John Clare: Cottage Tales Edited by Eric Robinson, David Powell and P. M. S. Dawson |
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[The Two Soldiers]
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 | John Clare: Cottage Tales |  |
10
[The Two Soldiers]
I love to hear a summer tale
When all the fields are green
When sheep are grazing hill & dale
& villagers are seen
On sundays taking pleasant walks
Through corn & grass & hay
& maidens lost in laughing talk
Along their milking way
When all the fields are green
When sheep are grazing hill & dale
& villagers are seen
On sundays taking pleasant walks
Through corn & grass & hay
& maidens lost in laughing talk
Along their milking way
Oft bending by a stile to look
At wild flowers in the sun
Or leaning by a gravel brook
To see the waters run
Where wood bines arch & wilding rose
In leaning posture stands
They fearing oft to soil their cloaths
Sip water from their hands
At wild flowers in the sun
Or leaning by a gravel brook
To see the waters run
Where wood bines arch & wilding rose
In leaning posture stands
They fearing oft to soil their cloaths
Sip water from their hands
When shepherds talk the sun to bed
By awthorn shaded brooks
In storys that were never read
In any printed books
& Goody who from maidenhood
Had traced the summer vales
No doubt had taste turned out as good
Knew many better tales
By awthorn shaded brooks
In storys that were never read
In any printed books
& Goody who from maidenhood
Had traced the summer vales
No doubt had taste turned out as good
Knew many better tales
But darkness & the hasty rain
& noisy roaring wind
Brought like an ancient song again
The story to her mind
& noisy roaring wind
Brought like an ancient song again
The story to her mind
11
The night was dismal dark the rain
Fell with the falling leaves
& patted at the window pane
& rattled from the eaves
The cottage fire was blazing bright
The kitling full of mirth
Sat crouching in the corner light
For crickets on the [h]earth
Fell with the falling leaves
& patted at the window pane
& rattled from the eaves
The cottage fire was blazing bright
The kitling full of mirth
Sat crouching in the corner light
For crickets on the [h]earth
& circling round a merry group
Sat listening to the rain
Till goody lapt her knitting up
To tell a tale again
She told about an ancient hall
That stood so very lone
She mentioned ivy on the wall
In terrors undertone
Sat listening to the rain
Till goody lapt her knitting up
To tell a tale again
She told about an ancient hall
That stood so very lone
She mentioned ivy on the wall
In terrors undertone
The very thought it checkt her breath
Lone midnight on the moores
For furze that blossom on the heath
Grew almost to the doors
& woods that tempests seldom miss
That raves & howls & roars
To scare on such a night as this
The gard dog out of doors
Lone midnight on the moores
For furze that blossom on the heath
Grew almost to the doors
& woods that tempests seldom miss
That raves & howls & roars
To scare on such a night as this
The gard dog out of doors
To say twas true she couldnt stop
But almost could declare
Whoso looked up the chimney top
Would see the branches there
The gentleman who owned the hall
On travel far away
Left servant folks in number small
To guard it night & day
But almost could declare
Whoso looked up the chimney top
Would see the branches there
The gentleman who owned the hall
On travel far away
Left servant folks in number small
To guard it night & day
12
The girls by custom like to men
Nigh overcome their fears
Till winds blew loud at night & then
They'd try to stop their ears
Though doors where safe & locks where strong
When watch dogs barked about
They dare not speak nor sing a song
But put the candles out
Nigh overcome their fears
Till winds blew loud at night & then
They'd try to stop their ears
Though doors where safe & locks where strong
When watch dogs barked about
They dare not speak nor sing a song
But put the candles out
One dark & drear december night
One just got up to look
& lit another candle light
To fetch a pleasant book
For there was many books indeed
To sweeten solitude
& they would very often read
When in a reading mood
One just got up to look
& lit another candle light
To fetch a pleasant book
For there was many books indeed
To sweeten solitude
& they would very often read
When in a reading mood
For all the neighbours dwelling near
Where those upon the shelves
The servant men in spite of fear
Oft left them to themselves
She stopt awhile the fire to stir
& put an apple down
To roast—& muttered as to her
She'd never leave a town
Where those upon the shelves
