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University of Virginia Library

The early poems of John Clare

1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger

Clare, John (1793-1864)

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I.

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Poems Descriptive of Rural Life and Scenery and other poems

[No hailing curry favouring tothers]

ON MR --- LOCKING UP THE PUBLIC PUMP

LINES WRITTEN WHILE VIEWING SOME REMAINS OF AN HUMAN BODY IN LOLHAM LANE

THE FLOWER POTT

FAREWELL TO A THICKETT

[I dreamd & even think I see him now]

THE GIPSIES EVENING BLAZE

EPIGRAM ON ROME

TO MRS ANNA ADCOCK AUTHOR OF ‘COTTAGE POEMS’

SUN-RISING IN SEPTEMBER

[Hail England old England my Country & home]

WONDER!!! IF A WOMAN KEEPS A SECRET

[Behind the far woods lowly sunk was the sun]

[Souls so distrest no comfort never knows]

[How welcome & sweet is springs infant dawning]

MY LAST SHILLING

[How lovly the thorn in the newly laid hedges]

LINES ON WELLINGTON

TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES MERRISHAW A VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER

THE POWERFUL SMILE

[O who can paint the anguish of the heart]

LOVE EPISTLES BETWEEN RICHARD AND KATE

AN ANSWER TO M. L. A.

A HUNT FOR DOBIN OR THE FORCE OF LOVE

a.

b.

ON A LOVER OF BOOKS

THE DEATH OF DOBBIN

THE WOUNDED SOLDIER

IMPROMTU SUGGESTED WHILE VIEWING AN INFANT GRAVE

ON A WITHER'D CROWFLOWER

A REPLY TO THE ENQUIREY ‘WHAT AILS YOU?’

ADRESS TO A LARK SINGING IN WINTER

TO MR J. TURNILL

THE DISSAPOINTED MILKMAID

A MOMENTS RAPTURE WHILE BEARING THE LOVLEY WEIGHT OF A. S---R---S

A BEGGING ORPHANS ADDRESS TO A LADY

THE COUNTRY GIRL

A REPLY TO --- OF --- ON STYLEING HIS HUMBLE SERVNT A FOOL

ELEGY Humbly attempted (from the overflowing effusions of a feeling heart) to pay a small tribute of esteem and gratitude to the memory of my dear friend companion and schoolfellow R[ichard] T[urnill] who was suddenly cut off in his youthful days by the fatal depredations of the Tipus Fever

COLLIN'S COMPLAINT

THE DISABLED SOLDIER

THE DEATH OF MYRTILLA

WRITTEN IN WESLEYS PHILOSOPHY

THE EAGLE AND THE CROW

TO AN APRIL DAISY

LOBIN CLOUTS SATIRICAL SOLLILOUQUY ON THE TIMES

[O Charming bird thy melody so sweet]

[So gay in summer as thy boughs where drest]

A FAMILLIAR EPISTLE TO A FRIEND

TO JANE --- OF --- IN THE MANNER O' BURNS

THE SETTING SUN

THE DISSAPOINTMENT

[A Uglier mortal ne'er has been]

[Friend take my advise would you do yourself good]

THE QUACK & THE COBLER

THE ‘RUINS OF DESPAIR’

DOBSON AND JUDIE

THE WELCOME STRANGER

EPITAPH ON A WOU'D-HAVE-BEEN-CHARITABLE-MAN

THE CRAFTY MAID

JOHN BUMKINS LUCY

LINES ON THE DEATH OF MRS BULLIMORE

THE WOOD NIMPH'S PETITION

ON SEEING A LOST GREYHOUND IN WINTER LYING UPON THE SNOW IN THE FIELDS

WILLIAM AND SALLEY

A PLOUGHMANS SKILL AT CLASSIFICATION AFTER THE LINEIAN ARRANGEMENT

A SCHOOL BOYS WIT

[For her my youth in fruitles hopes decay]

[O worst of anguish in that aching heart]

[Thrice welcome to thy slumbering peace o Grave]

[O should these humble artles strains]

ADDRESS TO AN INSIGNIFICANT FLOWER OBSCURELY BLOOMING IN A LONELY WILD

THE LUCKLESS JOURNEY

[By lonesom Woods & Unfrequented Streams]

