The Village Minstrel Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis

Rhyme Scheme: A B CDCEEFEFF AGAGGHGHH IJIJJKJKK J LDLDDMNMM J MOMOOPOPP J AJAJJQJQQ J QARAAS ASS J TUVUUWUWW U AAAAAVAVV U JIJIXAIAA U UAUAATAYZ U ASASSA2SA2A2 U B2WB2WWAWAA W AC2D2C2E2AC2AA W AF2AF2F2AF2AA W GQGQQAQAA W AJAJJUJUU J AWAWWJWJJ W B2AG2AAWAWW W WH2WH2H2I2H2I2I2 W WAWAAJ2AJ2J2 W HE2HE2E2K2HK2K2 W WL2WL2L2SM2SS W UAUAAJAJU J AAAAAE2AE2E2 J SE2SE2E2WE2WW J AZAZZE2ZE2E2 J WN2WN2N2SN2SS W UWWWWAWAA W WWWWWAWAA W SMSMME2ME2E2 W E2UE2UUAUAA W JO2JO2O2M2O2L2L2 J AUAUUAUAA J P2AP2AAI2AI2I2 J Q2JQ2JJAJAA J R2JS2JJJJJJ J WJWUJE2JE2E2 W AJAJJAJWW J AAAAAJAJJ J AJAJJE2JE2E2 J T2WT2WWJWJJ J AJAJJMJMM J WTWZYE2YE2E2 J YAYAAWAWW J AE2AE2E2JE2JJ J E2WE2WWM2WL2L2 W E2AUAAAAAA W YE2YE2E2U2E2U2U2 W WAWAAE2AE2E2 W V2E2V2E2E2WE2WW W W2E2W2E2E2E2E2E2E2 W AWAWWE2WE2E2 J WAWAAWAWW J WWWWWWWWW J AWAWWAWAA J WJWJJAJAA J JWJWWJWJJ W E2YE2YYJYJJ W E2WE2WWE2WE2E2 W AE2AE2E2AE2AA E2 JJJJJJJJJ E2 AJAJJJJJJ J AE2AE2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2E2E2E2E2AE2AA J AS2AS2S2X2R2X2X2 J E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J AE2AE2E2JE2JJ E2 E2E2E2E2E2JE2JJ E2 E2L2E2M2L2E2L2E2E2 E2 E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 E2 E2E2E2E2E2JE2JJ E2 E2Y2E2Y2Y2E2Y2E2E2 J AE2AE2E2AE2AA J YAYAAE2AE2E2 J YJYJJYJYY J AAAAAJAJJ J YJYJJJJJJ J JE2JE2E2Z2E2A3P2 J V2JV2JJJJJJ J JJJJJL2JM2L2 J E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2E2E2E2E2Y2E2Y2Y2 J E2YE2YYYYYY J JE2JE2E2JE2JJ J E2JE2JJJJJJ J JJJJJJJJJ J JE2JE2E2JE2JJ J E2ME2MMYMYY M E2JE2JJJJJJ J JE2JE2E2JE2JJ J E2JE2JJYJYY J JB3JB3C3MB3MM J E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2E2E2E2E2JE2JJ J JJJJJJJJJ J E2JE2JJYJYY J JE2JE2E2JE2JJ J E2E2E2E2E2ME2MM E2 E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J ME2ME2E2E2E2E2E2 E2 E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2JE2JJMJMM J H2E2H2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 E2 JE2JE2E2JE2JJ E2 E2JE2JJYJYY E2 E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J JJJJJYJYY J D3E2D3E2E2E2E2E2E2 J JE2JE2E2E2E2E2E2 J JE2JE2E2JE2JJ J YE2YE2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2IE2IIE2XE2E2 J E2JE2JJYJYY J E2YE2YYR2YR2R2 J JE2JE2E2E2E2E2E2 J J2E2J2E2E2E2E2E2E2 J E2JE2JJE2JE2E2

Argument	A
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Introduction Lubin's childhood his Winter Amusements Fairy Tales His superstitious Fancies Approach of Spring Mayday His Parents Lubin described Village conversation His Love of Nature Summer Amusements the Stockdove Insects Fairy Rings Recollections of unhappy Incidents Autumn time the Street the Corn field Gleaners old Women's Stories Harvest home its Sports described Harvest Supper Autumn Scenes Indications of approaching Winter Apostrophe to Woman The Statute described Ballad singers Poor Sailor Civil Will Recruiting Serjeant The Village Feast the Dance Rural Love the Cotter and his Friends his Soliloquy Village Sports enumerated Lubin in Solitude the old Castle Songs of Robin Hood The Village Green enclosed its former State contrasted with its present Appearance Regret at the Change Inclosure deprecated by the Peasantry their Recollections of former Pleasures The Gipsies' Camp their Habits Native Scenes in early Life the universal Interest they excite Effect on Lubin Apostrophe to the dead Shepherds His preference still in Home to other Places Hopes and Fears Anxiety for the Future Resignation	B
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I	-
	-
While learned poets rush to bold extremes	C
And sunbeams snatch to light the muse's fires	D
An humble rustic hums his lowly dreams	C
Far in the shade where poverty retires	E
And sings what nature and what truth inspires	E
The charms that rise from rural scenery	F
Which he in pastures and in woods admires	E
The sports the feelings of his infancy	F
And such like artless things how mean soe'er they be	F
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II	-
	-
Though far from what the learned's toils requite	A
He unambitious looks at no renown	G
Yet little hopes break his oblivious night	A
To cheer the bosom of a luckless clown	G
Where black neglect spreads one continual frown	G
And threats her constant winter cold and chill	H
Where toil and slavery bear each fancy down	G
That fain would soar and sing albeit ill	H
And force him to submit to fate's controlling will	H
	-
III	-
	-
Young Lubin was a peasant from his birth	I
His sire a hind born to the flail and plough	J
To thump the corn out and to till the earth	I
The coarsest chance which nature's laws allow	J
To earn his living by a sweating brow	J
Thus labour's early days did rugged roll	K
Mixt with untimely toil but e'en as now	J
Ambitions prospects fired his little soul	K
And fancy soared and sung 'bove poverty's control	K
	-
IV	J
	-
Small joy to him were childhood's tempting tricks	L
Which school boys look for in their vacant hours	D
With other boys he little cared to mix	L
Joy left him lonely in his hawthorn bowers	D
As haply binding up his knots of flowers	D
Or list'ning unseen birds to hear them sing	M
Or gazing downward where the runnel pours	N
Through the moss'd bridge in many a whirling ring	M
How would he muse o'er all on pleasure's fairy wing	M
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V	J
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The I spy halloo and the marble ring	M
And many a game that infancy employs	O
The spinning top whirl'd from the twitching string	M
The boastful jump of strong exulting boys	O
Their sports their pastimes all their pleasing toys	O
We leave unsung though much such rural play	P
Would suit the theme yet they're not Lubin's joys	O
Truth breathes the song in Lubin's steps to stray	P
Through woods and fields and plains his solitary way	P
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VI	J
	-
And tell how vales and shades did please his sight	A
And how the wind breath'd music thro' each bough	J
And how in rural charms he did delight	A
To mark the shepherd's folds and swains at plough	J
And pasture speck'd with sheep and horse and cow	J
With many a beauty that does intervene	Q
And steeple peeping o'er the wood's dark brow	J
While young hope's fancy popt its smile between	Q
And wish'd man's days to spend in some such peaceful scene	Q
	-
VII	J
	-
Each opening season and each opening scene	Q
On his wild view still teem'd with fresh delight	A
E'en winter's storms to him have welcome been	R
That brought him comfort in its long dark night	A
As joyful list'ning while the fire burnt bright	A
Some neighbouring labourer's superstitious tale	S
	-
How Jack a lantern with his wisp alight	A
To drown a 'nighted traveller once did fail	S
He knowing well the brook that whimper'd down the vale	S
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VIII	J
	-
And tales of fairy land he lov'd to hear	T
Those mites of human forms like skimming bees	U
That fly and flirt about but every where	V
The mystic tribes of night's unnerving breeze	U
That through a lock hole even creep with ease	U
The freaks and stories of this elfin crew	W
Ah Lubin gloried in such things as these	U
How they rewarded industry he knew	W
And how the restless slut was pinched black and blue	W
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IX	U
