Misthress Leythess

Clare having fun with language...

& the blak sale   mathem    was fer the reform bill lost in the howse of Lords    & if they downt plase to down o there nappers & loke far it agin I wud niver to go to have prares in thet howse agin      as Humfrey seys    far as thoff it be ritten on a bit of  parchmen no biger then your fingor it will nat tak the lukin far as the needal in the battel of hay did & so thay hav no exchuse bot to find it 

            yours ever to admirashun dare mat-hem   exchuse hast & botherashun far Im ap to my elbos in sads & the buk thub

Och the mobs    Misthress Leythess    the mabs thare ane man dun morthashuns of mischeef wid a fire shovel       he bite an officher of chalvery at the pint of his swurd most shamefuly    & Humfrey seys no mather for that    thow hees no rabel    bot hee will hev it thet the kings consitushuns ar no bisnes to be pat in jeporde at the rong end of a dradm swurd      to beshure Mathern    its all well enuff to be at the handel, thets safe enuf for sartin        bot yu no the kalverey ar gentemen & we musthent be afther kapin solders far doinin nathin   thets sartin    & so peceable fokes mast kape throm owt o the wey o the powther & uthe[r] dangerus mortashüns

           bot wat a strange thing thet the man wid the fire showel shud cum oif the ero Mathem     but lard bles yu   he wor prothekted by providence & as thof he was nat doin the rite thing

A single page from the Lettys Correspondence:

'Memoirs of Uncle Barnaby'

(Arbour Editions - 2017)

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Sauntering noisless

So dreamy is the light that dwells around 


& so refreshing is its sombre mood 


We feel at once shut out from sun & sky 


All the deliciousness of solitude 


While sauntering noisless oer the leafy ground

The air we breath seems loosing every trace 


Of earth & all its trouble & the mind

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Beautiful & new

Clouds rack & drive before the wind
In shapes & forms of every kind
Like waves that rise without the roar
& rocks that guard an untrodden shore
Now castles pass majestic by
& ships in peaceful havens lie
These gone ten thousand shapes ensue
For ever beautiful & new

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Quiet moods

I love to walk the fields they are to me
A legacy no evil can destroy
They like a spell set every rapture free
That cheered me when a boy
Play--pastime--all times blotting pen concealed
Comes like a new-born joy
To greet me in the field

For natures objects ever harmonize
With emulous taste that vulgar deed annoys
It loves in quiet moods to sympathize
& meet vibrating joys
Oer natures pleasant things nor will it deem
Pastime the muse employs
A vain obtrusive theme

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The sallows

The sallows glisten in their gay palm bloom
Studded with golden down where earliest come
The solitary wild bees that servive
Their trance & ere the tenants of the hive
Dare venure out are searching field & wood
& from scarce blossoms seeking scanty food
Hanging there yet half doubtful hopes along
& humming wearily a lonly song

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Last lingering

& when the summers swarms half namless fled 
& autumns landscape faded bleak & wild 
When leaves gun fall & show their berries red 
Still with the season woud I be beguild 
Lone spots to seek home leaving far behind 
Were wildness rears her lings & teazle burs 
& were last lingering of the flowery kind 
Blue heath bells tremble neath the sheltering furze 
Sweet was such walks on the half barren wild 
Which ploughs leave quiet with their briars & brakes 
Prospects of freedom pleasing from a child 
To track the crookd pad which the rabbit makes

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A ruby crown

The sun he goes down wi a ruby crown

To a gold and crimson bed
And the falling dew from heaven so blue
Hang[s] like pearls on Phoebe's head
Love leave the town

Come thou with me neath the green leaf tree
We'll crop the bonny sweet brere
Oh come dear maid neath the hazle wood shade
For love invites us here
Come then wi' me

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