THE VILLAGE FUNERAL

THE LAMENTATIONS OF ROUND-OAK WATERS

[Towpenny his wisdom is & towpenny his fame is]

ALPINS HARP NEW STRUNG

TO A FAVOURITE TREE

[The humble flowers that buds upon the plain]

[To meet the Breeze that fand the trees her snowy breast was bear]

[Young Damon long lovd charming Bess of the vale]

[The crowing coks the morns for told]

[My Native Village Native Fields]

ON THE DEATH OF A SCOLD

AN IMITATION OF BURNS

[How oft (with hat pulld oer my eyes]

DEATH OF THE BRAVE

[O riches from thy cruel scorning]

ON THE DEATH OF A BEAUTIFUL YOUNG LADY

[When from this vain World my spiri[t] is Reli[e]ved]

[Now spring returns with all her wonted charms]

[The dareing Bird that hardly shuns]

[The beauties of Myra in it[s] lustre now dawning]

THE FATE OF AMY

[I wish that I was but a gay blushing rose]

[Young Nanceys William for a Sailor press'd]

[Young Damon for Delia Sighd]

[‘O Death were is thy victory! O grave were is thy sting’]

SUPPOSD TO BE UTTERD BY WERTER AT THE CONCLUSION OF HIS LAST INTERVIEW WITH CHARLOTTE

THE MILLERS DAUGHTER

[The Rose & lilly blooms again]

DEATH OR VICTORY

[Ye spirits of the earth and air]

[Ive long been urgd friend for to write ye a Letter]

[No Chilling fears nor trembling alarms]

STANZAS ADDRESS'D TO M.C.M.

[How blest is he—the happiest mortal known]

[Reader if undisguisd thou ownst a heart]

ADDRESS TO PLENTY IN WINTER

THE RESIGNATION

[Now spring returns with all the pleasing charms]

[O welcome to thy cheering light]

ON THE DEATH OF A QUACK

[O thrice lucky town (the more lucky poor creatu'rs)]

A FEW HINTS TO A MAIDEN

[Now the Summers in its prime]

[Shakspear the Glory of the English stage]

[Summer now its lustre shining]

[Yes Ra[l]ph Natures made you both clumbsy & stout]

EPITAPH ON MR C---LE WHO AFTER EXPERIENCING MISFORTUNES URG'D AT LAST BY DESPAIR PUT A PERIOD TO HIS EXISTENCE—

CHUSING A FRIEND

[So Christianitys enlivening light]

[One monday morning sour & loath]

[[The maid who] roams upon the plain]

[O beneath such raptures in my forgetfull heart]

[Crafty cats that were constantly fixt on the watch]

[Watching [in that chill spot] that wakend the gale]

[Just as mornings rosy lass]

[Others in mixt alteration doubly blest]

[This hill on which I rest me now]

[Spirit of the woods awake]

[I saw the girl just to my mind]

[Hobbling to labour by some pasture side]

TO AN OAKEN STEM

[Gee is thy name thou prating plodding creature]

[O freedom freedom sacred name]

[O endless bright in life & light]

THE PAUSE BEFORE THE BATTLE

[The daises silver white]

[Thou moon crazd man]

[Sweet sleep & peace good night]

THE AUTUMNAL MORNING

[When gentle even oer the wild scene creeping]

[& if friendship you would win it]

SPORTS OF THE FIELD

THE BIRTH OF CHARITY

THE BIRTH OF EVE

OLD JOHNNY & DOROTHY CANNING

OPENING OF THE MORNING

CHRISTIAN FAITH

a.

WHAT IS LIFE? (a)

b.

LIFE'S LIKENESSES (b)

A REFLECTION IN AUTUMN

TO DAY THE FOX MUST DYE

ELEGY HASTILY COMPOSED & WRITTEN WITH A PENCIL ON THE SPOT IN THE RUINS OF PICKWORTH RUTLAND

‘YOU'LL NEVER CATCH ME THERE’

TO A ROSE BUD IN HUMBLE LIFE

TO THE GLOW-WORM

TO A WINTER SCENE

THE UNIVERSAL EPITAPH

THE LOVERS MEETING

THE AUTHORS ADDRESS TO HIS BOOK

THE HARVEST MORNING

IMPROMTU ON WINTER

PATTY OF THE VALE

SUPRESSION OF A SIGH

THE RECANTATION

[O gentle star so placidly]

[Closly confind among humdruming wheels]

[Ye promisd me mary last michaelmas fair]

a.

b.