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How ancient dames a fairy's anger fear'd	A
From gossip's stories Lubin often heard	A
How they on every night the hearth stone clear'd	A
And 'gainst their visits all things neat prepar'd	A
As fays nought more than cleanliness regard	A
When in the morn they never fail'd to share	V
Or gold or silver as their meet reward	A
Dropt in the water superstition's care	V
To make the charm succeed had cautious placed there	V
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X	U
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And thousands such the village keeps alive	J
Beings that people superstitious earth	I
That e'er in rural manners will survive	J
As long a wild rusticity has birth	I
To spread their wonders round the cottage hearth	X
On Lubin's mind these deeply were imprest	A
Oft fear forbade to share his neighbour's mirth	I
And long each tale by fancy newly drest	A
Brought fairies in his dreams and broke his infant rest	A
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XI	U
	-
He had his dreads and fears and scarce could pass	U
A church yard's dreary mounds at silent night	A
But footsteps trampled through the rustling grass	U
And ghosts 'hind grave stones stood in sheets of white	A
Dread monsters fancy moulded on his sight	A
Soft would he step lest they his tread should hear	T
And creep and creep till past his wild affright	A
Then on wind's wings would rally as it were	Y
So swift the wild retreat of childhood's fancied fear	Z
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XII	U
	-
And when fear left him on his corner seat	A
Much would he chatter o'er each dreadful tale	S
Tell how he heard the sound of 'proaching feet	A
And warriors jingling in their coats of mail	S
And lumping knocks as one would thump a flail	S
Of spirits conjur'd in the charnel floor	A2
And many a mournful shriek and hapless wail	S
Where maids self murder'd their false loves deplore	A2
And from that time would vow to tramp on nights no more	A2
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XIII	U
	-
O who can speak his joys when spring's young morn	B2
From wood and pasture open'd on his view	W
When tender green buds blush upon the thorn	B2
And the first primrose dips its leaves in dew	W
Each varied charm how joy'd would he pursue	W
Tempted to trace their beauties through the day	A
Grey girdled eve and morn of rosy hue	W
Have both beheld him on his lonely way	A
Far far remote from boys and their unpleasing play	A
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XIV	W
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Sequester'd nature was his heart's delight	A
Him would she lead thro' wood and lonely plain	C2
Searching the pooty from the rushy dyke	D2
And while the thrush sang her long silenc'd strain	C2
He thought it sweet and mock'd it o'er again	E2
And while he pluck'd the primrose in its pride	A
He ponder'd o'er its bloom 'tween joy and pain	C2
And a rude sonnet in its praise he tried	A
Where nature's simple way the aid of art supplied	A
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XV	W
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The freshen'd landscapes round his routs unfurl'd	A
The fin ting'd clouds above the woods below	F2
Each met his eye a new revealing world	A
Delighting more as more he learn'd to know	F2
Each journey sweeter musing to and fro	F2
Surrounded thus not paradise more sweet	A
Enthusiasm made his soul to glow	F2
His heart with wild sensations used to beat	A
As nature seemly sang his mutterings would repeat	A
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XVI	W
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Upon a molehill oft he dropt him down	G
To take a prospect of the circling scene	Q
Marking how much the cottage roof's thatch brown	G
Did add its beauty to the budding green	Q
Of sheltering trees it humbly peep'd between	Q
The stone rock'd waggon with its rumbling sound	A
The windmill's sweeping sails at distance seen	Q
And every form that crowds the circling round	A
Where the sky stooping seems to kiss the meeting ground	A
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XVII	W
	-
And dear to him the rural sports of May	A
When each cot threshold mounts its hailing bough	J
And ruddy milkmaids weave their garlands gay	A
Upon the green to crown the earliest cow	J
When mirth and pleasure wear a joyful brow	J
And join the tumult with unbounded glee	U
The humble tenants of the pail and plough	J
He lov'd old sports by them reviv'd to see	U
But never car'd to join in their rude revelry	U
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XVIII	J
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O'er brook banks stretching on the pasture sward	A
He gaz'd far distant from the jocund crew	W
'Twas but their feats that claim'd a slight regard	A
'Twas his his pastimes lonely to pursue	W
Wild blossoms creeping in the grass to view	W
Scarce peeping up the tiny bent as high	J
Beting'd with glossy yellow red or blue	W
Unnam'd unnotic'd but by Lubin's eye	J
That like low genius sprang to bloom their day and die	J
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XIX	W
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O who can tell the sweets of May day's morn	B2
To waken rapture in a feeling mind	A
When the gilt east unveils her dappled dawn	G2
And the gay woodlark has its nest resign'd	A
As slow the sun creeps up the hill behind	A
Morn redd'ning round and daylight's spotless hue	W
As seemingly with rose and lily lin'd	A
While all the prospect round beams fair to view	W
Like a sweet opening flower with its unsullied dew	W
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XX	W
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Ah often brushing through the dripping grass	W
Has he been seen to catch this early charm	H2
List'ning the love song of the healthy lass	W
Passing with milk pail on her well turn'd arm	H2
Or meeting objects from the rousing farm	H2
The jingling plough teams driving down the steep	I2
Waggon and cart and shepherd dogs' alarm	H2
Raising the bleatings of unfolding sheep	I2
As o'er the mountain top the red sun 'gins to peep	I2
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XXI	W
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Nor could the day's decline escape his gaze	W
He lov'd the closing as the rising day	A
And oft would stand to catch the setting rays	W
Whose last beams stole not unperceiv'd away	A
When hesitating like a stag at bay	A
The bright unwearied sun seem'd loth to drop	J2
Till chaos' night hounds hurried him away	A
And drove him headlong from the mountain top	J2
And shut the lovely scene and bade all nature stop	J2
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XXII	W
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With contemplation's stores his mind to fill	H
O doubly happy would he roam as then	E2
When the blue eve crept deeper round the hill	H
While the coy rabbit ventur'd from his den	E2
And weary labour sought his rest agen	E2
Lone wanderings led him haply by the stream	K2
Where unperceiv'd he 'joy'd his hours at will	H
Musing the cricket twittering o'er its dream	K2
Or watching o'er the brook the moon light's dancing beam	K2
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XXIII	W
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And here the rural muse might aptly say	W
