ancient poems-第14节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



Said　the　shepherd's　son；　as　he　doft　his　shoon；　'My　feet　they　shall　run　bare；　And　if　ever　I　meet　another　maid；　I　rede　that　maid　beware。'



Ballad：　THE　BEAUTIFUL　LADY　OF　KENT；　OR；　THE　SEAMAN　OF　DOVER。



＇WE　have　met　with　two　copies　of　this　genuine　English　ballad；　the　　older　one　is　without　printer's　name；　but　from　the　appearance　of　the　　type　and　the　paper；　it　must　have　been　published　about　the　middle　of　　the　last　century。　　It　is　certainly　not　one　of　the　original　　impressions；　for　the　other　copy；　though　of　recent　date；　has　　evidently　been　taken　from　some　still　older　and　better　edition。　　In　　the　modern　broadside　the　ballad　is　in　four　parts；　whereas；　in　our　　older　one；　there　is　no　such　expressed　division；　but　a　word　at　the　　commencement　of　each　part　is　printed　in　capital　letters。＇


PART　I。

A　SEAMAN　of　Dover；　whose　excellent　parts；　For　wisdom　and　learning；　had　conquered　the　hearts　Of　many　young　damsels；　of　beauty　so　bright；　Of　him　this　new　ditty　in　brief　I　shall　write；

And　show　of　his　turnings；　and　windings　of　fate；　His　passions　and　sorrows；　so　many　and　great：　And　how　he　was　blessed　with　true　love　at　last；　When　all　the　rough　storms　of　his　troubles　were　past。

Now；　to　be　brief；　I　shall　tell　you　the　truth：　A　beautiful　lady；　whose　name　it　was　Ruth；　A　squire's　young　daughter；　near　Sandwich；　in　Kent；　Proves　all　his　heart's　treasure；　his　joy　and　content。

Unknown　to　their　parents　in　private　they　meet；　Where　many　love　lessons　they'd　often　repeat；　With　kisses；　and　many　embraces　likewise；　She　granted　him　love；　and　thus　gained　the　prize。

She　said；　'I　consent　to　be　thy　sweet　bride；　Whatever　becomes　of　my　fortune；'　she　cried。　'The　frowns　of　my　father　I　never　will　fear；　But　freely　will　go　through　the　world　with　my　dear。'

A　jewel　he　gave　her；　in　token　of　love；　And　vowed；　by　the　sacred　powers　above；　To　wed　the　next　morning；　but　they　were　betrayed；　And　all　by　the　means　of　a　treacherous　maid。

She　told　her　parents　that　they　were　agreed：　With　that　they　fell　into　a　passion　with　speed；　And　said；　ere　a　seaman　their　daughter　should　have；　They　rather　would　follow　her　corpse　to　the　grave。

The　lady　was　straight　to　her　chamber　confined；　Here　long　she　continued　in　sorrow　of　mind；　And　so　did　her　love；　for　the　loss　of　his　dear；　…　No　sorrow　was　ever　so　sharp　and　severe。

When　long　he　had　mourned　for　his　love　and　delight；　Close　under　the　window　he　came　in　the　night；　And　sung　forth　this　ditty：…　'My　dearest；　farewell！　Behold；　in　this　nation　no　longer　I　dwell。

'I　am　going　from　hence　to　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　Because　I　am　willing　that　you　should　obtain　Your　freedom　once　more；　for　my　heart　it　will　break　If　longer　thou　liest　confined　for　my　sake。'

The　words　which　he　uttered；　they　caused　her　to　weep；　Yet；　nevertheless；　she　was　forced　to　keep　Deep　silence　that　minute；　that　minute　for　fear　Her　honoured　father　and　mother　should　hear。

PART　II。

Soon　after；　bold　Henry　he　entered　on　board；　The　heavens　a　prosperous　gale　did　afford；　And　brought　him　with　speed　to　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　There　he　with　a　merchant　some　time　did　remain；

