The early poems of John Clare :: :: University of Virginia Library

A Tramper on a certain day
Met with another on his way
An utter stranger he
But having many miles to go
They both familliar 'gan to grow
& chatterd very free

One reason'd upon such & such
Then 't'other prais'd his judgment much
& said he reasond well—
In short they talk'd of many things
(Of kingdoms, governments, & kings)
Too numerous to tell

& so they talk'd whole hours away
& when one tale was ended they
Did other tales begin
—Till suddenly in eager tone
One crys ‘no halves its all my own
‘By jingos Peters in’

252

For (tho not often practis'd walking)
By using eyes as well as talking
He saw a bundle lye
While tother not so sharp as he
Too busy in discourse to see
Went gauming heedless bye

He shakes it round & somthing chinks!
His heart jumps up—he hopes—& thinks
So a[n]xious to behold
& scarce could he contain himself
When wonderfull! he found his pelf
Was nothing else but gold!

And's Comrade now too 'gan to stare
& instant claim'd an equal share
As nothing but his due
& bolted up to plan the way
But sharper cries ‘hold hard here—stay
‘I think theres none for you’

If I guess right when this appeard
(Which you no doubt on't plainly heard)
I said no shares wi' me
Moreover too—your chance was full
As good as mine to get the whol'
Had you but eyes to see

Therefore I cannot make it out
How you can bring your claims about
To come at half my pelf
For if I rightly hit my aim
The only man that has a Claim
Is one I call My self

253

He ended—& his mate begun
To say he cou'd'n't see no fun
In such like hoggish jobs
Of one who so for fairness stuck
& now they lit o' this good luck
To pocket all the dobs

& gave his reasons oer & oer
Which seem'd so natural heretofore
But not so now they shine
To every reason he could show
Still cried the finder—‘this I know
‘That every skerricks mine’

‘For when’ says he luck comes at last
The proverb tells you to hold fast
& keep what you have got
So friend I'll never let you dip
But as you've been a brother chip
I'll treat you with a pot

So now poor hopeless found for fact
That former reasons wou'd'n't act
As half the prize to get
He work'd his nob again to make
A different plan he wishd would take
To be a sharer yet

So now to gain his wish'd-for-ends
On lyes lapt-up-well he depends
Drove to his P's & Q's
—‘I tell you what old Chap’ says he
Twas just before you lit O' me
I heard some queerish news!

254

But you may think I'm telling lyes—
‘What is't?’ the t'other eager cries
I'll tell ye when I hear—
Well—you may take it as you will
T'is true depend upon't—but still
You needn't see much fear

This ‘needn't see much fear’ was said
(So subtelty can work his head
By wisdom scarce disern'd)
To make the tother (as he guest)
Or hop'd to make him think at least
Self interest wa'n't concern'd!

Twas by the road but I've forgot
Th'name o' the place where it was at
But does'n't matter where
Being rather faint for want o' drink
(Yet not so sadly off for chink)
I went to ha' some beer

On entering in a house at hand
(As alehouses do mostly stand
To catch all passers by)
I told my wants & sat me down
'Gen two near neighbours o' the town
A talking very sly

At which so eager o' my beer
I first ga' little heed to hear
Untill I 'gan to see

255

Some queerish beckons come in vogue
& hear the name o' thief & rogue
& then a look at me

At this queer comical affair
I silence broke & hitch'd my chair
As neer em as I cou'd
To let 'em see I wa'n't asham'd
O' the suspicious things they nam'd
Let them think as they wou'd

At first I gave a ham—& then
Began my speech wi gentlemen
We've charming weather now
O yes Indeed sir—they reply'd
Tis rarley on the farmers side
For land beneath the plough

& 'bout the farmers much was said
But thief & rogue still work'd my head
'Twas that I wish'd to hear
& when by long discourse I found
A fitting time to bring it round
I ask'd 'em how it where

Gentlemen I think says I
When first (if I'm not out be'guy)
I call'd in here to drink
I heard you mention theif & rogue
Two names so very much in vogue
Which made me apt to think