As sober evening sweetly siles along	L2
How she has chas'd black ignorance away	W
And warm'd his artless soul with feelings strong	L2
To teach his reed to warble forth a song	L2
And how it echoed on the even gale	S
All by the brook the pasture flowers among	M2
But ah such trifles are of no avail	S
There's few to notice him or hear his simple tale	S
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XXIV	W
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As most of nature's children prove to be	U
His little soul was easy made to smart	A
His tear was quickly born to sympathy	U
And soon were rous'd the feelings of his heart	A
In others' woes and wants to bear a part	A
Yon parish huts where want is shov'd to die	J
He never view'd them but his tear would start	A
He past not by the doors without a sigh	J
And felt for every woe of workhouse misery	U
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XXV	J
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O Poverty thy frowns were early dealt	A
O'er him who mourn'd thee not by fancy led	A
To whine and wail o'er woes he never felt	A
Staining his rhymes with tears he never shed	A
And heaving sighs a mock song only bred	A
Alas he knew too much of every pain	E2
That shower'd full thick on his unshelter'd head	A
And as his tears and sighs did erst complain	E2
His numbers took it up and wept it o'er again	E2
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XXVI	J
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Full well might he his early days recal	S
When he a thresher with his sire had been	E2
When he a ploughboy in the fields did maul	S
And drudg'd with toil through almost every scene	E2
How pinch'd with winter's frownings he has been	E2
And tell of all that modesty conceals	W
Of what his friends and he have felt and seen	E2
But useless naming what distress reveals	W
As every child of want feels all that Lubin feels	W
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XXVII	J
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It might be curious here to hint the lad	A
How in his earliest days he did appear	Z
Mean was the dress in which the boy was clad	A
His friends so poor and clothes excessive dear	Z
They oft were foil'd to rig him once a year	Z
And housewife's care in many a patch was seen	E2
Much industry 'gainst want did persevere	Z
His friends tried all to keep him neat and clean	E2
Though care has often fail'd and shatter'd he has been	E2
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XXVIII	J
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Yet oft fair prospects cheer'd his parent's dreams	W
Who had on Lubin founded many a joy	N2
But pinching want soon baffled all their schemes	W
And dragg'd him from the school a hopeless boy	N2
To shrink unheeded under hard employ	N2
When struggling efforts warm'd him up the while	S
To keep the little toil could not destroy	N2
And oft with books spare hours he would beguile	S
And blunder oft with joy round Crusoe's lonely isle	S
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XXIX	W
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Folks much may wonder how the thing may be	U
That Lubin's taste should seek refined joys	W
And court th'enchanting smiles of poesy	W
Bred in a village full of strife and noise	W
Old senseless gossips and blackguarding boys	W
Ploughmen and threshers whose discourses led	A
To nothing more than labour's rude employs	W
'Bout work being slack and rise and fall of bread	A
And who were like to die and who were like to wed	A
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XXX	W
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Housewives discoursing 'bout their hens and cocks	W
Spinning long stories wearing half the day	W
Sad deeds bewailing of the prowling fox	W
How in the roost the thief had knav'd his way	W
And made their market profits all a prey	W
And other losses too the dames recite	A
Of chick and duck and gosling gone astray	W
All falling prizes to the swopping kite	A
And so the story runs both morning noon and night	A
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XXXI	W
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Nor sabbath days much better thoughts instil	S
The true going churchman hears the signal ring	M
And takes his book his homage to fulfil	S
And joins the clerk his amen task to sing	M
And rarely home forgets the text to bring	M
But soon as service ends he 'gins again	E2
'Bout signs in weather late or forward spring	M
Of prospects good or bad in growing grain	E2
And if the sermon's long he waits the end with pain	E2
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XXXII	W
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A more uncouthly lout was hardly seen	E2
Beneath the shroud of ignorance than he	U
The sport of all the village he has been	E2
Who with his simple looks oft jested free	U
And gossips gabbling o'er their cake and tea	U
Time after time did prophecies repeat	A
How half a ninny he was like to be	U
To go so soodling up and down the street	A
And shun the playing boys whene'er they chanc'd to meet	A
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XXXIII	W
	-
Nature look'd on him with a 'witching eye	J
Her pleasing scenes were his delightful book	O2
Where he while other louts roam'd heedless by	J
With wild enthusiasm us'd to look	O2
The kingcup vale the gravel paved brook	O2
Were paradise with him to muse among	M2
And haply sheltering in some lonely nook	O2
He often sat to see it purl along	L2
And fir'd with what he saw humm'd o'er his simple song	L2
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XXXIV	J
	-
When summer came how eager has he sped	A
Where silence reign'd and the old crowned tree	U
Bent with its sheltering ivy o'er his head	A
And summer breezes breathing placidly	U
Encroach'd upon the stockdove's privacy	U
Parting the leaves that screen'd her russet breast	A
Peace would he whisper dread no thief in me	U
And never rose to rob her careless nest	A
Compassion's softness reign'd and warm'd his gentle breast	A
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XXXV	J
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And he would trace the stagnant pond or lake	P2
Where flags sprang up or water lilies smil'd	A
And wipe the boughs aside of bush and brake	P2
And creep the woods with sweetest scenes beguil'd	A
Tracking some channel on its journey wild	A
Where dripping blue bells on the bank did weep	I2
O what a lovely scene to nature's child	A
Through roots and o'er dead leaves to see it creep	I2
Watching on some moss'd stump in contemplation deep	I2
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XXXVI	J
	-
And he would mark in July's rosy prime	Q2
Crossing the meadows how a nameless fly	J
Of scarlet plumage punctual to its time	Q2
Perch'd on a flower would always meet his eye	J
And plain drest butterfly of russet dye	J
As if awaken'd by the scythe's shrill sound	A
Soon as the bent with ripeness 'gan to dye	J
Was constant with him in each meadow ground	A
Flirting the withering swath and unmown blossom round	A
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XXXVII	J
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No insect 'scap'd him from the gaudy plume	R2
Of dazzling butterflies so fine to view	J
To the small midges that at evening come	S2
