Just
some of the lines from 'January' that his publisher John Taylor cut from Clare's poem. So
very much NOT the (published) 1827 text. What did Taylor have against
them?
I have
split into 'verses' of eight lines simply to aid reading on a screen!
While labour still pursues
his way
& braves the tempest as
he may
The t[h]resher first thro
darkness deep
Awakes the mornings winter
sleep
Scaring the owlet from her
prey
Long before she dreams of
day
That bli[n]ks above head on
the snow
Watching the mice that
squeaks below
& foddering boys
sojourn again
By ryhme hung hedge &
frozen plain
Shuffling thro the sinking
snows
Blowing his fingers as he
goes
To where the stock in
bellowings hoarse
Call for their meals in
dreary close
& print full many a
hungry track
Round circling hedge that
guards the stack
Wi higgling tug he cuts
the hay
& bares the forkfull
loads away
& morn & evening
daily throws
The little heaps upon the
snows
The shepherd too in great
coat wrapt
& straw bands round his
stockings lapt
Wi plodding dog that
sheltering steals
To shun the wind behind his
heels
Takes rough & smooth
the winter weather
& paces thro the snow
together
While in the fields the
lonly plough
Enjoys its frozen sabbath
now
& horses too pass time
away
In leisures hungry holiday
Rubbing & lunging round
the yard
Dreaming no doubt of
summer sward
MP I 3
MP I 3
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