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

Edmunds & Hellens Loves my verse woud sing
Loves far more worthy of a tenderer theme
Then aught my humble verse essays to bring
Loves joind as sweet as flowers with summer seem
But doomd to sorrow in its worst extream
He was a gentle youth unrudely free
& she O weres the fancy that coud dream
Of one so fair so beautiful as she
Unless twas beautys self in its eternity

No muse is urgd new terrors to impart
To hurt the tender soul with fancied fears
To blight the feelings of the mild of heart
& force from eyes a mockery of tears
Few glowing fancys in the theme appears
The trials love & nature undergo
Two tender lovers born to clouded years
Hopes nipt in storms that checker life below
Makes up this simple tale of unpretending woe

550

No burning pictures paints imagined strife
Fancys deep plots & terrors here are few
This common picture on the map of life
Who ever cons that motly page may view
& find such storys but alas too true
Tho high raisd souls may scorn so mean a lay
Who from romances all their pity drew
Yet are there tender maids as fair as they
Shall read such tales in tears & pitys tribute pay

O beautiful is woman cares vain strife
Even wears a smile among such lovley things
Those tender blessings in the curse of life
Those charms that hover like an angels wings
& to lorn griefs, affections comfort brings
O gentle woman soft bewitching name
Merceys first born—from thy soft bosom springs
All that our wishes or our wants can claim
Love joy & life with thee as thy companions came

Helen was lovly like a picture such
That poets paint, a dream of beautys light
Her cheek glowed with the rose buds gentlest touch
& on her neck the lily revelled white

551

& on her bosom never made for care
The blue veins flowed in luxurys delight
In lucious ringlets danced her shaded hair
Her bright eye sparkeld blue—O she was more then fair

Her eyes were soft to look on & her hair
Was darkly brown which curled in idle play
Down her white forhead—her soft cheek was fair
Feint flushed like eves which fond night steals away
On her white neck the enarmourd ringlets lay
Nestling like clouds in bright calm summer skyes
Her lips wore smiles woud lead a saint astray
& her young bosom just begun to rise
A witching seat for love & throbbd its extacys

Her soul was virtues in its purest claim
Her heart was spotless as the turtle dove
Earths sins were strangers only known by name
Her speaking eyes beamed innocence & love
If earth owned one ere worthy heaven above
Twas she the saint the angel unbeguiled
That led a life which no one need reprove
She only loved & that was undefiled
Tho fate disdained that love & mocked her while it smiled

552

Edmund a gentle youth of manners mild
Met Helens beauty in its fondest hour
That opened on his anxious gaze & smiled
With all sweet womans fascinating power
For witching beauty was her earliest dower
It slept in childhood like a bud disguised
A lovley bud far lovlier when in flower
He wood her early & his suit was prized
By her whose only crime was loving unadvised

& long he loved her ere he dared to name
His hearts fond anguish to the lovly maid
Mistrusting fear & self confusing shame
That oer loves hopes will ever cast a shade
Still sealed his tongue & kept his heart afraid
Oft love burnt urgent to reveal its pain
& doubts as oft its courage woud up braid
Telling in sighs such trials woud be vain
& thus his love woud burn & thus woud damp again

The balmy breathings of the voice that breaks
In heavenly music on our ravished ears
Singing the utterers beauty while she speaks
The flowing hair the bright eye rich with tears
The soft cheek flushd with hope or pale with fears
The swelling breast who coud its heart betray
The love the sigh that tenderly endears
Women possesd these charms in early day
& they posses them on to while our hearts away

553

Oft as for walks of pleasure she woud rove
On summer days when roads were clean & dry
Venturing from out her fathers beachen grove
Across the fields the youth with anxious eye
Oft saw & passed on purpose closely bye
She deemd it rudness first but soon excused
That rudness worthy of a tenderer name
& learned as passing to return the sigh
Her hearts fond warmth was checked by maiden shame
Which he mistook for pride & deemd her heart to blame

But hopes did gather freedom & in stealth
Love ventured looks & smiles & oft woud say
The day was fine & compliment her health
& urge some trifling kindness in her way
As offering help when ere her journey lay
Oer brooks or stiles—then begd to be excused
For unmeant rudeness as she blushd away
Thus Edmunds hopes such trifles oft amused
When each heart feign had spoke what eithers tongue refused