Like dust spots dancing o'er the water's blue	J
Or where the spreading oak above head grew	J
Tormenting maidens 'neath their kicking cow	J
Who often murmur'd at the elfin crew	J
And from th'endanger'd pail with angry vow	J
Oft rose their sport to spoil with switch of murdering bough	J
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XXXVIII	J
	-
And he has mark'd the curious stained rings	W
Though seemly nothing in another's eye	J
And bending o'er them thought them wondrous things	W
Where nurses' night fays circling dances hie	U
And set the cock to watch the morning's eye	J
Light soon betrays 'em where their routs have been	E2
Their printing foot marks leave a magic dye	J
The grass grows gloomy in a darker green	E2
And look for years to come and still the place is seen	E2
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XXXIX	W
	-
And as declining day his stalking shade	A
A giant monster stretch'd in fancy's view	J
What bustle to his cottage has he made	A
Ere sliving night around his journey threw	J
Her circling curtains of a grizly hue	J
Then of the rings the fairy routs display'd	A
From gossip's wisdom much he glean'd who knew	J
How they were haunts for ghosts as well as fays	W
And told what things were seen in granny's younger days	W
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XL	J
	-
The verse might tremble with the haunted pond	A
and tell of terrors which his heart has found	A
How he to 'scape shool'd many a pace beyond	A
Each dreaded dangerous spot of haunted ground	A
Here as he pass'd where Amy's woes were drown'd	A
If late at night his fears would turn him chill	J
If nought was seen he heard a squish squash sound	A
As when one's shoes the drenching waters fill	J
And wet and dripping oft he saw her climb the hill	J
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XLI	J
	-
And round his fields lay many a spot to dread	A
'Twould note a history down to mark them all	J
Oft monsters have been seen without a head	A
And market men oft got a dangerous fall	J
When startled horses saw the sweeping pall	J
On the cross roads where love lorn Luce was lain	E2
At other spots like offsprings of Old Ball	J
Or ploughman's senses often were mista'en	E2
A shagged foal would fright the early rising swain	E2
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XLII	J
	-
In autumn time he often stood to mark	T2
What tumults 'tween the hogs and geese arose	W
Down the corn litter'd street and the rude bark	T2
Of jealous watch dog on his master's clothes	W
E'en rous'd by quawking of the flopping crows	W
And every tinkle in that busy toil	J
In sultry field and dusty lane that flows	W
He glean'd his corn and lov'd to list the while	J
For Lubin mingled there to share of autumn's spoil	J
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XLIII	J
	-
And when old women overpower'd by heat	A
Tuck'd up their clothes and sicken'd at the toil	J
Seeking beneath the thorn the mole hill seat	A
To tell their tales and catch their breath awhile	J
Their gabbling talk did Lubin's cares beguile	J
And some would tell their tales and some would sing	M
And many a dame to make the children smile	J
Would tell of many a funny laughing thing	M
While merrily the snuff went pinching round the ring	M
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XLIV	J
	-
Here Lubin listen'd with awe struck surprise	W
When Hickathrift's great strength has met his ear	T
How he kill'd giants as they were but flies	W
And lifted trees as one would lift a spear	Z
Though not much bigger than his fellows were	Y
He knew no troubles waggoners have known	E2
Of getting stall'd and such disasters drear	Y
Up he'd chuck sacks as one would hurl a stone	E2
And draw whole loads of grain unaided and alone	E2
	-
XLV	J
	-
And Goody's sympathy would fetch the tear	Y
From each young list'ner seated by her side	A
When cruel Barbara Allen they did hear	Y
The haughty stubbornness of female pride	A
To that fond youth who broke his heart and died	A
And Jack the giant killer's tales she'd say	W
Which still the same enchanting power supplied	A
The stagnant tear amazement wip'd away	W
And Jack's exploits were felt for many an after day	W
	-
XLVI	J
	-
These were such tales as Lubin did delight	A
But should the muse narrate in Goody's strain	E2
And tell of all she told from morn till night	A
Fays ghosts and giants would her songs detain	E2
To be at day's return resumed again	E2
With Cinderella she has charm'd awhile	J
Then Thumb's disasters gave a moment's pain	E2
Thus true thought legends would each soul beguile	J
As superstition will'd to raise the tear or smile	J
	-
XLVII	J
	-
And as the load jogg'd homeward down the lane	E2
When welcome night shut out the toiling day	W
Following he mark'd the simple hearted swain	E2
Joying to listen on his homeward way	W
While rest's warm rapture rous'd the rustic's lay	W
The thread bare ballad from each quavering tongue	M2
As Peggy Band or the sweet month of May	W
Oh how he joy'd to hear each good old song	L2
That on night's pausing ear did echo loud and long	L2
	-
XLVlll	W
	-
The muse might sing too for he well did know	E2
The freaks and play that harvest labour end	A
How the last load is crown'd with boughs and how	U
The swains and maids with fork and rake attend	A
With floating ribbons 'dizen'd at the end	A
And how the children on the load delight	A
With shouts of Harvest home their throats to rend	A
And how the dames peep out to mark the sight	A
And all the feats that crown the harvest supper night	A
	-
XLIX	W
	-
He knew all well a young familiar there	Y
And often look'd on all for he himsen	E2
Join'd with the sun tann'd group the feast to share	Y
As years roll'd round him with the change agen	E2
And brought the masters level with the men	E2
Who push'd the beer about and smok'd and drank	U2
With freedom's plenty never shewn till then	E2
Nor labourers dar'd but now so free and frank	U2
To laugh and joke and play so many a harmless prank	U2
	-
L	W
	-
Much has he laugh'd each rude rude act to see	W
The long neck'd sheet clad crane to poke about	A
Spoiling each smoker's pipe and cunningly	W
Though blind fold seen to pick each bald head out	A
And put each bashful maiden to the rout	A
The fiery parrot too a laughing scene	E2
Where two maids on a sheet invite the lout	A
Thrown o'er a water tub to sit between	E2
And as he drops they rise and let him swearing in	E2
	-
LI	W
	-
The dusty miller playing many a rig	V2
And the Scotch pedlars with their jokes and fun	E2
The booted hogs drove over Lunnon brig	V2
Boys who had mischief in the harvest done	E2
As loads o'erturn'd and foul on posts had run	E2
And brandy burning ghosts most deadly blue	W
That each old woman did with terror shun	E2
These with the rest did Lubin yearly view	W
And join'd his mirth and fears with the low vulgar crew	W
	-
LII	W
	-
To close the ranting nigh the master's health	W2
Went round in bumping horns to every swain	E2
Who wish'd him best of crops t'increase his wealth	W2
And's merry sport when harvest came again	E2
And all in chorus rallied out amain	E2
The harvest song a tugging pull begun	E2
Each ere its end the brimming horn must drain	E2
Or have it fill'd again there lay the fun	E2
Till Hodge went drunk to bed and morts of things were done	E2
	-
LIII	W
	-
Oh dear to Lubin autumn's changing cloud	A
Where shade and sunshine every minute sees	W