Who；　finding　that　he　was　both　faithful　and　just；　Preferred　him　to　places　of　honour　and　trust；　He　made　him　as　great　as　his　heart　could　request；　Yet；　wanting　his　Ruth；　he　with　grief　was　oppressed。

So　great　was　his　grief　it　could　not　be　concealed；　Both　honour　and　riches　no　pleasure　could　yield；　In　private　he　often　would　weep　and　lament；　For　Ruth；　the　fair；　beautiful　lady　of　Kent。

Now；　while　he　lamented　the　loss　of　his　dear；　A　lady　of　Spain　did　before　him　appear；　Bedecked　with　rich　jewels　both　costly　and　gay；　Who　earnestly　sought　for　his　favour　that　day。

Said　she；　'Gentle　swain；　I　am　wounded　with　love；　And　you　are　the　person　I　honour　above　The　greatest　of　nobles　that　ever　was　born；　…　Then　pity　my　tears；　and　my　sorrowful　mourn！'

'I　pity　thy　sorrowful　tears；'　he　replied；　'And　wish　I　were　worthy　to　make　thee　my　bride；　But；　lady；　thy　grandeur　is　greater　than　mine；　Therefore；　I　am　fearful　my　heart　to　resign。'

'O！　never　be　doubtful　of　what　will　ensue；　No　manner　of　danger　will　happen　to　you；　At　my　own　disposal　I　am；　I　declare；　Receive　me　with　love；　or　destroy　me　with　care。'

'Dear　madam；　don't　fix　your　affection　on　me；　You　are　fit　for　some　lord　of　a　noble　degree；　That　is　able　to　keep　up　your　honour　and　fame；　I　am　but　a　poor　sailor；　from　England　who　came。

'A　man　of　mean　fortune；　whose　substance　is　small；　I　have　not　wherewith　to　maintain　you　withal；　Sweet　lady；　according　to　honour　and　state；　Now　this　is　the　truth；　which　I　freely　relate。'

The　lady　she　lovingly　squeezed　his　hand；　And　said　with　a　smile；　'Ever　blessed　be　the　land　That　bred　such　a　noble；　brave　seaman　as　thee；　I　value　no　honours；　thou'rt　welcome　to　me；

'My　parents　are　dead；　I　have　jewels　untold；　Besides　in　possession　a　million　of　gold；　And　thou　shalt　be　lord　of　whatever　I　have；　Grant　me　but　thy　love；　which　I　earnestly　crave。'

Then；　turning　aside；　to　himself　he　replied；　'I　am　courted　with　riches　and　beauty　beside；　This　love　I　may　have；　but　my　Ruth　is　denied。'　Wherefore　he　consented　to　make　her　his　bride。

The　lady　she　clothed　him　costly　and　great；　His　noble　deportment；　both　proper　and　straight；　So　charmed　the　innocent　eye　of　his　dove；　And　added　a　second　new　flame　to　her　love。

Then　married　they　were　without　longer　delay；　Now　here　we　will　leave　them　both　glorious　and　gay；　To　speak　of　fair　Ruth；　who　in　sorrow　was　left　At　home　with　her　parents；　of　comfort　bereft。

PART　III。

When　under　the　window　with　an　aching　heart；　He　told　his　fair　Ruth　he　so　soon　must　depart；　Her　parents　they　heard；　and　well　pleased　they　were；　But　Ruth　was　afflicted　with　sorrow　and　care。

Now；　after　her　lover　had　quitted　the　shore；　They　kept　her　confined　a　fall　twelvemonth　or　more；　And　then　they　were　pleased　to　set　her　at　large；　With　laying　upon　her　a　wonderful　charge：

To　fly　from　a　seaman　as　she　would　from　death；　She　promised　she　would；　with　a　faltering　breath；　Yet；　nevertheless；　the　truth　you　shall　hear；　She　found　out　a　way　for　to　follow　her　dear。

Then；　taking　her　gold　and　her　silver　also；　In　seaman's　apparel　away　she　did　go；　And　found　out　a　master；　with　whom　she　agreed；　To　carry　her　over　the　ocean　with　speed。