The very flowers so fancys power beguiles
That in her garden met his passing view
As the suns looks add beauty were it smiles
Seemd from her charms to steal a sweeter hue

554

& looked to him the lovliest flowers that grew
A[h] were was rose & lily half so fair
To Edmunds eyes as those which Helen knew
None seemed like those that blossomd neath her care
Such ways hath partial love to wed the heart to care

Oft buoyant hope urged him his suit to move
& with its whispers he at length complied
—Fond Helen blushed & every way was love
Her eyes in looks of tenderness replyed
& told in silence he was not denied
But doubts & fears like brambles had their hold
On her too tender bosom—flattered pride
She knew woud deem the youths affections bold
& oft she told her doubts & wept at what she told

He urged his passion tenderly & true
& tho consent returned him no reply
Affection warmed her cheek with deeper hue
& the soft languish of her beaming eye
That stole their tender color from the sky
Serenly blue—looked on him with a smile
& her soft bosom struggling with its sigh
Told his fond hopes a story void of guile
While courage seized her hand & paid its vows the while

555

Is aught of earthly raptures half so sweet
As that which thrills the soul in youths fond fear
When met the object which it doats to meet
& loves first hope is whisperd in her ear
& finds that hope approved—is aught so dear
As the first yielding smile by love subdued
Lifes hope may wander many an after year
From the first idol that its heart pursued
But never shall it meet that happiness renewed

O how he felt when first her lips he prest
& met the warmth returned—when lily white
Thro the thin covering lawn her heaving breast
First spread loves beautious heaven on his sight
& fixed his eyes in trances of delight
When first he languishd on that seat of rest
While beaming oer him like an holy light
Her eyes shed smiles of welcome on their guest
& told her souls confession—it was blest

Ah what a pleasure doth that bosom prove
That links its heart with hopes eternity
To some fair maidens purity of love
Whose thoughts whose hopes whose raptures all agree

556

Whose warm souls mingle one—how mild & free
Thro' hermit life their happiness sojourns
As dear as heaven if aught so dear can be
Is that fond heart who at loves alter burns
& meets from womans smile affections warm returns

What heart but gladdens when a woman smiles
What darksome cares but sickens in that light
When womans soothing tenderness beguiles
& like a moonbeam in the clouded night
Cheers up heart sickening sorrows to delight
Where is the friend that cherishes & cheers
Like womans smiles theres somthing in the sight
As heaven were nigh—theres pleasure in her tears
When pitys tale she hears & weeps at what she hears

Their love was ardent but it seemed as vain
When ere they pondered oer the gulph between
Their births & fortunes—ah coud Helen gain
Those oft repeated wishes to have been
A cottage maiden on some village green
Keeping her sheep with Edmund day by day
‘Ah’ she woud say ‘what pleasure I had seen’
& wept when Edmund bid her hopes be gay
Smiled on her doubts & kissed their bitterness away

557

They loved in secret when a chance was given
To blind suspicion & to be alone
Then did they steal to pay their vows to heaven
That rose like offered inscence round the throne
& made their wishes unto heaven known
Who unlike cruel man coud not despise
& in such hopes he called the maid his own
& lookd those silent answers from her eyes
That tenderly returned unspeakable replys

They met on sundays when the fields were still
& peace was found in many secret nooks
& there they sought the moles long finished hill
Mossed oer—& feasted on each others looks
& she'd repeat sweet passages from books
Were love was told the sweetest—often they
Woud trace the secret journeyings of brooks
Far from all paths were jealous eyes might stray
Oer heaths & pastures wild their heaven directed way

They met at eve when solitude beguiled
Their steps with secresy & made them blest
When the pale moon beam on their pleasures smiled
& calmly slept on Helens heaving breast
As if it loved so beautiful a rest
They walked & told their hopes of other years
That never was to come but hopes possest
Ideal pleasures not unchecked with fears
That oft made Helen sigh & turn away in tears