And each rude risen tempest beetling loud	A
Own'd every murmur his wild ear to please	W
Sughing its vengeance through The yellow trees	W
Pattering the acorns from their cups adown	E2
Fanning the sere leaf far upon the leas	W
And picturesque to him each scrambling clown	E2
Tearing the woods among to search the nut bunch brown	E2
	-
LIV	J
	-
How would he wander round the woods the plains	W
When every flower from nature's wreath had fled	A
Tracing the shower bedimpled sandy lanes	W
And winding fountains to their infant bed	A
With many a flag and rushy bunch bespread	A
Marking each curdle boil and boil away	W
And bubbles guggling born that swell'd and fled	A
Like changing scenes in life's ephemeron day	W
Thus Lubin paus'd o'er all and cheer'd his lonely way	W
	-
LV	J
	-
A solitaire through autumn's wan decay	W
He heard the tootling robin sound her knell	W
Observ'd the sun more coy to slink away	W
And lingering oak shade how it brown'd and fell	W
And many a way of nature he could tell	W
That secrets are to undiscerning eyes	W
As how the bee most careful clos'd her cell	W
The mouse with far fetch'd ear his hole supplies	W
And moles root deeper down from winter's frowning skies	W
	-
LVI	J
	-
And he could tell how the shy squirrel far'd	A
Who often stood its busy toils to see	W
How against winter it was well prepar'd	A
With many a store in hollow root or tree	W
As if being told what winter's wants would be	W
Its nuts and acorns he would often find	A
And hips and haws too heaped plenteously	W
In snug warm corner that broke off the wind	A
With leafy nest made nigh that warm green mosses lin'd	A
	-
LVII	J
	-
'Twas thus his fond inquiry us'd to trace	W
Through nature's secret with unwearied eye	J
And watch the shifting seasons' changing grace	W
Spring's first wild flower and summer's painted sky	J
The insect creeping and the birds that fly	J
The autumn's dying breeze the winter wind	A
That bellow'd round his hut most mournfully	J
And as his years increas'd his taste refin'd	A
And fancy with new charms enlighten'd up his mind	A
	-
LVIII	J
	-
Beauty 'gan look too witching on his eye	J
The sweetest image seen in nature's glass	W
A swelling bosom 'neath its lily dye	J
Without admiring Lubin could not pass	W
And downcast eye and blush of shanny lass	W
Had every power his heart to hold in thrall	J
O beauteous woman still thy charms surpass	W
In spite of all thy failings and thy fall	J
Thou art the comfort still that cheers this earthly ball	J
	-
LIX	W
	-
Sure 'twas an oversight in nature's plan	E2
Such loveliness that claims the tenderest care	Y
To leave defenceless with ungrateful man	E2
Such harden'd brutes as but too many are	Y
O pleasing flowers as frail as ye are fair	Y
Sure some that live have souls to feel and sigh	J
When shrinking 'neath the storms ye cannot bear	Y
Your beauteous buds bow down to fade and die	J
While not one pitying tear melts your seducer's eye	J
	-
LX	W
	-
Full oft to see their witcheries divine	E2
He'd mix in circles which their charms did grace	W
And merry groups he now began to join	E2
And though his heart denied to own its case	W
It oft was smitten with a beauty's face	W
And throbb'd with thrilling aggravating pain	E2
And many a long long day has taken place	W
Ere he forgot and met his peace again	E2
While oft in beauty's praise he humm'd his amorous strain	E2
	-
LXI	W
	-
He knew the manners too of merry rout	A
Statute and feast his village yearly knew	E2
And glorious revels too without a doubt	A
Such pastimes were to Hob and Nell and Sue	E2
Milkmaids and clowns that statute joys pursue	E2
And rattle off like hogs to London mart	A
Weary of old they seek for places new	E2
Where men hail maidens with a frothing quart	A
And Hodge With sweetheart fix'd forgets his plough and cart	A
	-
LXII	E2
	-
Where cakes and nuts and gingerbread and all	J
Tempt clowns to buy and far more tempting still	J
Where shining ribbons dizen out the stall	J
And wenches drag poor sheepish Bob or Bill	J
Some long long dallied promise to fulfil	J
New wreath or bow for Sunday cap to buy	J
If yah set any store by one yah will	J
Each draws his purse and makes them no reply	J
But thinks returns ere long will suit for clowns are sly	J
	-
LXIII	E2
	-
And there the ballad singers rave and rant	A
And Hodge whose pockets won't stand treats more high	J
Hears which his simpering lass may please to want	A
And brushing through the crowd most manfully	J
Outs with his pence the pleasing song to buy	J
And crams it in her hand with many a smile	J
The trifling present make the maid comply	J
To promise him her company the while	J
And strutting on at night he hands her o'er the stile	J
	-
LXIV	J
	-
Here the poor sailor with his hat in hand	A
Hops through the crowd that wonderfully stares	E2
To hear him talk of things in foreign land	A
'Bout thundering cannons and most bloody wars	E2
And as he stops to shew his seamy scars	E2
Pity soon meets the ploughman's penny then	E2
The sailor heartfelt thankfulness declares	E2
God blesses all and styles them gentlemen	E2
And fobs his money up and 'gins his tale agen	E2
	-
LXV	J
	-
Here's Civil Will too with his pins and pegs	E2
And he makes glorious fun among the chaps	E2
Boys miss my pegs he cries and hit my legs	E2
My timbers well can stand your gentle taps	E2
Though sure enough he gets most ugly raps	E2
For here the rustic thinks the sports abound	A
Whose aim at Civil's legs his fellows caps	E2
Meets most applause still poor Will stand his ground	A
Boys throw your copper salve and make another wound	A
	-
LXVI	J
	-
But soldiers they're the boys to make a rout	A
With boasting bottle brimm'd with gin and rum	S2
The high crown'd cap with ribbons hung about	A
The tuteling fife and hoarse rap tapping drum	S2
Lud clowns are almost mad where'er they come	S2
They're like so many kings 'mong country folk	X2
They push their beer like water round the room	R2
Who will and welcome there may drink and smoke	X2
Though chaps have often found they dearly sell a joke	X2
	-
LXVII	J
	-
The bumptious serjeant struts before his men	E2
And clear the road young whopstraws will he say	E2
And looks as big as if king George himsen	E2
And wields his sword around to make a way	E2
With lace and ribbons dizen'd out so gay	E2
So flashing smart full oft as well's the swain	E2
The tempted maid his finery does betray	E2
Who leaves poor slighted Hodge behind in pain	E2
And many a chiding dame to sorrow and complain	E2
	-
LXVIII	J
	-
And Lubin heard the echoing rabble fight	A
When men and maids were hir'd and sports did close	E2
And wenches sought their sweethearts up at night	A
And found 'em drunk bedeck'd with soldier's clothes	E2
As they would pull and scold great tumults rose	E2
The serjeant's honour totter'd terribly	J
From women's threat'nings hardly 'scap'd with blows	E2
They'd box his cap about his ears if he	J
Gave not the contest up and set the prisoner free	J
	-
LXIX	E2
	-
Some homeward bound were coupled maid and swain	E2
And Dick from Dolly now for gifts did sue	E2
He'd giv'n her ribbons and he deem'd again	E2
Some kind return as nothing but his due	E2
And he told things that ploughmen little knew	E2
Of bleeding hearts and pains a mighty spell	J
Her Sunday clothes might damage with the dew	E2
She quite forgot them while he talk'd so well	J
And listened to his tales till darkness round them fell	J
	-
LXX	E2
	-
