The later poems of John Clare 1837-1864 ... General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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 | The later poems of John Clare |  |
37
NORTHAMPTON MANUSCRIPT 8
[Nigh Leopards hill stand All*ns hells]
Nigh Leopards hill stand All*ns hells
The public know the same
Where lady sods & buggers dwell
To play the dirty game
The public know the same
Where lady sods & buggers dwell
To play the dirty game
A man there is a prisoner there
Locked up from week to week
He's very fond they do declare
To play at hide & seek
Locked up from week to week
He's very fond they do declare
To play at hide & seek
With sweethearts so they seem to say
& such like sort of stuff
Well—one did come the other day
With half a pound of snuff
& such like sort of stuff
Well—one did come the other day
With half a pound of snuff
The snuff went here the snuff went there
& is not that a bad house
To cheat a prisoner of his fare
In a well ordered madhouse
& is not that a bad house
To cheat a prisoner of his fare
In a well ordered madhouse
They'll cheat you of your money friend
By takeing too much care o't
& if your wives their cun---ys send
They're sure to have a share o't
By takeing too much care o't
& if your wives their cun---ys send
They're sure to have a share o't
38
Now where this snuff could chance to stop
Perhaps gifts hurded are up
Till Mat & steward open shop
& have a jolly flare up
Perhaps gifts hurded are up
Till Mat & steward open shop
& have a jolly flare up
Madhouses they must shut up shop
& tramp to fairs & races
Master & men as madmen stop
Life lives by changeing places
& tramp to fairs & races
Master & men as madmen stop
Life lives by changeing places
[What happy thoughts the summer yields]
What happy thoughts the summer yieldsLike woman soft & fair
The voice of love is in the fields
While music fills the air
[—Truth must be truth & will where e'er we go]
—Truth must be truth & will where e'er we goThough bigots howl & fight to answer ‘No’
39
BALLAD—FRAGMENT
[O Lord God Almighty How Usefull Art Thou]
O Lord God Almighty How Usefull Art Thou
To Darn The Knaves Cloak & To Paint The Thieves Brow
As Good As A Laundress Thy Kindness Has Been
To Help Starving Sinners & Wash The Unclean
Thou'rt As Good As A Nurse To The Sickly & Lame
That Live In Bad House's & Die In Ill Fame
For The Worst In The World Have A Passport For Heaven
While The Best Go To Hell Like A Deed Unforgiven
To Darn The Knaves Cloak & To Paint The Thieves Brow
As Good As A Laundress Thy Kindness Has Been
To Help Starving Sinners & Wash The Unclean
Thou'rt As Good As A Nurse To The Sickly & Lame
That Live In Bad House's & Die In Ill Fame
For The Worst In The World Have A Passport For Heaven
While The Best Go To Hell Like A Deed Unforgiven
& I'll Hazard Hell Upon Life's Roughest Waves
Before I'll Be Cheated By Ruffians & Knaves
Plain Honesty Still Is The Truth Of My Song
& I'll Still Stick For Right To Be Out Of The Wrong
The Honest & True My Example Shall Be
For While A Man's Honest His Conscience Is Free
Before I'll Be Cheated By Ruffians & Knaves
Plain Honesty Still Is The Truth Of My Song
& I'll Still Stick For Right To Be Out Of The Wrong
The Honest & True My Example Shall Be
For While A Man's Honest His Conscience Is Free
| The later poems of John Clare | |