The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
 | I. |
 |
| II. |
 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
AN ACT OF CHARITY!!!
At H[elpsto]n town O rarietyWhat mighty acts of charity
Performing are—but chiefly one
The which we mean to treat upon
Bestow'd by that—but halt awhile
Such gifts require a loftier stile
458
‘Bestow'd’ will sound a note too low
Then haste ye muse's haste away
And all your lofty sounds convey
Ransack your far-fam'd temple's oer
Bring musick never heard before
For sure such noble deeds require
Immortal hands to sound the lyre
But now a lucky thought pops in
Which makes high metaphors run thin
Methinks while thus invokins flow
My anxious reader longs to know
The Gift I sing ‘Bless us’ quoth he
‘Who can the great donator be’
‘For sure it must if I can read’
‘Be more than charity indeed’
‘If so; why need he sue for aid’
‘For “lofty sounds” or rich brocade’
‘Blest Charity!! her self illumnes’
‘Nor wants high “sounds” nor borrow'd plumes’
‘She is a subject so divine’
‘That nought on earth can brighter shine’
| The early poems of John Clare | |