558

& oft they warmed to raptures fond extreams
That soothed all care to lethargy—no thought
But pleasures mixed in such delicious dreams
Such evenings came as they from heaven were brought
To bid life vanish & the world be nought
But for such partings—ah that love shoud part
Care in that portion mixed her bitterest draught
For each to drink—mad absence urged the smart
& bade the short farewell in heaviness of heart

Art thou in love or hast thou ever loved
Then canst thou feel it or has felt it all
The thrilling joys with which the soul is moved
The trifling fears that keeps the heart in thrall
Ah thou hast sipt its honey & its gall
For both unseverd in its draughts remain
The restless memory that will back recall
Loves absent idol & the pleasing pain
That dwells upon the heart till both shall meet again

Sweet is the even after showers have fell
On days hot beating bosom some few hours
Before the sunset when refreshed with smell
The sweet briar perks its leaves & woodbine flowers

559

Doth hearten up fresh fragrance in the dell
Who that loves nature doth not love to dwell
An hour by dripping woods while the fresh air
Breaths added sweets—fair Helen loved it well
& oft with Edmund met such hours to share
The fairest blossom that was blooming there

& markd each rural scene—the lowing herds
Wind one by one adown the homward lane
& listnd the soft song of twitting birds
& shepherds ditty striding home again
Each rural pleasure did their steps detain
With many a minutes gaze—& she woud sigh
With doubtful happiness whose joys are pain
While the flushd milkmaid tript in raptures bye
To think that fortunes pride had placd her life so high

& he woud seek her blossoms by her side
& place them in her breast to fade away
While she woud prize them with affections pride
Nor deem them worthless in their quick decay

560

But kept them withering many an after day
As fond remembrances of loves esteem
& oft in blushing smiles she woud betray
Such secret fondness in her loves extream
Which thrilled thro Edmunds soul like beauty in a dream

He looked thrilled raptures from her smiling eye
& watched her fond heart in its soft retreat
Till thrilling extacy raised hopes so high
As een to fancy he coud hear it beat
With loves fond flutterings of delightful heat
& in such swooning joys he fondly prest
Her willing lips to his the touch how sweet
& on her bosom he woud linger blest
Ah who on earth that loves coud wish a sweeter rest

561

When poisond slander sleeps itself to nought
& no eye waketh save the silver moon
How balmy night doth sooth loves restless thought
Burnt with anxietys befeverd noon
How beautiful how pleasant is the boon
With eves soft curtain round their whispers thrown
How love doth chide the hour that flyes too soon
& leaves them with the busy day alone
With absent cares & pains to lovers only known

Love like the spring when warm suns bids it blossom
Oft dreams oer joys as they woud neer decay
Smiling like flowers that bares to heaven her bosom
As tho no season hastend on its way
To blight their blooms & take the place of may
Ah love is often like the budding spring
Blest in the sunny raptures of to day
Wrapt in lifes pleasures like a lasting thing
Unmindful of the clouds that dark to morrows bring

562

Time unpercieved from happiness doth creep
Eve like a watch man may give place to night
& quick eyed morning start dull night from sleep
Eer love left dallying in supreem delight
Woud scarcly dream an hour had taken flight
—What pains to love the hour to parting brings
When the last gleams of mellancholy light
A farewell shadow oer their pleasure flings
& spreads loves modest joys on night falls jealous wings

Eve oft wore wearied to its stillest hour
& woud have dreamed itself to glad repose
But the fond lovers lingerd in their bower
& with that joy the lover only knows
Forbid in urged delays its eyes to close
Silence seemed waiting sickend with delay
& eves pale star in jealous splendour rose
Night as in hurry spread its doubtful grey
& like a thief stole in to urge their joys away

From such delays suspicions ambushd eyes
For ever watching like a beast of prey
Lookd thro the causes of loves thin disguise
& all its hopes did smother & waylay

563

Her friends enquired the cause of such delay
& questiond Helen who in terror sighd
& neath their frowns wept many hours away
Ere she the secret to disclose complied
& when loves prayer was utterd scorn denyed

