[Variant 15:
1836.
I feel my body die away, I shall not see another day. 1798.]
THE LAST OF THE FLOCK
Composed 1798.--Published 1798.
[Produced at the same time as "The Complaint", and for the same purpose. The incident occurred in the village of Holford, close by Alfoxden.--I. F.]
Included among the "Poems founded on the Affections."--Ed.
THE POEM
I In distant countries have I been, [1]
And yet I have not often seen A healthy man, a man full grown, Weep in the public roads, alone.
But such a one, on English ground, 5 And in the broad highway, I met; Along the broad highway he came, His cheeks with tears were wet: St.u.r.dy he seemed, though he was sad; And in his arms a Lamb he had. 10
II He saw me, and he turned aside, As if he wished himself to hide: And with his coat did then essay [2]
To wipe those briny tears away.
I followed him, and said, "My friend, 15 What ails you? wherefore weep you so?"
--"Shame on me, Sir! this l.u.s.ty Lamb, He makes my tears to flow.
To-day I fetched him from the rock: He is the last of all my flock. 20
III "When I was young, a single man, And after youthful follies ran, Though little given to care and thought, Yet, so it was, an ewe [3] I bought; And other sheep from her I raised, 25 As healthy sheep as you might see; And then I married, and was rich As I could wish to be; Of sheep I numbered a full score, And every year increased my store. 30
IV "Year after year my stock it grew; And from this one, this single ewe, Full fifty comely sheep I raised, As fine [4] a flock as ever grazed!
Upon the Quantock hills they fed; [5] 35 They throve, and we at home did thrive: --This l.u.s.ty Lamb of all my store Is all that is alive; And now I care not if we die, And perish all of poverty. 40
V "Six [6] Children, Sir! had I to feed; Hard labour in a time of need!
My pride was tamed, and in our grief I of the Parish asked relief.
They said, I was a wealthy man; 45 My sheep upon the uplands [7] fed, And it was fit that thence I took Whereof to buy us bread.
"Do this: how can we give to you,"
They cried, "what to the poor is due?" 50
VI "I sold a sheep, as they had said, And bought my little children bread, And they were healthy with their food; For me--it never did me good.
A woeful time it was for me, 55 To see the end of all my gains, The pretty flock which I had reared With all my care and pains, To see it melt like snow away-- For me it was a woeful day. 60
VII "Another still! and still another!
A little lamb, and then its mother!
It was a vein that never stopped-- Like blood-drops from my heart they dropped.
"Till thirty were not left alive 65 They dwindled, dwindled, one by one; And I may say, that many a time I wished they all were gone-- Reckless of what might come at last Were but the bitter struggle past. [8] 70
VIII "To wicked deeds I was inclined, And wicked fancies crossed my mind; And every man I chanced to see, I thought he knew some ill of me: No peace, no comfort could I find, 75 No ease, within doors or without; And, crazily and wearily I went my work about; And oft was moved to flee from home, And hide my head where wild beasts roam.[9] 80
IX "Sir! "twas a precious flock to me, As dear as my own children be; For daily with my growing store I loved my children more and more.
Alas! it was an evil time; 85 G.o.d cursed me in my sore distress; I prayed, yet every day I thought I loved my children less; And every week, and every day, My flock it seemed to melt away. 90
X "They dwindled, Sir, sad sight to see!
From ten to five, from five to three, A lamb, a wether, and a ewe;-.
And then at last from three to two; And, of my fifty, yesterday 95 I had but only one: And here it lies upon my arm, Alas! and I have none;-- To-day I fetched it from the rock; It is the last of all my flock." 100
VARIANTS ON THE TEXT
[Variant 1:
1815.
... I have been, 1798.]
[Variant 2:
1836.
Then with his coat he made essay 1798.]
[Variant 3: