from Third-Collection Poems with phonemic transcripts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 29 March 2018
(How the steam engine come about.)
Vier, Aïr, E'th, Water, wer a-meäde fire, earth
Good workers, each o'm in his treäde,
An’ Aïr an’ Water wer a match
Vor woone another in a mill; one
The giant Water at a hatch,
An’ Aïr on the windmill hill.
Zoo then, when Water had a-meäde so
Zome money, Aïr begrudg'd his treäde,
An’ come by, unaweäres woone night,
An’ vound en at his own mill-head, him
An’ cast upon en, iron-tight,
An icy cwoat so stiff as lead.
An’ there he wer so good as dead
Vor grindèn any corn vor bread.
Then Water cried to Vier, “Alack!
Look, here be I, so stiff's a log,
Thik fellor Aïr do keep me back that
Vrom grindèn. I can't wag a cog. move
If I, dear Vier, did ever souse
Your nimble body on a house,
When you wer on your merry pranks
Wi’ thatch or refters, beams or planks,
Vorgi'e me, do, in pity's neäme, forgive
Vor 'twerden I that wer to bleäme,
I never wagg'd, though I be'nt cringèn,
Till men did dreve me wi’ their engine. drive
Do zet me free vrom theäse cwold jacket, this
Vor I myzelf shall never crack it.”
“Well come,” cried Vier, “My vo'k ha’ meäde folk
An engine that 'ull work your treäde.
If E'th is only in the mood,
While I do work, to gi'e me food, give
I'll help ye, an’ I'll meäke your skill
A match vor Mister Aïr's wold mill.” old
“What food,” cried E'th, “'ull suit your bwoard?”
“Oh! trust me, I ben't over nice,”
Cried Vier, “an’ I can eat a slice
Ov any thing you can avword.” afford
“I've lots,” cried E'th, “ov coal an’ wood.”
“Ah! that's the stuff,” cried Vier, “that's good.”
Zoo Vier at woonce to Water cried, so, once
“Here, Water, here, you get inside
O’ theäse girt bwoiler. Then I'll show this great
How I can help ye down below,
An’ when my work shall woonce begin
You'll be a thousand times so strong,
An’ be a thousand times so long
An’ big as when you vu'st got in.
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