Hard is that heart that feels not o how hard
To witness womans tears sure such are few
That pays imploring pity no regard
From things so lovly & so tender too
As woman earths endearing angel—who
That owns the name of man coud ever wear
Hells fiendish mask to mock & to pursue
Sweet womans wrongs & drive her to despair
O god they must be fiends tis more then man coud bear

& what is wealth that it shoud thus be prized
Above the value of far better things
That wanting it shoud leave all worth despised
& blight the joy that from affection springs
With heavens own pleasures that its mercy brings
To make the world less irksome—what is gold
Fond hearts to sever that the closest cling[s]
Whose fond affection round the heart hath hold
Is love a bargain to be bought or sold

Edmund was poor tho he that worth coud claim
That thousands cannot who pretend to love
An uncorrupted heart an honest name
& worth thats welcomd by the pure above

564

While these were all that Helen wished to prove
But worth in vain with other hearts did sue
Her fathers heart all merit failed to move
By fortune blest hed higher aims in view
Which Helen deemd a curse & prophesied too true

Edmund the poor was not the vulgar hind
His friends in fortunes favours met decay
Yet loss of wealth left better worth behind
Minds well informd that cannot pass away
For fortune is a dream of yesterday
& for tomorrow oft provides but ill
Beggering in earnest while it seems in play
Wealth is not left to reasons equal skill
But thrown to blindfold chance to scatter were she will

They bade her pride such humble views disdain
They urged at riches with oerruling power
They bade her heart forget him—ah how vain
As well might nature in the summers hour
Forbid the hopeful bud to be a flower
She heard in grief & stifled many a sigh
& while their frowns oer every hope did lower
It bound her love with closer tenderer ties
As the weak woodbine clings when hopless storms are high

Ah what is hope in desolate distress
Can it have power to smile & linger there
Can it have power to make our sorrows less
Or sooth the viper fang of poisoning care

565

When madness gauls those sorrows to despair
Ah what is hope in sorrows saddest hour
A falling meteor that once seemd a star
A flattering shower on autumns sickly bower
A dewdrop glistning on a withered flower

The fond bird leaves its nest & pines forlorn
When its loved mate becomes the fowlers prey
Een the fair blossom from its partner torn
By maiden choice or childhoods wanton play
Mourns the foul deed & withereth away
So Helens bloom—of flowers the lovliest one
That suns ere rose to cherish did decay
Torn from the hope its beauty doated on
That beauty sickend when that hope was gone

Lifes ills woud claim a book of jiant size
To page their terrors—but a slender share
The pigmy portion which its joy supplys
A page woud note it & have room to spare
Soon soon that page is blotted oer with care
& seared with dissapointments blighting eye
Weak are its hopes such struggling storms to bear
Life at the best but scantling blooms supply
& pirate storms throng round to bid that little dye

566

Parting is heavy grief tho hopes may lean
Towards better days too often hoped in vain
Yet frowning abscence claims the space between
As withering winters take their yearly reign
Tween summers past & summers hoped again
But when sad absence hopless frowns impart
& cloud loves spring with winters that remain
O weres the thought can feel for that sad heart
Were is a word can tell how sad it is to part

They deemed past love an unforgiving crime
& all its sorrows malice did deride
Her walks forbidding in the summer time
& eves hours watching with a jealous pride
Soft pity pleaded but to be denied
Edmund was scorned as one of low degree
In vain her soul oer its affections sighed
Love was a captive never to be free
& doubted joys before left earnest misery

567

Memorys a pleasure that all life doth share
The weary bird will reccollect its nest
The timid terrors of the startled hare
Urges its flight to what it once possest
& seeks the lone haunts of its former rest
The slaving horse oft on his weary way
Looks for the hour when freedom was his guest
The swallow shuns dull autumns dreary day
& flyes on memorys wings to summers far away

Memory for Helen oft did garlands weave
Of all the hopless hopes that once had been
But they were blooms like those which summers leave
Seared with the Autumns melancholly scene
Sickening & withering & no longer green
That pictured painful ecchoes unto pain
Blighted with cares & near a hope to screen
Ah they were blossoms that had bloomed in vain
& scarfed in mourning now as near to bloom again

