Maud Muller Illustrated |
SEACOAST POETRY
Perhaps you read the classic poem of unrequited love set along the road to York, Maine? Now you also see the original illustrations from the 1867 hardcover edition. Maud wants the Judge and the judge wants her..You can’t always get what you want, but you can live to regret it.
Unrequited Love at Maud Muller’s Spring
on the road from South Berwick to York Maine
John Greenleaf Whittier (1807 - 1892) knew a thing or two about unrequited love. The Quaker poet of Amesbury. MA died a bachelor while vacationing in Seacoast NH. This romantic poem, legend, says, was inspired by one of Whittier’s visits to this region. Today a marker indicates the spot where Whittier reportedly stopped for drink. In this classic poem, Maud meets the love of her life, but neither she nor the Judge reacts to their meeting, and both grow old separately.
SEARCH FOR MAUD PAROD by Bret Harte
Whittier himself did not think much of the poem which he once said was not worth analysis. It is fictional, and when readers asked the correct pronunciation of the heroines's name, Whittier said he probably should have used the name "Miller" instead. Written and first published in 1854, it grew in popularity after the Civil War when Whittier's fame peaked after another long nostalgic poem called 'Snow-Bound". The story, legend says, was inspired by a summer trip to coastal Maine.
Although the poem appears widely on the Web, our version includes the illustrations by Irish-born W J Hennessy (1839-1917) from the 1867 gift book. We have spaced the illustrations just as they appear on the pages of the original green cloth-covered volume. The edition was published by Whittier’s friend James T. Fields, who was born and raised in Portsmouth, NH. The poem was adapted in a 1912 silent film by the same name starring Vivian Rich as Maud and Donald MacDonald as the Judge. -- JDR
(c) SeacoastNH.com
MAUD MULLER
By John Greenleaf Whittier
MAUD Muller, on a summer's day,
Raked the meadow sweet with hay.
Beneath her torn hat glowed the wealth
Of simple beauty and rustic health.
Singing, she wrought, and her merry glee
The mock-bird echoed from his tree.
CONTINUE MAUD MULLER
Maud Muller's Spring -2
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
But when she glanced to the far-off town,
White from its hill-slope looking down,
The sweet song died, and a vague unrest
And a nameless longing filled her breast,—
A wish that she hardly dared to own,
For something better than she had known.
The Judge rode slowly down the lane,
Smoothing his horse's chestnut mane.
CONTINUE MAUD MULLER
Maud Muller's Spring -3
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
He drew his bridle in the shade
Of the apple-trees to greet the maid,
And ask a draught from the spring that flowed
Through the meadow across the road.
She stooped where the cool spring bubbled up,
And filled for him her small tin cup,
And blushed as she gave it, looking down
On her feet so bare, and her tattered gown.
"Thanks!" said the Judge; "a sweeter draught
From a fairer hand was never quaffed."
CONTINUE MAUD MULLER
Maud Muller's Spring -4
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
He spoke of the grass and flowers and trees, Then talked of the haying, and wondered whether And Maud forgot her brier-torn gown And listened, while a pleased surprise CONTINUE MAUD MULLER At last, like one who for delay Maud Muller looked and sighed: "Ah me! "He would dress me up in silks so fine, "My father should wear a broadcloth coat; CONTINUE MAUD MULLER "I'd dress my mother so grand and gay, "And I'd feed the hungry and clothe the poor, The Judge looked back as he climbed the hill, "A form more fair, a face more sweet, "And her modest answer and graceful air CONTINUE MAUD MULLER "Would she were mine, and I to-day, "No doubtful balance of rights and wrongs, "But low of cattle and song of birds, So, closing his heart, the Judge rode on, But the lawyers smiled that afternoon, CONTINUE MAUD MULLER And the young girl mused beside the well, He wedded a wife of richest dower, Yet oft, in his marble hearth's bright glow, And sweet Maud Muller's hazel eyes Oft, when the wine in his glass was red, And closed his eyes on his garnished rooms And the proud man sighed, with a secret pain, CONTINUE MAUD MULLER She wedded a man unlearned and poor, But care and sorrow, and childbirth pain,
And oft, when the summer sun shone hot And she heard the little spring brook fall In the shade of the apple-tree again CONTINUE MAUD MULLER And, gazing down with timid grace, Sometimes her narrow kitchen walls The weary wheel to a spinet turned, And for him who sat by the chimney lug, CONTINUE MAUD MULLER A manly form at her side she saw, Then she took up her burden of life again, Alas for maiden, alas for Judge, God pity them both! and pity us all, CONTINUE MAUD MULLER For of all sad words of tongue or pen, Ah, well! for us all some sweet hope lies And, in the hereafter, angels may By John Greenelaf Whittier
Of the singing birds and the humming bees;
The cloud in the west would bring foul weather.
And her graceful ankles bare and brown;
Looked from her long-lashed hazel eyes.
Maud Muller's Spring -5
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
Seeks a vain excuse, he rode away.
That I the Judge's bride might be!
And praise and toast me at his wine.
My brother should sail a painted boat.
Maud Muller's Spring -6
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
And the baby should have a new toy each day.
And all should bless me who left our door."
And saw Maud Muller standing still.
Ne'er hath it been my lot to meet.
Show her wise and good as she is fair.
Maud Muller's Spring -7
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
Like her, a harvester of hay:
Nor weary lawyers with endless tongues,
And health and quiet and loving words."
But he thought of his sisters proud and cold,
And his mother vain of her rank and gold.
And Maud was left in the field alone.
When he hummed in court an old love-tune;
Maud Muller's Spring -8
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
Till the rain on the unraked clover fell.
Who lived for fashion, as he for power.
He watched a picture come and go;
Looked out in their innocent surprise.
He longed for the wayside well instead;
To dream of meadows and clover-blooms.
"Ah, that I were free again!
Maud Muller's Spring -9
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
"Free as when I rode that day,
Where the barefoot maiden raked her hay."
And many children played round her door.
Left their traces on heart and brain.
On the new-mown hay in the meadow lot,
Over the roadside, through the wall,
She saw a rider draw his rein.
Maud Muller's Spring -10
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
She felt his pleased eyes read her face.
Stretched away into stately halls;
The tallow candle an astral burned,
Dozing and grumbling o'er pipe and mug,
Maud Muller's Spring -11
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
And joy was duty and love was law.
Saying only, "It might have been."
For rich repiner and household drudge!
Who vainly the dreams of youth recall.
Maud Muller's Spring -11
by John Greeneleaf Whittier
The saddest are these: "It might have been!"
Deeply buried from human eyes;
Roll the stone from its grave away!
chnor & Fields Edition, BOSTON, 1867
On SeacoastNH.com