The statute nam'd each servant's day of fun	E2
The village feast next warms the muse's song	L2
'Tis Lubin's sphere a thresher's lowly son	E2
Though little used to mix such routs among	M2
Such fitting subjects to the theme belong	L2
As pictur'd landscapes destitute of trees	E2
Would doubtlessly be fancied painted wrong	L2
So lowly rural subjects such as these	E2
Must have their simple ways discerning eyes to please	E2
	-
LXXI	E2
	-
The lovely morn in July's blushes rose	E2
That brought the yearly feast and holiday	E2
When villagers put on their bran new clothes	E2
And milk maids drest like any ladies gay	E2
Threw cotton drabs and worsted hose away	E2
And left their pails unscour'd well pleas'd I ween	E2
To join the dance where gipsy fiddlers play	E2
Accompanied with thumping tambourine	E2
From night till morning light upon the rushy green	E2
	-
LXXII	E2
	-
Where the fond swain delighteth in the chance	E2
To meet the sun tann'd lass he dearly loves	E2
And as he leads her down the giddy dance	E2
With many a token his fond passion proves	E2
Squeezing her hands or catching at her gloves	E2
And stealing kisses as chance prompts the while	J
With eye fixt on her as she graceful moves	E2
To catch if such fond fancies her beguile	J
When happily her heart confesses in a smile	J
	-
LXXIII	E2
	-
O rural love as spotless as the dove's	E2
No wealth gives fuel to a borrow'd flame	Y2
To prompt the shepherd where to choose his loves	E2
And go a forger of that sacred name	Y2
Both hearts in unison here beat the same	Y2
Here nature makes the choice which love inspires	E2
Far from the wedded lord and haughty dame	Y2
This boon of heavenly happiness retires	E2
Not felon like law bound but wedded in desires	E2
	-
LXXIV	J
	-
The woodman and the thresher now are found	A
Mixing and making merry with their friends	E2
Children and kin from neighbouring towns around	A
Each at the humble banquet pleas'd attends	E2
For though no costliness the feast pretends	E2
Yet something more than common they provide	A
And the good dame her small plum pudding sends	E2
To sons and daughters fast in service tied	A
With many a cordial gift of good advice beside	A
	-
LXXV	J
	-
'Tis pleasing then to view the cotter's cheer	Y
To mark his gentle and his generous mind	A
How free he is to push about his beer	Y
And well's he knows with ceremony kind	A
Bids help themselves to such as they may find	A
Tells them they're welcome as the flowers in May	E2
And full of merrimental cheer inclin'd	A
Drink healths and sings when supper's clear'd away	E2
And hopes they all may meet on next year's holiday	E2
	-
LXXVI	J
	-
And then for sake of's boys and wenches dear	Y
Gives leave a dancing in his hut shall be	J
While he sits smoking in his elbow chair	Y
As pleas'd as Punch his children round to see	J
With each a sweetheart frisking merrily	J
God bless ye all quoth he and drinks his beer	Y
My boys and wenches ye're a pride to me	J
Lead but an honest life no matter where	Y
And do as I have done and ye'll have nought to fear	Y
	-
LXXVII	J
	-
To bring ye up from toil I never flinch'd	A
Or fail'd to do the thing that's just and right	A
Your mother knows ourselves were often pinch'd	A
To fill your bellies and to keep ye tight	A
May God look down and bless ye all this night	A
May wives and husbands here that are to be	J
Instead of sorrows prove your heart's delight	A
I've brought ye up expect no more from me	J
So take your trundle now and good luck may ye see	J
	-
LXXVIII	J
	-
Thus talk'd the father to his pipe and beer	Y
For those whom he'd admonish were the while	J
Too occupied in dancing him to hear	Y
Yet still with talk and beer he does beguile	J
His short releasement from his cares and toil	J
Till Sir John's spirit stops his merry glee	J
And lays him quiet down his children smile	J
Break up the dance and pay the fiddler's fee	J
And then the lass he loves each swain pulls on his knee	J
	-
LXXIX	J
	-
And the long rural string of merry games	J
That at such outings maketh much ado	E2
All were to Lubin's skill familiar names	J
And he could tell each whole performance through	E2
As plann'd and practis'd by the jovial crew	E2
Great sport to them was jumping in a sack	Z2
For beaver hat bedeck'd with ribbons blue	E2
Soon one bumps down as though he'd broke his neck	A3
Another tries to rise and wondrous sport they make	P2
	-
LXXX	J
	-
And monstrous fun it makes to hunt the pig	V2
As soapt and larded through the crowd he flies	J
Thus turn'd adrift he plays them many a rig	V2
A pig for catching is a wondrous prize	J
And every lout to do his utmost tries	J
Some snap the ear and some the curly tail	J
But still his slippery hide all hold denies	J
While old men tumbled down sore hurts bewail	J
And boys bedaub'd with muck run home with piteous tale	J
	-
LXXXI	J
	-
And badger baiting here and fighting cocks	J
But sports too barbarous these for Lubin's strains	J
And red fac'd wenches for the Holland smocks	J
Oft puff and pant along the smooth green plains	J
Where Hodge feels most uncomfortable pains	J
To see his love lag hindmost in the throng	L2
And of unfairness in her cause complains	J
And swears and fights the jarring chaps among	M2
As in her part he'd die 'fore they his lass should wrong	L2
	-
LXXXII	J
	-
And long ear'd racers fam'd for sport and fun	E2
Appear this day to have their swiftness try'd	E2
Where some won't start and Dick's the race nigh won	E2
Enamour'd of some Jenny by his side	E2
Forgets the winning post to court a bride	E2
In vain the mob urge on the jockey clown	E2
To lump his cudgel on his harden'd hide	E2
Ass after ass still hee haws through the town	E2
And in disgrace at last each jockey bumps adown	E2
	-
LXXXIII	J
	-
And then the noisy rout their sports to crown	E2
Form round the ring superior strength to show	E2
Where wrestlers join to tug each other down	E2
And thrust and kick with hard revengeful blow	E2
Till through their worsted hose the blood does flow	E2
For ploughmen would not wish for higher fame	Y2
Than be the champion all the rest to throw	E2
And thus to add such honours to his name	Y2
He kicks and tugs and bleeds to win the glorious game	Y2
	-
LXXXIV	J
	-
And when the night draws on each mirthful lout	E2
The ale house seeks and sets it in a roar	Y
And there while fiddlers play they rant about	E2
And call for brimming tankards frothing o'er	Y
For clouds of smoke ye'd hardly see the door	Y
No stint they make of 'bacco and of beer	Y
While money lasts they shout about for more	Y
Resolv'd to keep it merry when it's here	Y
As toils come every day and feasts but once a year	Y
	-
LXXXV	J
	-
With village merriments digress'd awhile	J
We now resume poor Lubin's joys again	E2
And haply find him bending o'er a stile	J
Or stretch'd in sabbath musings on the plain	E2
Looking around and humming o'er a strain	E2
Painting the foliage of the woodland trees	J
List'ning a bird that's lost its nest complain	E2
Noting the hummings of the passing bees	J
And all the lovely things his musing hears and sees	J
	-
LXXXVI	J
	-
Where ling clad heaths and pastures now may spread	E2
He oft has heard of castle and of hall	J
And curiosity his steps hath led	E2
To gaze on some old arch or fretting wall	J
Where ivy scrambles up to stop the fall	J
There would he sit him down and look and sigh	J
And by gone days back to his mind would call	J
The bloody warring times of chivalry	J
