The early poems of John Clare :: :: University of Virginia Library

The sun lowly sinking behind the far trees
& crossing the path humming home were the bees
& darker & darker it grew by degrees
& Crows they flock'd quawking to rest
When unknown to her parents nell slove on her hat
& oer the fields hurried—scarce knew she for what
But her sweetheart in taking advantage & that
Had kiss'd & had promis'd the best

Poor maidens so much of a husband conciet
The daisy scarce touch'd rose unhurt from her feet
—So eager she hasten'd her lover to meet
As to make him to wait was unjust
On the wood dim discover'd she fixed her eyes—
Such a quere spot to meet in—suspisions might rise
But the fond word a sweetheart! such goodness implies
Ah who would a lover distrust

More darker & gloomy—black clouds hung the wind
Far objects diminish'd before & behind
More narrow & narrow the circle declin'd
& silence reign'd awfully round
When nelly within the wood riding sat down
She listen'd & lapt up her arms in her gown
Far far from her cottage & far from the town
& her sweet heart not yet to be found

466

The minutes seem'd hours—with impatience she heard
The flap of a Leaf & the twit of a bird
The least little trifle that wisper'd or stird
Hope picter'd her lover as nigh
When wearied with sitting she'd wander about
& open the wood gate & give a look out
& feign would have halloo'd but fear had a doubt
That theives might be lurking hard bye

Far clocks counts eleven—‘he wornt be long now’
Her anxious hopes wisper'd—hoarse wav'd the wood bough
—‘He heeds not my fears or hes false to his Vow’
Poor Nelly sat doubtful & sigh'd
The fellow whod promis'd her husband to be
& wed on the morrow—her friends that could see
(As a good for nought sort of a fellow was he)
Hop'd nothing more worse might betide

At length as in fear slowly tapt the wood gate
Twas Ben!—she complain'd so long painful to wait
Deep design hung his looks he but mumbl'd ‘tis late’
& pass'd her & bid her come on
The mind plainly pictures that night hour of dread
In the midst of a wood! where the trees over head
The darkness increaseth—a dungeon they spread
& the clock at the moment tolls one

& fain would she forc'd as she follow'd some chat
& trifl'd on purpose with this thing & that
& complain'd of the dew droppings spoiling her hat
But nothing Bens silence would break
Extensive the forest the road too & fro
& this way & that way above & below
As crosses the ridings as winding they go
—Ah what road or way can he seek

467

Her eye ever watchful now caught an alarm
Lights gleam! & tools tinkle! as if nigh a Farm
‘O, dont walk so fast Ben—I'm fearful of harm’
She said & shrug'd closer behind
‘That lights from my house!’—twas the first word she caught
From his Lips since he through the dark wood had her brought
A house in a Wood! O good god what a thought
What sensations then rush'd on her mind

The things which her friends & her neighbours had said
Afresh at that moment all jumpt in her head
& mistrust for the first time now fill'd her wi' dread
& as she approach'd—she could see
How better for her their advice to have taen
& wish'd to her self then she had—but in vain
—A heap of fresh moulds! & a spade she saw plain
& a Lanthorn ty'd up to a tree!

‘Here they come!’ a voice wispers—‘haste put out the light’
‘—No dig the grave deeper’—‘Very dark is the night’
Slow mutterings mingled—O dismal the sight
—The fate of poor Nelly was plain
Fear chill'd thro her heart—but hope wisper'd her ‘flye’
Chance seiz'd on the moment—A wind gust blew high
She slipt in the thicket—he turn'd not his eye
& the grave diggers waited in vain

Ah at that dread moment so dredfully dark
How welcome the song of the shepherd or lark
How cheary to harken & hear the dog bark
As thro the dark wood she fled fast
But horror of horrors all nature was hush
Not a sound was there heard—save a blackbird or thrush
That started from sleep flusker'd out of a bush
Which her brushing cloaths shook as they past

468

Fear now truly pictur'd near turned her head
Nor this way nor that way—strait forward she fled
& fancy still hearing the horrors with dread
On faster & fearfuller stole
—The matted leaves rustle—the boughs swiftly part
Her hands & her face thro the brambles did smart
But ah the worst anguish was felt at her heart
Bens unkindness struck death to her soul

Now glimering lighter the forest appears
& hope thou sweet comforter soften'd her fears
Light & liberty—Darkness thy horrors endears
Great bliss did the Omen impart
The Forest its end & its horrors was by
She breath'd the free air & she saw the blue sky
Her own fields she knew—to her home did she flye
& great was the joy of her heart

O prospect endearing the Village to view
The morn sweet appearing & gay the cock crew
& mangl'd by brambles & dabbl'd in dew
She fetch'd a loud rap at the door
The parents in raptures wept over their child—
She mutterd her terrors—her eyes rolled wild
‘They dig the grave deeper!’—your Nellys beguil'd’
She said & she sil'd on the floor

Poor Nell soon recover'd but ah to her cost
Her sense & her reason forever was lost
& scorch'd by the summer & chill'd by the frost
A Maniac restless & wild

469

Now Crazy Nell rambles & still she will weep
& fearless at night into hovels she'll creep
Fond Parents alas their affliction is deep
& vainly they comfort their child