The early poems of John Clare 1804-1822: General editor Eric Robinson: Edited by Eric Robinson and David Powell: Associate editor Margaret Grainger |
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THE DISABLED SOLDIER
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
THE DISABLED SOLDIER
or British Loyalty
‘Neighbours and country men for once relieve
A poor disabl'd soldier in distress
Suspect no lie the truth ye may believe
These stumps will soon my noble trade confess
A poor disabl'd soldier in distress
Suspect no lie the truth ye may believe
These stumps will soon my noble trade confess
126
‘These sixty years as true as here I stand
I've fought my countrys freedom to mentain
Forty whereof Ive spent upon the land
The rest Ive brav'd with Nelson on the main
I've fought my countrys freedom to mentain
Forty whereof Ive spent upon the land
The rest Ive brav'd with Nelson on the main
‘And from the field of Battle now Ive came
Where Britons dauntless as the lion stood
Nor would they flie—for this their only aim
Was Death or Victory spite of human blood
Where Britons dauntless as the lion stood
Nor would they flie—for this their only aim
Was Death or Victory spite of human blood
‘Lo I myself as dauntles and as brave
As any Briton which does boast that name
To many a Limb a ready lopping gave
And now in turn you see I'm serv'd the same
As any Briton which does boast that name
To many a Limb a ready lopping gave
And now in turn you see I'm serv'd the same
‘Which may to some as a Misfortune shine
To own these pegles stumps—this armles side
But its not so with this old heart of mine
No, no, I view them with uncommon pride
To own these pegles stumps—this armles side
But its not so with this old heart of mine
No, no, I view them with uncommon pride
‘Nor did their loss my courage e'er abate
Firm as it was this fragment still remains
Yes just as firm and fierce as when of late
I shouted Victory on Egyption plains
Firm as it was this fragment still remains
Yes just as firm and fierce as when of late
I shouted Victory on Egyption plains
‘And should my country ever stand in need
Of men again their freedom to mentain
Away I'd hop with more than willing speed
To take the field or brave the watry main
Of men again their freedom to mentain
Away I'd hop with more than willing speed
To take the field or brave the watry main
‘There as a mark for the insulting foe
I'd fix my standard, in the formost file,
That they might see for once and plainly know
What stumps of Valour come from Albion's isle
I'd fix my standard, in the formost file,
That they might see for once and plainly know
What stumps of Valour come from Albion's isle
127
‘With equal rage as tho I limbs posses'd
I'd deal around the missle shafts of death
And at my glorious exit fall confess'd
A True Blue Britton in the arms of death
I'd deal around the missle shafts of death
And at my glorious exit fall confess'd
A True Blue Britton in the arms of death
‘For did no harm belong in chusing death
So as my soul here after might be free
In Battles Field I'd chuse to loose my breath
Amid the shouts of ‘England's Victory’
So as my soul here after might be free
In Battles Field I'd chuse to loose my breath
Amid the shouts of ‘England's Victory’
‘All this is from my heart—then pray ‘releive
‘A poor disabl'd soldier in distress
‘Suspect no lie the truth ye may believe
‘These stumps will soon my Noble trade confess’
‘A poor disabl'd soldier in distress
‘Suspect no lie the truth ye may believe
‘These stumps will soon my Noble trade confess’
| The early poems of John Clare | |