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 SUPRISE |
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 | The early poems of John Clare |  |
397
THE SUPRISE
A maiden shuns the sultry day
Oer powred with the heat
An hazel spreads its arching boughs
& forms the wish'd retreat
The grass yields to her lovly charms
Each dasie in suprise
Bends down delighted with the weight
& sinks in Extasies
Oer powred with the heat
An hazel spreads its arching boughs
& forms the wish'd retreat
The grass yields to her lovly charms
Each dasie in suprise
Bends down delighted with the weight
& sinks in Extasies
The breezes tremble round the maid
(Their passion is confest)
& flaps the hankerchief in vain
That shields her snowy breast
& fondling fans the wanton curls
& kisses sweet her lips
While amourous flies in rude delight
Their hony'd moisture sips
(Their passion is confest)
& flaps the hankerchief in vain
That shields her snowy breast
398
& kisses sweet her lips
While amourous flies in rude delight
Their hony'd moisture sips
As chanc'd Hodge wistles by the spot
& gives by chance a peep
Her beauties meets his Vulgar eyes
Their fears are lost in sleep
Just so I've seen the marble stand
In figur'd man disguis'd
A statue there he gapes! & stares!
Astonish'd! & supris'd!
& gives by chance a peep
Her beauties meets his Vulgar eyes
Their fears are lost in sleep
Just so I've seen the marble stand
In figur'd man disguis'd
A statue there he gapes! & stares!
Astonish'd! & supris'd!
Her light robes past their modest bounds
For where the breezes faild
To gain their ravishing designs
The ruder winds prevail'd
Her bosom bare that throb'd & heav'd
With charms to cure or kill
Her leg—& swelling calf!—he sees
& charms more tempting still
For where the breezes faild
To gain their ravishing designs
The ruder winds prevail'd
Her bosom bare that throb'd & heav'd
With charms to cure or kill
Her leg—& swelling calf!—he sees
& charms more tempting still
O Love what art thou? whence thy power?
That feels for every heart
The fondling wish, the trembling sigh
The agravating smart—
He gazes, wishes, longs, & sighs
But cannot speak for shame
He warms & chills by turns & feels
A pain without a name
That feels for every heart
The fondling wish, the trembling sigh
The agravating smart—
He gazes, wishes, longs, & sighs
But cannot speak for shame
He warms & chills by turns & feels
A pain without a name
399
As ventering nearer to the spot
To feast his greedy eyes
His hobbling step disturbs her sleep
She hears him in suprise
Instant her eyes their darts unsheath
The vanquish'd hopes—& lives—
Love pops excuses in his mouth
She hears them & forgives
To feast his greedy eyes
His hobbling step disturbs her sleep
She hears him in suprise
Instant her eyes their darts unsheath
The vanquish'd hopes—& lives—
Love pops excuses in his mouth
She hears them & forgives
‘Gie me but leave’ the rustic cries
‘My boldness ere you chide
‘To tell you summats fix'd me here!’
—Then paus'd a bit & sigh'd
‘& might a kiss but ease mine pain’—
The maiden heard & blush'd
Here he took courage—seiz'd the chance
& found her as he wish'd
‘My boldness ere you chide
‘To tell you summats fix'd me here!’
—Then paus'd a bit & sigh'd
‘& might a kiss but ease mine pain’—
The maiden heard & blush'd
Here he took courage—seiz'd the chance
& found her as he wish'd
| The early poems of John Clare | |