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 DEATH OF MYRTILLA
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
THE DEATH OF MYRTILLA
or The latter catch of a pathetic Tale In Imitation of H---B---
Dark was the night, in woeful plight
Myrtilla mourn'd alone!
No kind relief to ease her grief,
Myrtilla's sorrow's own!
Myrtilla mourn'd alone!
No kind relief to ease her grief,
Myrtilla's sorrow's own!
The rude blasts roar the hugh trees oer,
Myrtillas sorrow's own!
While wispering nigh the foliage sigh,
Myrtilla's early grave!
Myrtillas sorrow's own!
While wispering nigh the foliage sigh,
Myrtilla's early grave!
128
The faries near all strive to chear
Myrtilla's frighted mind,
Each to her brought a hopeful thought,
Myrtilla hears the wind.
Myrtilla's frighted mind,
Each to her brought a hopeful thought,
Myrtilla hears the wind.
Loudly crying ‘fear not dying,
‘Myrtilla never fear,
‘Soon the morning will be dawning
‘Myrtilla's soul to chear!’
‘Myrtilla never fear,
‘Soon the morning will be dawning
‘Myrtilla's soul to chear!’
But soon the rain revers'd the strain,
‘Myrtilla—tilla lie!’
And cruel fate had fix'd his hate,
‘Myrtilla—tilla die!’
‘Myrtilla—tilla lie!’
And cruel fate had fix'd his hate,
‘Myrtilla—tilla die!’
Far oer the plain the loving swain
Myrtilla's voice did hear!
And in the rain he call'd amain
‘Myrtilla—tilla dear.’
Myrtilla's voice did hear!
And in the rain he call'd amain
‘Myrtilla—tilla dear.’
The swelling floods and hollow woods
Myrtilla's name resound,
The faries hear and wisper near
Myrtilla will be found!
Myrtilla's name resound,
The faries hear and wisper near
Myrtilla will be found!
But ah the lad so thinly clad
Myrtilla must forgoe!
Like fate the wind on him designd
‘Myrtilla—tilla O!’
Myrtilla must forgoe!
Like fate the wind on him designd
‘Myrtilla—tilla O!’
When this was said, he droop'd his head:—
Myrtilla on the wind
In dying sounds no more resounds,
Myrtilla's left behind.
Myrtilla on the wind
In dying sounds no more resounds,
Myrtilla's left behind.
Ah wretched sight, if collins plight
Myrtillas eyes could see,
O hopeles view, 'twould thrice renew
Myrtillas misery!
Myrtillas eyes could see,
O hopeles view, 'twould thrice renew
Myrtillas misery!
129
‘A tender form, unus'd to storms,’
Myrtillas breaking heart
On this relied, and often crie'd
Myrtilla's friends are tart.’
Myrtillas breaking heart
On this relied, and often crie'd
Myrtilla's friends are tart.’
She softly sigh'd, and faintly cried,
‘Myrtilla thus distrest
‘Might but her woe for Collin's floe,
‘Myrtilla then could rest!’
‘Myrtilla thus distrest
‘Might but her woe for Collin's floe,
‘Myrtilla then could rest!’
‘For if he's nigh he'll quickly flie,
‘Myrtilla's griefs to share
O fate be kind! blow soft the wind!
‘Myrtilla's Collin spare!’
‘Myrtilla's griefs to share
O fate be kind! blow soft the wind!
‘Myrtilla's Collin spare!’
‘'T'is all I crave, then welcome Grave!’
Myrtilla said no more,
Death stopt her grief and blest releif,
Myrtilla's griefs are oer!
Myrtilla said no more,
Death stopt her grief and blest releif,
Myrtilla's griefs are oer!
Ah friends severe that would'n't hear
Myrtillas Innocense,
Ah cruel love that would'n't prove
Myrtilla's Recompence.
Myrtillas Innocense,
Ah cruel love that would'n't prove
Myrtilla's Recompence.
Now both are dead and both are fled,
Myrtilla and her dear,
To other isles where morning smiles,
‘Myrtilla's soul to chear!’
Myrtilla and her dear,
To other isles where morning smiles,
‘Myrtilla's soul to chear!’
Beyond the grave may Collin have
Myrtilla for his due,
While nightley here the fays revere
Myrtilla's love so true!
Myrtilla for his due,
While nightley here the fays revere
Myrtilla's love so true!
| The early poems of John Clare | |