Life spread to both a desert cold & chill
Hope withered to the core without one smile
Not one green nook turn were so ere they will
Were peace might shun fates blasting frowns the while

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& one lorn minute of its pain beguile
As storms meet storms against & with the wind
Fate darkend every were oer loves exile
Days came & left them unto night resigned
With hopless glooms before & blighted hopes behind

The fairest beauty is assailed by time
The brightest eye is sullied oft in tears
The gentlest heart that rarely knows a crime
Gainst rudest sorrow often preseveres
The sweetest hope is not without its fears
Grief oft encroaches an unbidden guest
In choicest pleasures which this life endears
Care lurks in peace's paths to break its rest
& curses like to storms frown round to blight the blest

She faded like a flower yet loath to shun
Her presence beauty fondly lingered still
Tho from her cheeks grief had the rosey won
& planted its pale shadows winter chill
Yet like the lilys they were lovly still
As lingering blossoms meet the winter wind
Smiling at death tho pierced with every ill
So Helen drooped & bowed to friends unkind
& smiled in tears to trouble half resignd

569

Oft she woud watch the eves star into heaven
& from her window muse with wistful eye
& thought ere Edmund from her love was driven
How oft it blessed them neath its 'lumind sky
& she woud think oer pleasures past & sigh
& wept till it became a joy to weep
& oft weak hope woud struggle up & flye
To better days that fate yet hushed asleep
& in such extacys care woud its sabbath keep

‘Ah’ she would sigh ‘eve sinks in nights dull arms
‘But morning from his frowns shall glad retreat
‘As from a tyrants love with blushing charms
‘The fondling smiles of the young sun to meet
‘To its fond love the skylark carrols sweet
‘Both to the evening & the morning grey—
‘O when will love to me its smiles repeat
‘Were shall I meet it on my weary way
‘A night surrounds me now & when will it be day

‘Can the free will to love with nature given
‘Be deemed a lawless & unjust decree
‘I[s] the unerring choice approved of heaven
‘Of less avail then priesthoods golden fee

570

‘Is it less binding—no it cannot be
‘Tyrant wealth & power with scornful brow
‘Stills the meek voice of reasons juster plea
‘Mild heaven approves affections every vow
‘& there my hopes are fled tis all thats left me now

‘The sweetest pleasure that this life bestows
‘Too often with a gilded smile betrays
‘Lifes joys at best have little more then show
‘& but too often in its changing ways
‘Love blossoms like a flower & so decays
‘Still theres a hope that with the soul dies never
‘That weds to memory of eternal days
‘When love shall meet past every power to sever
‘& love as dear as now & live & love for ever’

Thus she woud sigh her sorrows into rest
& hope & smile & doubt & weep again
Wild feverd fancys lulld her throbbing breast
Only to add fresh fuel unto pain
Ah who coud see such beauty grieve in vain
What heart so hard coud mock at its decay
Yet still they mockd her with pursued disdain
& turned deaf ears to all love had to say
& pride in teazing scorn woud smile its taunts away

571

& Edmund viewd the past with hopless eye
As happy days that never woud return
No hope with him coud the past loss supply
But the last hope were endless joys sojourn
With sickening griefs his heart did daily burn
As blest no more with Helens cheering smile
Lost to her presence he did vainly mourn
& wrote his last farwell & wept the while
Yet cheered his words with smiles her sorrows to beguile

‘O grieve not Helen make thy truce with joy
‘Thou wert not born for grief—a thing so fair
‘Consuming sorrow woud full soon destroy
‘Can the low violet from its wooded lare
‘Peer in the tempest with its bosom bare
‘Can the pale primrose so reserved & shoy
‘Thrust in the sunshine bloom nor wither there
‘Thou art as fair & frail then live with joy
‘Nor let grief wed thy beauty to destroy

‘Awhile life parts us & its but a time
‘Death when he comes shall come a friend to thee
‘He brings no terrors were he meets no crime
‘& thou art innosent as angels be
‘& as for me fate pleads her best for me
‘I loved thee faithful heart & soul was given
‘To thy fond care tho wealth woud not agree
& tho from man with hopless crimes Im driven
‘Love is no crime above Ive better hopes of heaven