The servant men in spite of fear
Oft left them to themselves
She stopt awhile the fire to stir
& put an apple down
To roast—& muttered as to her
She'd never leave a town
The maid just got into a chair
To look the volume oer
But ere she found a story there
A rap was at the door
She hurried out & dropt the light
Her heart was dropping too
Both in a corner crushed out right
& knew not what to do
To look the volume oer
But ere she found a story there
A rap was at the door
She hurried out & dropt the light
Her heart was dropping too
Both in a corner crushed out right
& knew not what to do
13
A voice called out that they had lost
The way & meant no ill
& so the maidens hoped at most
For every dog was still
Two soldiers they had left the road
While crossing heath & more
& one had brothers gone abroad
So she unlocked the door
The way & meant no ill
& so the maidens hoped at most
For every dog was still
Two soldiers they had left the road
While crossing heath & more
& one had brothers gone abroad
So she unlocked the door
Now goody let the story stop
A minute in her mind
While louder in the chimney top
& louder got the wind
She said what many may have said
In such a night what joy
To have a house above their heads
To keep them warm & dry
A minute in her mind
While louder in the chimney top
& louder got the wind
She said what many may have said
In such a night what joy
To have a house above their heads
To keep them warm & dry
The apples leisure to regale
Were roasted to the core
So from their patience & her tale
She stole a minute more
Soldiers though men of guns & swords
Know kindliness as well
& have a mort of tender words
That suit the women well
Were roasted to the core
So from their patience & her tale
She stole a minute more
Soldiers though men of guns & swords
Know kindliness as well
& have a mort of tender words
That suit the women well
They pardon craved for knocking there
By travel sore distrest
The maids in pity set the chairs
An hour or two to rest
They talked so honest to the maids
Both hoped them honest men
Nay one was not a bit affraid
& felt no terror then
By travel sore distrest
The maids in pity set the chairs
An hour or two to rest
They talked so honest to the maids
Both hoped them honest men
Nay one was not a bit affraid
& felt no terror then
14
For she'd a brother far from home
That wouldn't hurt a flye
The other wished the dogs would come
To show a guard was nigh
She dare not let her courage fail
Or let them understand
Her fears so when her cheek turned pale
She leaned upon her hand
That wouldn't hurt a flye
The other wished the dogs would come
To show a guard was nigh
She dare not let her courage fail
Or let them understand
Her fears so when her cheek turned pale
She leaned upon her hand
The soldiers talked of foreign parts
Till coming from without
A whistle made the maidens start
& then they heard a shout
Then somthing trampled near the place
& voices muttered near
They looked up in each others face
& dare not speak for fear
Till coming from without
A whistle made the maidens start
& then they heard a shout
Then somthing trampled near the place
& voices muttered near
They looked up in each others face
& dare not speak for fear
Then louder still as in the room
& horses on the moor
They heard & thought the master come
Yet terror barred the door
Twas well they did let who would come
The latch was gently tried
The maidens hallooed Tom the Groom
But ne'er a voice replied
& horses on the moor
They heard & thought the master come
Yet terror barred the door
Twas well they did let who would come
The latch was gently tried
The maidens hallooed Tom the Groom
But ne'er a voice replied
Yet such a noise & such a shock
More loud then danger calls
Gave at the door a thundering knock
So loud it shook the walls
Who knocked one said & all looked up
In goodys face for dread
& had a owl began to whoop
They'd all been drove to bed
More loud then danger calls
Gave at the door a thundering knock
So loud it shook the walls
Who knocked one said & all looked up
In goodys face for dread
& had a owl began to whoop
They'd all been drove to bed
15
Who knocked that granny could not show
So fear out mastered mirth
The old man in the moon might know
But none could tell on earth
& many noises went & came
& both the soldiers then
Showed they were free from doubting blame
& down right honest men
So fear out mastered mirth
The old man in the moon might know
But none could tell on earth
& many noises went & came
& both the soldiers then
Showed they were free from doubting blame
& down right honest men
They heard the maidens tales of doubt
& bade them both be still
& listened at the noise without
Yet feared for nothing ill
For they had met all sorts of fear
That like the clouds in may
Lost all their dread in coming near
& grew from black to grey
& bade them both be still
& listened at the noise without
Yet feared for nothing ill
For they had met all sorts of fear
That like the clouds in may
Lost all their dread in coming near
& grew from black to grey
They h[e]ard but never cared to quake
& knew no reason why
Noises the winds could never make
Although the winds was high
& just to drive the noises back
That round the house begun
They reached it from the kitchen rack
& charged the rusty gun
& knew no reason why
Noises the winds could never make
Although the winds was high
& just to drive the noises back
That round the house begun
They reached it from the kitchen rack
& charged the rusty gun
Then gently threw the window up
To get the muzzle through
& kneeling heard another whoop
& then a whistle blew
They listened wether light or dark
If thieves were on the spot
They would be near enough the mark
To fright em so they shot
To get the muzzle through
& kneeling heard another whoop
& then a whistle blew
They listened wether light or dark
If thieves were on the spot
They would be near enough the mark
To fright em so they shot
16
A sound as somthing shot again
A groan & somthing fell
But still they feared the cow was slain
What else they couldnt tell
& yet the noises came & went
& steps at every door
Traced round the house for some intent
They knew & nothing more
A groan & somthing fell
But still they feared the cow was slain
What else they couldnt tell
& yet the noises came & went
& steps at every door
Traced round the house for some intent
They knew & nothing more
When morning did the sparrows send
To chelp the news of day
Twas like a letter from a friend
Or sweetheart far away
Glad as a present from abroad
From friendship that had crost
The sea in ships when all on board
In some old news was lost
To chelp the news of day
Twas like a letter from a friend
Or sweetheart far away
Glad as a present from abroad
From friendship that had crost
The sea in ships when all on board
In some old news was lost
The maids from windows round the hall
Looked out both far & near
The grape leaves shivered by the wall
As if they quaked for fear
But nothing could they hear or see
& yet so frit they was
They sturted backwards when the bee
Came buzz agen the glass
Looked out both far & near
The grape leaves shivered by the wall
As if they quaked for fear
But nothing could they hear or see
& yet so frit they was
They sturted backwards when the bee
Came buzz agen the glass
& soon as light gave leave to see
In garden ground & shed
The soldiers searched to ease & free
The maids of every dread
Yet in the gravel by the door
Fresh places might be seen
The foot marks plain where one or more
Had on some errand been
In garden ground & shed
The soldiers searched to ease & free
The maids of every dread
Yet in the gravel by the door
Fresh places might be seen
The foot marks plain where one or more
Had on some errand been
17
Where sluthering footsteps slipt aside
Ridged up the gravel lay
As some had struggled & had tried
To stand or get away
& there a spot of blood appeared
Where somthing seemed to fall
& sure enough twas known & feared
Thieves meant to rob the hall
Ridged up the gravel lay
As some had struggled & had tried
To stand or get away
& there a spot of blood appeared
Where somthing seemed to fall
& sure enough twas known & feared
Thieves meant to rob the hall
The listeners round where glad at heart
& goody felt delight
That soldiers took the maidens part
& found the hall that night
& goody felt delight
That soldiers took the maidens part
& found the hall that night
But granny where was Tom the Groom
A little urchin said
Who chased the kitling round the room
With dancing cork & thread
That Goodys story couldnt show
But guessed he ran away
His sweetheart in the town below
Wept for him many a day
A little urchin said
Who chased the kitling round the room
With dancing cork & thread
That Goodys story couldnt show
But guessed he ran away
His sweetheart in the town below
Wept for him many a day
The soldiers they had met with scars
As soldiers mostly do
& they had been in morts of wars
Twas all that goody knew
But still the story went to say
(Maids should love honest men)
That though they forced to go away
They both returned agen
As soldiers mostly do
& they had been in morts of wars
Twas all that goody knew
But still the story went to say
(Maids should love honest men)
That though they forced to go away
They both returned agen
| John Clare: Cottage Tales | |