33. Robert Bloomfield to Thomas
Hill, 9 July 1800*
Sir
It remains for you to judge whither the following is to be
admitted as a companion to the 'Hour Glass'. [1] if not, I am
fully perswaded that you will suppress it, and perhaps think no worse of your
most obedient
Servant,
Robert Bloomfield
A Neighbourly Resolution [2]
By Robert Bloomfield.
Author of the Farmer's Boy
With Scythe fresh sharpen'd by his side,
To bring the ripen'd Barley down;
One morning when the dew was dried,
Thus
reas'ning to himself, John
Brown,
[3] Stood, where of late
His little gate
Was cover'd by an Elm's
deep shade:
—
[4] 'Ah! There thou liest; wide shelt'ring tree!
Beneath whose boughs, in youthfull glee,
My first Love-vow was made!
2
Thou hast surviv'd my Wife 'tis true,
Thy leaves have sigh'd to me alone,
Have sigh'd in Autumn's
yellow
hue;
[5] I've felt thy lessons every one;
Of thee bereft,
There may be left,
(Though 'twas no friend that cut thee down)
There may be
joys in store, I
say;
[6] I've thought that Goody Gascoin may
[7] Be kind to neighbour Brown.
3
I've liv'd alone; she's done the same,
Through summer's heat, and Winter's cold;
I trust we still might feel love's flame,
Though Girls and Boys may call us old;
O could we be
Embowr'd by thee!
Vain wish! My poor old Elm is down: —
May shadeless labour; and sour Ale,
Far from this stream and this sweet vale
Plague him that rob'd John Brown
4
But, though midst clustring leaves no more
The Robin gives his morning trill;
Winter may bring him to my door,
And Goody Gascoin; — if she will.
I'll know her mind;
If so inclin'd,
Tis Death alone shall make us part:
And though his cot's sweet shade is down,
This charm she'll find in neighbour Brown,
Gay chearfullness of heart.'
Robert Bloomfield
Notes
* Wisbech and Fenland Museum MS 2003.35.26. The
letter also contains Hill's pencilled emendations to the text of
Bloomfield's poem (see notes) and his instructions to the printer: 'The
ideal emendations are only in pencil that they may be removed or retained as
the Editor's judgment directs. / Probatum est TH'. BACK
[1] Bloomfield's 'The Widow to her Hour-Glass' was published in
Rural Tales, pp. 59–62. BACK
[2] 'A Neighbourly Resolution' was published, after Bloomfield's death, in the first volume of Remains, pp. 79–80. BACK
[3] A replacement for the
words in italics is suggested in a pencilled marginal note: musing
with. BACK
[4] A replacement for the word in
italics is suggested in a pencilled marginal note: broad. BACK
[5] A replacement for the
word in italics is suggested (and rejected) in a pencilled marginal
note: sallow. BACK
[6] A replacement for the
word in italics is suggested in a pencilled marginal note:
left. BACK
[7] A replacement for the word in italics is
suggested in a pencilled marginal note: Some joys — for. BACK