The frighted women take the boys away,
The blackguard laughs and hurries on the fray
He tries to reach the woods, and awkward race
But sticks and cudgels quickly stop the chase
He turns again and drives the noisy crowd
And beats the many dogs in noises loud
He drives away and beats them every one
And then they loose them all and set them on
He falls as dead and kicked by boys and men
Then starts and grins and drives the crowd again
Till kicked and torn and beaten out he lies
And leaves his hold and crackles, groans, and dies
Some keep a baited badger tame as hog
And tame him till he follows like the dog.
They urge him on like dogs and show fair play.
He beats and scarcely wounded goes away.
The last stanza shifts in mood, instead of the wild badger captured and forced to fight, it portrays those badgers that have been domesticated. It is interesting how Clare neither condemns nor pities the badger at any point in the poem. The poem has a noticeable lack of emotional commentary.
Badger