 | Heliconundrums |  |
16
THE LAST OF THE HERD
THE ORIGINAL DRAFT
[_]
Was it Lamb, or Coleridge in his offical capacity as one of the Queen's Beefeaters, who suggested the unlikelihood of a small family devouring fifty beeves, and reduced the supply to mutton, as in The Last of the Flock.
In distant countries have I been,
And yet I have not often seen
A healthy man, a man full-grown,
Weep in the public roads alone:
But such a one, on English ground
And in the broad highway I met.
Along the broad highway he came;
His cheeks with tears were wet.
Sturdy he seem'd, though he was sad,
And at his heels a bullock lad.
And yet I have not often seen
A healthy man, a man full-grown,
Weep in the public roads alone:
But such a one, on English ground
And in the broad highway I met.
Along the broad highway he came;
His cheeks with tears were wet.
Sturdy he seem'd, though he was sad,
And at his heels a bullock lad.
He saw me and he turn'd aside,
As if he wish'd himself to hide
Behind the beast, and did essay
With sleeve to wipe his tears away.
I dodged him though, and said, My friend!
What ails you? wherefore weep you so?
—Shame on me, Sir! this bullock here
He makes my tears to flow.
To-day I fetch'd him: on my word
He is the last of all my herd.
As if he wish'd himself to hide
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With sleeve to wipe his tears away.
I dodged him though, and said, My friend!
What ails you? wherefore weep you so?
—Shame on me, Sir! this bullock here
He makes my tears to flow.
To-day I fetch'd him: on my word
He is the last of all my herd.
When I was young, a single man,
And after youthful follies ran,
Though little given to care and thought,
Yet so it was a cow I bought;
And other cows from her I raised,
As healthy cows as you might see;
And then I married, and was rich
As I could wish to be:
Bullocks and cows I told a score,
And every year increased my store,
And after youthful follies ran,
Though little given to care and thought,
Yet so it was a cow I bought;
And other cows from her I raised,
As healthy cows as you might see;
And then I married, and was rich
As I could wish to be:
Bullocks and cows I told a score,
And every year increased my store,
Year after year my stock did grow;
And from this one, this single cow,
Full fifty cows and bulls I raised,
As fine a herd as ever grazed!
Some black and white and others red!
They throve and we at home did thrive.
— This lusty bullock of my store
Is all that is alive:
And now I care not if we die
And perish all of poverty.
And from this one, this single cow,
Full fifty cows and bulls I raised,
As fine a herd as ever grazed!
Some black and white and others red!
They throve and we at home did thrive.
— This lusty bullock of my store
Is all that is alive:
And now I care not if we die
And perish all of poverty.
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Six children, Sir! had I to feed,—
Hard labour in a time of need!
And never one of us touch'd beef.
So I from the parish sought relief.
They said I was a wealthy man:
My cattle on the uplands fed,
And it was meet that I should cook
My beef before I begg'd for bread.
“Do this! how can we give to you,”
Said they, “what to the poor is due?”
Hard labour in a time of need!
And never one of us touch'd beef.
So I from the parish sought relief.
They said I was a wealthy man:
My cattle on the uplands fed,
And it was meet that I should cook
My beef before I begg'd for bread.
“Do this! how can we give to you,”
Said they, “what to the poor is due?”
I cook'd a bullock, as they said;
My children ate it without bread,
And they were healthy with their food.
For me, it never did me good.
A woeful time it was for me
To see my bullocks cut in steaks,
The pretty bullocks I had raised
All slaughter'd for my children's sakes,
And melting tallowly away.
Ah me! but I was cow'd that day.
My children ate it without bread,
And they were healthy with their food.
For me, it never did me good.
A woeful time it was for me
To see my bullocks cut in steaks,
The pretty bullocks I had raised
All slaughter'd for my children's sakes,
And melting tallowly away.
Ah me! but I was cow'd that day.
Another still! and still another!
A little calf — and then its mother!
It was a vein that never stopt,—
Like blood-drops from my heart they dropt
Till thirty were not left alone,
My dun cows dribbling one by one;
And I may say that many a time
I wish'd they all were gone:
Reckless of what might come at last
Were but the bitter struggle past.
A little calf — and then its mother!
It was a vein that never stopt,—
Like blood-drops from my heart they dropt
Till thirty were not left alone,
My dun cows dribbling one by one;
And I may say that many a time
I wish'd they all were gone:
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Were but the bitter struggle past.
Sir! 'twas a precious herd to me,
As dear as my own children be:
For daily with my growing store
I loved my children more and more.
Alas! it was an evil time,
Cursed with diminished beefiness.
I pray'd, yet every day I thought
I loved my children less;
And every week and every day
Cows, bullocks, seem'd to melt away.
As dear as my own children be:
For daily with my growing store
I loved my children more and more.
Alas! it was an evil time,
Cursed with diminished beefiness.
I pray'd, yet every day I thought
I loved my children less;
And every week and every day
Cows, bullocks, seem'd to melt away.
They dwindled, Sir! sad sight to see!
From ten to five, from five to three,
A calf, a bullock, and a cow;
And then at last from three to two;
And of my fifty yesterday
I had but only one.
And here it follows at my heels:
Alas! and I have none.
To-day I fetch'd it. Seems absurd,
But 'tis the last of all my herd!
From ten to five, from five to three,
A calf, a bullock, and a cow;
And then at last from three to two;
And of my fifty yesterday
I had but only one.
And here it follows at my heels:
Alas! and I have none.
To-day I fetch'd it. Seems absurd,
But 'tis the last of all my herd!
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