When Danes' invading routs made unarm'd Britons fly	J
	-
LXXXVII	J
	-
He lov'd to view the mossy arched brigs	J
Bending o'er wall or rail the pits or springs	J
Below to mark where willow's dripping twigs	J
To summer's silken zephyrs' feeblest wings	J
Bent in the flood and curv'd its thousand rings	J
And where the sun beam twitter'd on the walls	J
And nodding bulrush down its drowk head hings	J
And down the rock the shallow water falls	J
Wild fluttering through the stones in feeble whimpering brawls	J
	-
LXXXVIII	J
	-
And oft with shepherds leaning o'er their hooks	J
He'd stand conjecturing on the ruins round	E2
Though little skill'd in antiquated books	J
Their knowledge in such matters seem'd profound	E2
And they would preach of what did once abound	E2
Castles deep moated round old haunted hall	J
And something like to moats still 'camp the ground	E2
Where beneath Cromwell's rage the towers did fall	J
But ivy creeps the hill and ruin hides it all	J
	-
LXXXIX	J
	-
And ancient songs he hung enraptur'd on	E2
Which herdsmen on a hill have sat to sing	M
'Bout feats of Robin Hood and Little John	E2
Whose might was fear'd by country and by king	M
Such strength had they to twitch the thrumming string	M
Their darts oft suck'd the life blood of the deer	Y
And Sherwood Forest with their horns did ring	M
Ah these were songs which he would joy to hear	Y
And these were such as warm'd when antique scenes appear	Y
	-
XC	M
	-
But who can tell the anguish of his mind	E2
When reformation's formidable foes	J
With civil wars 'gainst nature's peace combin'd	E2
And desolation struck her deadly blows	J
As curst improvement 'gan his fields inclose	J
O greens and fields and trees farewel farewel	J
His heart wrung pains his unavailing woes	J
No words can utter and no tongue can tell	J
When ploughs destroy'd the green when groves of willows fell	J
	-
XCI	J
	-
There once were springs when daisies' silver studs	J
Like sheets of snow on every pasture spread	E2
There once were summers when the crow flower buds	J
Like golden sunbeams brightest lustre shed	E2
And trees grew once that shelter'd Lubin's head	E2
There once were brooks sweet whimpering down the vale	J
The brooks no more kingcup and daisy fled	E2
Their last fallen tree the naked moors bewail	J
And scarce a bush is left to tell the mournful tale	J
	-
XCII	J
	-
Yon shaggy tufts and many a rushy knot	E2
Existing still in spite of spade and plough	J
As seeming fond and loth to leave the spot	E2
Tell where was once the green brown fallows now	J
Where Lubin often turns a sadden'd brow	J
Marks the stopt brook and mourns oppression's power	Y
And thinks how once he waded in each slough	J
To crop the yellow horse blob's early flower	Y
Or catch the miller's thumb in summer's sultry hour	Y
	-
XCIII	J
	-
There once were days the woodman knows it well	J
When shades e'en echoed with the singing thrush	B3
There once were hours the ploughman's tale can tell	J
When morning's beauty wore its earliest blush	B3
How woodlarks carol'd from each stumpy bush	C3
Lubin himself has mark'd them soar and sing	M
The thorns are gone the woodlark's song is hush	B3
Spring more resembles winter now than spring	M
The shades are banish'd all the birds have took to wing	M
	-
XCIV	J
	-
There once were lanes in nature's freedom dropt	E2
There once were paths that every valley wound	E2
Inclosure came and every path was stopt	E2
Each tyrant fix'd his sign where paths were found	E2
To hint a trespass now who cross'd the ground	E2
Justice is made to speak as they command	E2
The high road now must be each stinted bound	E2
Inclosure thou'rt a curse upon the land	E2
And tasteless was the wretch who thy existence plann'd	E2
	-
XCV	J
	-
O England boasted land of liberty	E2
With strangers still thou mayst thy title own	E2
But thy poor slaves the alteration see	E2
With many a loss to them the truth is known	E2
Like emigrating bird thy freedom's flown	E2
While mongrel clowns low as their rooting plough	J
Disdain thy laws to put in force their own	E2
And every village owns its tyrants now	J
And parish slaves must live as parish kings allow	J
	-
XCVI	J
	-
Ye fields ye scenes so dear to Lubin's eye	J
Ye meadow blooms ye pasture flowers farewel	J
Ye banish'd trees ye make me deeply sigh	J
Inclosure came and all your glories fell	J
E'en the old oak that crown'd yon rifled dell	J
Whose age had made it sacred to the view	J
Not long was left his children's fate to tell	J
Where ignorance and wealth their course pursue	J
Each tree must tumble down old Lea close Oak adieu	J
	-
XCVII	J
	-
Lubin beheld it all and deeply pain'd	E2
Along the paled road would muse and sigh	J
The only path that freedom's rights maintain'd	E2
The naked scenes drew pity from his eye	J
Tears dropt to memory of delights gone by	J
The haunts of freedom cowherd's wattled bower	Y
And shepherd's huts and trees that tower'd high	J
And spreading thorns that turn'd a summer shower	Y
All captives lost and past to sad oppression's power	Y
	-
XCVIII	J
	-
And oft with shepherds he would sit to sigh	J
O'er past delights of many a by gone day	E2
And look on scenes now naked to the eye	J
And talk as how they once were clothed gay	E2
And how the runnel wound its weedy way	E2
And how the willows on its margin grew	J
Talk o'er with them the rural feats of May	E2
Who got the blossoms 'neath the morning dew	J
That the last garland made and where such Blossoms grew	J
	-
XCIX	J
	-
And how he could remember well when he	E2
Laden with blooming treasures from the plain	E2
Has mixt with them beneath a dotterel tree	E2
Driv'n from his cowslips by a hasty rain	E2
And heard them there sing each delightful strain	E2
And how with tales what joys they us'd to wake	M
Wishing with them such days would come again	E2
They lov'd the artless boy for talking's sake	M
And said some future day a wondrous man he'd make	M
	-
C	E2
	-
And you poor ragged outcasts of the land	E2
That lug your shifting camps from green to green	E2
He lov'd to see your humble dwellings stand	E2
And thought your groups did beautify the scene	E2
Though blam'd for many a petty theft you've been	E2
Poor wandering souls to fate's hard want decreed	E2
Doubtless too oft such acts your ways bemean	E2
But oft in wrong your foes 'gainst you proceed	E2
And brand a gipsy's camp when others do the deed	E2
	-
CI	J
	-
Lubin would love to list their gibberish talk	M
And view the oddity their ways display	E2
And oft with boys pursued his Sunday walk	M
Where warp'd the camp beneath the willows grey	E2
And its black tenants on the green sward lay	E2
While on two forked sticks with cordage tied	E2
Their pot o'er pilfer'd fuel boils away	E2
With food of sheep that of red water died	E2
Or any nauseous thing their frowning fates provide	E2
	-
Cll	E2
	-
Yet oft they gather money by their trade	E2
And on their fortune telling art subsist	E2
Where her long hoarded groat oft brings the maid	E2
And secret slives it in the sybil's fist	E2
To buy good luck and happiness to list	E2
What occupies a wench's every thought	E2
Who is to be the man while as she wist	E2
The gipsy's tale with swains and wealth is fraught	E2
The lass returns well pleas'd and thinks all cheaply bought	E2
	-
CIII	J
	-
In summer Lubin oft has mark'd and seen	E2
How eagerly the village maids pursue	J
Their Sunday rambles where the camps have been	E2
And how they give their money to the crew	J
