Cottage did advance
‘At which you wonder how I found
‘Indeed old man twas all by chance’
‘And when I saw the ponds so blea
And heard the trees so hoarsley sound
I realey took the place to be
Some ancient Castle moated round’
And heard the trees so hoarsley sound
I realey took the place to be
Some ancient Castle moated round’
‘I fancied (far beneath a man)
‘Those fables which the weak believe
‘Of dire Enchantments Spectres wan
‘And all Romances can concieve’
‘Those fables which the weak believe
‘Of dire Enchantments Spectres wan
‘And all Romances can concieve’
And oft I wander'd round thy shed
‘And listn'd at thy window near
‘And oft I tapt thy door with dread
‘But nothing stird as I could hear’
‘And listn'd at thy window near
‘And oft I tapt thy door with dread
‘But nothing stird as I could hear’
193
‘Yet as the well known proverb says
‘Force never puts us to no choise’
‘For spite of all such timid ways
‘I forc'd at last with loudest voice’
‘Force never puts us to no choise’
‘For spite of all such timid ways
‘I forc'd at last with loudest voice’
‘To call for shelter hit or miss
‘And when good soul thou didst appear
‘Soon to my unexpecting bliss
‘I found that I was welcome here’
‘And when good soul thou didst appear
‘Soon to my unexpecting bliss
‘I found that I was welcome here’
| The early poems of John Clare | |