WANDERERS.

(TENNYSON)

As o'er the hill we roam'd at will,

My dog and I together,

We mark'd a chaise, by two bright bays

Slow-moved along the heather:

Two bays arch-neck'd, with tails erect

And gold upon their blinkers;

And by their side an ass I spied;

It was a travelling tinker's.

The chaise went by, nor aught cared I;

Such things are not in my way;

I turn'd me to the tinker, who

Was loafing down a by-way:

I ask'd him where he lived—a stare

Was all I got in answer,

As on he trudged: I rightly judged

The stare said, 'Where I can, sir.'

I ask'd him if he'd take a whiff

Of 'bacco; he acceded;

He grew communicative too,

(A pipe was all he needed,)

Till of the tinker's life, I think,

I knew as much as he did.

'I loiter down by thorp and town,

For any job I'm willing;

Take here and there a dusty brown,

And here and there a shilling.

'I deal in every ware in turn,

I've rings for buddin' Sally

That sparkle like those eyes of her'n;

I've liquor for the valet.

'I steal from th' parson's strawberry-plots,

I hide by th' squire's covers;

I teach the sweet young housemaids what's

The art of trapping lovers.

'The things I've done 'neath moon and stars

Have got me into messes:

I've seen the sky through prison bars,

I've torn up prison dresses:

'I've sat, I've sigh'd, I've gloom'd, I've glanced

With envy at the swallows

That through the window slid, and danced

(Quite happy) round the gallows;

'But out again I come, and show

My face nor care a stiver,

For trades are brisk and trades are slow,

But mine goes on for ever.'

Thus on he prattled like a babbling brook.

Then I, 'The sun hath slipped behind the hill,

And my aunt Vivian dines at half-past six.'

So in all love we parted; I to the Hall,

They to the village. It was noised next noon

That chickens had been miss'd at Syllabub Farm.