For idle stories they believe as true	J
Crossing their hands with coin or magic stick	M
How quak'd the young to hear what things they knew	J
While old experienc'd dames saw through the trick	M
Who said that all their skill was borrow'd from Old Nick	M
	-
CIV	J
	-
And thus the superstitious dread their harm	H2
And dare not fail relieving the distrest	E2
Lest they within their cot should leave a charm	H2
To let nought prosper and bring on some pest	E2
Of depth of cunning gipsies are possest	E2
And when such weakness in a dame they find	E2
Forsooth they prove a terrifying guest	E2
And though not one to charity inclin'd	E2
They mutter black revenge and force her to be kind	E2
	-
CV	J
	-
His native scenes O sweet endearing sound	E2
Sure never beats a heart howe'er forlorn	E2
But the warm'd breast has soft emotions found	E2
To cherish the dear spot where he was born	E2
E'en the poor hedger in the early morn	E2
Chopping the pattering bushes hung with dew	E2
Scarce lays his mitten on a branching thorn	E2
But painful memory's banish'd thoughts in view	E2
Remind him when 'twas young what happy days he knew	E2
	-
CVI	E2
	-
When the old shepherd with his woolly locks	J
Crosses the green past joys his eyes will fill	E2
Where when a boy he us'd to tend his flocks	J
Each fringed rushy bed and swelling hill	E2
Where he has play'd or stretch'd him at his will	E2
Freshening anew in life's declining years	J
Will jog his memory with its pleasures still	E2
O how the thought his native scenes endears	J
No spot throughout the world so pleasingly appears	J
	-
CVIl	E2
	-
The toil worn thresher in his little cot	E2
Whose roof did shield his birth and still remains	J
His dwelling place how rough soe'er his lot	E2
His toil though hard and small the wage he gains	J
That many a child most piningly maintains	J
Send him to distant scenes and better fare	Y
How would his bosom yearn with parting pains	J
How would he turn and look and linger there	Y
And wish e'en now his cot and poverty to share	Y
	-
CVIII	E2
	-
How dear the soldier feels the relic prove	E2
Taken from home or giv'n by love's sweet hand	E2
A box that bears the motto of true love	E2
How will he take his quid and musing stand	E2
Think on his native lass and native land	E2
And bring to mind all those past joys again	E2
From which wild youth so foolish was trepann'd	E2
Kissing the pledge that doth these ways retain	E2
While fancy points the spot far o'er the barring main	E2
	-
CIX	J
	-
O dear delightful spots his native place	J
How Lubin look'd upon the days gone by	J
How he though young would past delights retrace	J
Bend o'er gull'd holes where stood his trees and sigh	J
With tears the while bemoist'ning in his eye	J
How look'd he for the green a green no more	Y
Mourning to scenes that made him no reply	J
Save the strong accents they in memory bore	Y
Our scenes that charm'd thy youth are dead to bloom no more	Y
	-
CX	J
	-
O samely naked leas so bleak so strange	D3
How would he wander o'er ye to complain	E2
And sigh and wish he ne'er had known the change	D3
To see the ploughshare bury all the plain	E2
And not a cowslip on its lap remain	E2
The rush tuft gone that hid the skylark's nest	E2
Ah when will May morn hear such strains again	E2
The storms beat chilly on its naked breast	E2
No shelter grows to shield no home invites to rest	E2
	-
CXI	J
	-
Ah would he sigh ye 'neath the church yard grass	J
Ye sleeping shepherds could ye rise again	E2
And see what since your time has come to pass	J
See not a bush nor willow now remain	E2
Looking and list'ning for the brook in vain	E2
Ye'd little think such was your natal scene	E2
Ye'd little now distinguish field from plain	E2
Or where to look for each departed green	E2
All plough'd and buried now as though there nought had been	E2
	-
CXII	J
	-
But still they beam'd with beauties on his eye	J
No other scenes were half so sweet to view	E2
And other flowers but strove in vain to vie	J
With his few tufts that 'scap'd the wreck and grew	E2
And skylarks too their singing might pursue	E2
To claim his praise he could but only say	J
Their songs were sweet but not like those he knew	E2
That charm'd his native plains at early day	J
Whose equals ne'er were found where'er his steps might stray	J
	-
CXIII	J
	-
When distant village feast or noisy fair	Y
Short absence from his fields did him detain	E2
How would he feel when home he did repair	Y
And mix among his joys the white spire vane	E2
Meeting his eye above the elms again	E2
Leaving his friends in the sweet summer night	E2
No longer lost on unknown field or plain	E2
Far from the path with well known haunts in sight	E2
He'd stray for scatter'd flowers with added new delight	E2
	-
CXIV	J
	-
As travellers return'd from foreign ground	E2
Feel more endearments for their native earth	I
So Lubin cherish'd from each weary round	E2
Still warmer fondness for those scenes of mirth	I
Those plains and that dear cot that gave him birth	I
And oft this warmness for his fields he'd own	E2
Mix'd with his friends around the cottage hearth	X
Relating all the travels he had known	E2
And that he'd seen no spot so lovely as his own	E2
	-
CXV	J
	-
Nor has his taste with manhood e'er declin'd	E2
You still may see him on his lonely way	J
O'er stile or gate in thoughtful mood reclin'd	E2
Or 'long the road with folded arms to stray	J
Mixing with autumn's sighs or summer gay	J
And curious nature's secrets to explore	Y
Brushing the twigs of woods or copse away	J
To roam the lonely shade so silent o'er	Y
Sweet muttering all his joys where clowns intrude no more	Y
	-
CXVI	J
	-
Ah who can tell the anxiousness of mind	E2
All now he doth to manhood's cares aspire	Y
The future blessings which he hopes to find	E2
The wish'd for prospects of his heart's desire	Y
And how chill fear oft damps the glowing fire	Y
And o'er hope's sunshine spreads a cloudy gloom	R2
Yet foil'd and foil'd hopes still his songs inspire	Y
And like the daisy on the cotter's tomb	R2
In melancholy scenes he 'joys his cheerless bloom	R2
	-
CXVII	J
	-
He has his friends compar'd to foes though few	J
And like a corn flower in a field of grain	E2
'Mong many a foe his wild weeds ope to view	J
And malice mocks him with a rude disdain	E2
Proving pretensions to the muse as vain	E2
They deem her talents far beyond his skill	E2
And hiss his efforts as some forged strain	E2
But as hopes smile their tongues shall all be still	E2
E'en envy turns a friend when she's no power to kill	E2
	-
CXVIII	J
	-
Ah as the traveller from the mountain top	J2
Looks down on misty kingdoms spread below	E2
And meditates beneath the steepy drop	J2
What life and lands exist and rivers flow	E2
How fain that hour the anxious soul would know	E2
Of all his eye beholds but 'tis in vain	E2
So Lubin eager views this world of woe	E2
And wishes time her secrets would explain	E2
If he may live for joys or sink in 'whelming pain	E2
	-
CXIX	J
	-
Fate's close kept thoughts within her bosom hide	E2
She is no gossip secrets to betray	J
Time's steady movements must her end decide	E2
And leave him painful still to hope the day	J
And grope through ignorance his doubtful way	J
By wisdom disregarded fools annoy'd	E2
And if no worth anticipates the lay	J
Then let his childish notions be destroy'd	E2
And he his time employ as erst it was employ'd	E2

John Clare

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