Now；　when　she　arrived　at　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　From　city　to　city　she　travelled　amain；　Enquiring　about　everywhere　for　her　love；　Who　now　had　been　gone　seven　years　and　above。

In　Cadiz；　as　she　walked　along　in　the　street；　Her　love　and　his　lady　she　happened　to　meet；　But　in　such　a　garb　as　she　never　had　seen；　…　She　looked　like　an　angel；　or　beautiful　queen。

With　sorrowful　tears　she　turned　her　aside：　'My　jewel　is　gone；　I　shall　ne'er　be　his　bride；　But；　nevertheless；　though　my　hopes　are　in　vain；　I'll　never　return　to　old　England　again。

'But　here；　in　this　place；　I　will　now　be　confined；　It　will　be　a　comfort　and　joy　to　my　mind；　To　see　him　sometimes；　though　he　thinks　not　of　me；　Since　he　has　a　lady　of　noble　degree。'

Now；　while　in　the　city　fair　Ruth　did　reside；　Of　a　sudden　this　beautiful　lady　she　died；　And；　though　he　was　in　the　possession　of　all；　Yet　tears　from　his　eyes　in　abundance　did　fall。

As　he　was　expressing　his　piteous　moan；　Fair　Ruth　came　unto　him；　and　made　herself　known；　He　started　to　see　her；　but　seemed　not　coy；　Said　he；　'Now　my　sorrows　are　mingled　with　joy！'

The　time　of　the　mourning　he　kept　it　in　Spain；　And　then　he　came　back　to　old　England　again；　With　thousands；　and　thousands；　which　he　did　possess；　Then　glorious　and　gay　was　sweet　Ruth　in　her　dress。

PART　IV。

When　over　the　seas　to　fair　Sandwich　he　came；　With　Ruth；　and　a　number　of　persons　of　fame；　Then　all　did　appear　most　splendid　and　gay；　As　if　it　had　been　a　great　festival　day。

Now；　when　that　they　took　up　their　lodgings；　behold！　He　stripped　off　his　coat　of　embroidered　gold；　And　presently　borrows　a　mariner's　suit；　That　he　with　her　parents　might　have　some　dispute；

Before　they　were　sensible　he　was　so　great；　And　when　he　came　in　and　knocked　at　the　gate；　He　soon　saw　her　father；　and　mother　likewise；　Expressing　their　sorrow　with　tears　in　their　eyes；

To　them；　with　obeisance；　he　modestly　said；　'Pray　where　is　my　jewel；　that　innocent　maid；　Whose　sweet　lovely　beauty　doth　thousands　excel？　I　fear；　by　your　weeping；　that　all　is　not　well！'

'No；　no！　she　is　gone；　she　is　utterly　lost；　We　have　not　heard　of　her　a　twelvemonth　at　most！　Which　makes　us　distracted　with　sorrow　and　care；　And　drowns　us　in　tears　at　the　point　of　despair。'

'I'm　grieved　to　hear　these　sad　tidings；'　he　cried。　'Alas！　honest　young　man；'　her　father　replied；　'I　heartily　wish　she'd　been　wedded　to　you；　For　then　we　this　sorrow　had　never　gone　through。'

Sweet　Henry　he　made　them　this　answer　again；　'I　am　newly　come　home　from　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　From　whence　I　have　brought　me　a　beautiful　bride；　And　am　to　be　married　to…morrow；'　he　cried；

'And　if　you　will　go　to　my　wedding；'　said　he；　'Both　you　and　your　lady　right　welcome　shall　be。'　They　promised　they　would；　and　accordingly　came；　Not　thinking　to　meet　with　such　persons　of　fame。

All　decked　with　their　jewels　of　rubies　and　pearls；　As　equal　companions　of　lords　and　of　earls；　Fair　Ruth；　with　her　love；　was　as　gay　as　the　rest；　So　they　in　their　marriage　were　happily　blessed。

Now；　as　they　returned　from　the　church　to　an　inn；　The　father　and　mother　of　Ruth　did　begin　Their　daughter　to　kn