256

& as you seem both men o' sense
I think my freedom's no offence
To neither one nor tother
For as I love my self to make
Free with all sorts for talkings sake
I think so by another

So if—says I what you begun
Was any thing of robbery done
I hope you'll not refuse
To tell the whole contents to me
For I am one you plainly see
That loves a little news

This fetch'd a laugh & when twas done
‘O to be sure Sir’ they begun
We can comply with ease
For we like you do love to be
With strangers as with neighbours free
So drink sir if you please

Well so I did—I took the quart
Says I ‘Your healths wi' all my heart’
& fetch'd a charming pull
While by degrees the tale begun
‘I guess'd says they somthing was done
‘The fellow look'd so dull’

—But this remark did only start
(While I was dipping i' the quart)
Between themselves you see
& when they found me ready fix'd
They soon wi' no self talkings mixd
Address'd the tale to me

257

‘Well you must know Sir’ they begun
The robbery we talk'd of being done
Was in our village here
Last night about the hour of one
(An hour rogues mostly plans upon
As theres the least to fear)

A neighbours house of ours was rob'd
Whose mony'd hurds the rascals fob'd
& left him not a groat
Nor did they ever thank him for't
But worse then all when all they'd got
They swore theyd cut his throat

Tho this to fright was only said
For him they left alive in bed
Tho not so clean as found—
Yet if they'r catch'd (theres great reward)
That word will go agen 'em hard
& hang 'em I'll be bound

Yes sure as ever they are hatch'd
They'll every one of 'em be catch'd
—Aye—how comes that? says I
Why theres a man to London gone
To set the bow-street runners on
& they you know will try

Well, well, says I—if thats the case
I'm sure I shou'dnt like their place
Fex on't they'll quake i' fear

258

Yes 'pend upon't says they theyre found
If any where above the ground
As sure as we sit here

‘& well’—(to know being fully bent)
Says I ist known which way they went
—Yes—they returns—the ground
Confirms the truth that they'll be stopt
To day—(which in their haste they dropt)
Theres several things been found

The tale being done welcome or not
Unbid I ventur'd to the pot
As any christian wou'd
And being a dry I drank it up
& thank'd 'em for their friendly sup—
E fex it did me good

They look'd askew well I could see
I'd made my self a bit too free—
But faith I never care
For when chance offers I detest
That fellow that wornt do his best
—At free cost never spare

259

For with excuses neer at loss
My saddle sits on every horse
I've neer been wanting yet
Good friends says I—the freedoms ta'en
But word as bond when here again
Mind I'm a treat in debt

Here I leave 'em & no doubt
You'll think my tale around about
Tho sharpness quickly sees
'Bout what youve got this plainly tells
& as the hints to wish you well
Excuse it if you please

Tother now star'd & cock'd his hat
Before he spoke—(but smelt the rat)
—I hear ye friend—says he
Then stopt & fetch'd a hearty laugh—
But you mu'n't think your strowing chaff
To catch such birds as me

Old scheemer finding all in vain
To be a sharer in the gain
Now left his mate behind
When lo! all most beyond belief
He hears a noise ‘stop thief—stop thief’
Come echoing i' the wind

O! as you say the tother cries
This parcel which I thought a prize
Is surely stolen goods!

260

What must we do they're found on us!
They'll put's in prison if no worse
Lets run it to the woods

Poh—says the tother very cool
Whats we put in for now ye fool
I'm free as e'er for ganging
For as yah said in past affairs
‘Tis all my own & no half shares’
So yah may say by hanging

When friends ha luck to rise above us
Spite how they once pretend to love us
& all their flattering fuss
Reader observe—thoult find it true
They're strangers then to me & you
& know no more of us

But when from—(fate ordains us crosses)
Neglect or overlooking losses
Their former fate redoubles
Then like the man that dreads being taken
Poor we so long ago forsaken
Are sought to share their troubles

From this we both may plainly see
The undermineing vanity
Of Friendship vainly priz'd
Self interest ‘rules the roast’ below
& Friendships but a weigling show
Of Treachery disguis'd