572

‘Love is immortal tho its partner hope
‘Leads it to future worlds & dissapears
‘Yet shall not love from faithful hearts elope
‘Or be forgotten in the flight of years
‘Then be thou faithful & dry up thy tears
‘Cease these hear[t] breaking sighs & be thou blest
‘God is thy friend O dissipate thy fears
‘Father of all the tenderest the best
We both in heaven shall meet & be at rest’

Thus hopless Edmund wrote his last farwell
Not with lost joys hopes fancys to deride
Tho he on comforts did despairing dwell
He talked of hopes their hoplessness to hide
& the mad anguish of his heart belied
To cheer fond Helens in its trying pain
He sought no comfort tho the world was wide
& looked on life as one that lived in vain
& mused oer pleasures past as neer to bloom again

O there are cares at which resistance laughs
Were cold encouragments are idle pleas
Were jiant resolutions shrink to dwarfs
With strengths as feeble as the summer breeze

573

& mocks the anguish which they cannot ease
Een rosey hope will turn its smiles away
& wither pale in tempests such as these
Cant may its moral promptitude display
But cares will shadow still with little hopes of day

‘O what is love’ he sighed ‘but shadowed dreams
‘That fancy like to sleep createth fair
‘Visioned realitys that beauty seems
‘& wake to nothing—save the anxious care
‘That lives on dissapointment & despair
‘Is love a blooming cheek or snowey breast
‘Short is its triumph if its reign be there
‘O who woud dream of beauty to be blest
‘& wake to be decieved & live to be distrest’

‘Deaths mystery frame[s] imaginary strife
‘& its calm sleeps with fancys thorns defile
‘We know not & we dread tis so with life
‘Sorrows the infants earliest hours beguile
‘But fancyd fears soon soften in a smile—
‘Like to that cloud that intercepts the light
‘That frownd such terrors in the sun awhile
‘So black & deep fear shudderd at the sight
‘Tis now like shadowy eve & such deaths peaceful night’

574

Look were he woud the scene was desolate
The only peace seemed left him was to dye
A rash resolve—the rest was left to fate
O wish not horrors vail drawn further bye
Let pitys thoughts the dismal void supply
Life is but weak when into madness driven
Still let not love such rashness justifye
Or tender pity urge such faults forgiven
Or harsher souls condemn—such deeds are judged in heaven

Poor Helen thy fond love was early crost
Untimely blooming neath a clouded sun
Like early blossoms nipt by lingering frost
Thy bud was blighted ere its bloom begun
Fate is a soulless wretch or thou hadst won
His steeled heart to pity & forbear
To break the silken hopes thy dreams had spun
To blight the lovly bloom of one so fair
& drive so sweet a thing to madness & despair

She heard her lovers fate & coud but sigh
& shed her latest tears—for sorrows deep
Had drained afflictions fountains nearly dry
& left but little for fresh woes to weep

575

Grief like a storm had moaned itself to sleep
& pined in lethargy her heart away
Her Edmunds struggles took a desperate leap
But hers ebbed gentle as an autumn day
& sickend hour by hour & smiled in its decay

Oft she woud try a song her heart to glad
& on her harp her lily hands woud lye
Refusing music sickend all & sad
She hummed so feebly in her agony
Twas soft & voicless as a lovers sigh
Yet sweet the plainings which her anguish drew
As fancys musings from an evening skye
She sung & sighed & wept what coud she do
With loves heart broken that had loved so true

She now mournd silent in her garden bowers
& as lorn pastime for her hearts despair
She walked among her once beloved flowers
Which ere she loved did youths affections share
Herself ere while a blossom full as fair
& those beat down by sudden showers of rain
She raised agen with pitys gentle care
& thought they smiled upon her as in pain
As on a fading flower that neer woud bloom again

576

& were was Helen when the spring returned
Her favourite blossoms 'peared again to view
The blushing rose with summers smiles sojourned
& the pale lily did its bloom renew
Sipping fresh fragrance from the evening dew
—Ah were Springs visits dreary shadows wear
& suns smile sickly on the church yard yew
Were daiseys wed with grief such glooms to share
Poor broken hearted Helen rested there