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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WILLIAM AND SALLEY
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
WILLIAM AND SALLEY
A Tale
Beneath a sheltering covert's shade
Where many a tree expands
Their branches oer the neighbouring brook
A lowley cottage stands
Where many a tree expands
Their branches oer the neighbouring brook
A lowley cottage stands
Meek salley child of innosence
As dew wash'd lilley fair
Her widow'd mothers only hope
Once dwelt contented there
As dew wash'd lilley fair
Her widow'd mothers only hope
Once dwelt contented there
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No tenderer Mother to a child
Throughout the world could be
And in return no daughter prov'd
More dutiful than she
Throughout the world could be
And in return no daughter prov'd
More dutiful than she
For when by palsey and by age
She was quite helpless brought
To do for her the best she could
E[m]ploy'd her every thought
She was quite helpless brought
To do for her the best she could
E[m]ploy'd her every thought
Alike of sorrow and of joy
She claim'd an equal share
In short the aged helples dame
Was salleys onley care
She claim'd an equal share
In short the aged helples dame
Was salleys onley care
But beauteys strong resistles power
Which oft so fatal proves
Doom'd her to feel the hopeles pain
Of an unequal love
Which oft so fatal proves
Doom'd her to feel the hopeles pain
Of an unequal love
Young william he a youth genteel
As hunting in the wood
One day pass'd by the lonley spot
Where salleys cottage stood
As hunting in the wood
One day pass'd by the lonley spot
Where salleys cottage stood
O had he turnd another way
Thrice fortunatley he
But fate and fortune did ordain
It otherwise to be
Thrice fortunatley he
But fate and fortune did ordain
It otherwise to be
Tho little thinking such a maid
Liv'd in so mean a shed
At first to view the muddy walls
He scarcely turn'd his head
Liv'd in so mean a shed
At first to view the muddy walls
He scarcely turn'd his head
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But when the maid approach'd his sight
O agravating pain
He sigh'd—he felt—he knew not how—
And look'd and look'd again
O agravating pain
He sigh'd—he felt—he knew not how—
And look'd and look'd again
Frantic with love he stopt his horse
And gaz'd with fond desire
Which act so seeming rudely done
Set salleys face on fire
And gaz'd with fond desire
Which act so seeming rudely done
Set salleys face on fire
The soft rose left its station for
The headache's crimson flower
Which sooner then abate his love
Arm'd it with double power
The headache's crimson flower
Which sooner then abate his love
Arm'd it with double power
For where real virtues jealous eye
At trifles takes alarm
Such innocense triumphs repleat
With every winning charm
At trifles takes alarm
Such innocense triumphs repleat
With every winning charm
Meeknes the female softnes suits
And when they both combine
Beyond the reach of beautys boast
Far sweeter graces shine
And when they both combine
Beyond the reach of beautys boast
Far sweeter graces shine
The fairest flowers that deck the wild
The most endeangerd stand
Sure to be seen and fall a prize
To some destroying hand
The most endeangerd stand
Sure to be seen and fall a prize
To some destroying hand
And well the hand that plucks their sweets
This truth may prove and show
That plainess triumphs still secure
While Beauty proves a foe
This truth may prove and show
That plainess triumphs still secure
While Beauty proves a foe
| The early poems of John Clare | |