VERSES ON MIDNIGHT MADE DURING A JOURNEY (b)

DAWNING OF GENIUS

THE ANCIENT HEROE

[Lost on the wild to the Storms biting breath]

[Wants yet on every side as deep suround me]

[Violet—thou art a lovly blossom]

[Tis sweet to view as on we pass]

TO THE NIGHTINGALE

TO THE MEMORY OF JAMES MERRISHAW A VILLAGE SCHOOLMASTER

AN ACT OF CHARITY!!!

EPIGRAM ON LONDON

IMPROMTU ON THE BATTLE OF ALEXANDRIA IN EGYPT

TO THE FOX FERN

[Mary I dare not call thee dear]

[‘Pink pink’ the bunting sings & picks its feather]

SONNET ON THE RIVER GASH

TO MY OATEN REED

THE WAGTAILS DEATH & PITYS FEELINGS ON BABARITY

‘MY LOVE THOU ART A NOSEGAY SWEET’

[Fair grows the tree by the side of the fountain]

[Lost to all pleasures when pl[e]asure can please [me]]

[To stand the brunts of toil & stormy weather]

[Thy eye can witness more then others]

[So now says he weegling how matters went wi im]

[Had they but got a haunch of bread]

[Full many troubles vext my hate]

[Shepherd why is this complaining]

TO REVD MR HOLLAND

[Not booted foplings when their cloaths misfit]

[The driving clouds in dark condension hung]

[Twas but a wild bramble that catchd at her gown]

[Man in that Age no rule but Reason knew]

[I Saw a Tree with Cheries Red]

[As I was walking out one Day]

[Thrice Welcome to thy song sweet warbling thrush]

[Beneath thies hedge how happy have I felt]

TO SUSAN ETHINNINGTON

TO A COLD BEAUTY, INSENSIBLE OF LOVE

THE FIRST OF MAY

APPROACH OF SPRING

[Ah doubtful bard perhaps in vain]

ADDRESS TO THE SLUGGARD

[On Saturday night she was strewing her sand]

SONG TAKEN FROM MY MOTHERS & FATHERS RECITATION & COMPLEATED BY AN OLD SHEPHERD

DOLLYS MISTAKE OR WAYS OF THE WAKE

VERSES WRITTEN ON THE BANKS OF THE RIVER GWASH AT BRIDGE CASTERTON

[A pleasant path a little path]

[As hopes fair sun breaks fates desponding gloom]

[The hind that were chopping them up for his fire]

A SIMPLE EFFUSION ADDRESS'D TO MY LAME FATHER

AN EFFUSION TO POETRY

‘HOW D'YE DO & GOOD BYE’

THE DYING SNOWDROP

[There was three ravens sat upon a tree]

II.

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TO A ROSE BUD IN HUMBLE LIFE

Sweet uncultivated blossom
Reard in springs refreshing dews
Dear to every gazers bosom
Fair to every eye that views
Opening bud whose youth can charm us
Thine be many a happy hour
Spreading rose whos beauty warms us
Flourish long my lovley flower

412

Tho pride looks disdainful on thee
Scorning scenes so mean as thine
Altho fortune frowns upon thee
Lovley blossom ne'er repine
Health unbought is ever wi' thee
—What their wealth can never gain
Innoscence her garments gie thee
Such as fashion apes in vain

Far be every evil from thee
Bud to blight or bloom decay
Still unborn the wretch to wrong thee
First beguile & then betray
—Who so destitute of feeling
Would such Innoscence beguile?
Who so base to be a villian
Would thy spotless sweets defile?—

When fit time & season grants thee
Leave to leave thy parent tree
May some happy hand transplant thee
To a station suiting thee
On some lovers worthy bosom
Mayest thou thy sweets resign
& may each unfolding blossom
Open charms as sweet as thine

Till that time may joys unceasing
Thy bards every wish fulfill
When thats come may joys increasing
Make thee blest & happier still

413

—Flourish fair thou artless Jessy
Pride of each admiring swain
Envy of despairing lasses
Queen of Walkherds lonly plain