太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > ancient poems >

第24节

ancient poems-第24节

小说: ancient poems 字数: 每页4000字

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!



lows that drive the plough: For whatever they gain with labour and pain; They don't with 't to harlots run; As courtiers do。  I never knew A London beau that could outdo A country farmer's son。'



Ballad: THE FARMER'S BOY。



'MR DENHAM of Piersbridge; who communicates the following; says …  'there is no question that the FARMER'S BOY is a very ancient song;  it is highly popular amongst the north country lads and lasses。'   The date of the composition may probably be referred to the  commencement of the last century; when there prevailed amongst the  ballad…mongers a great rage for FARMERS' SONS; PLOUGH BOYS; MILK  MAIDS; FARMERS' BOYS; &c。 &c。  The song is popular all over the  country; and there are numerous printed copies; ancient and  modern。'


THE sun had set behind yon hills; Across yon dreary moor; Weary and lame; a boy there came Up to a farmer's door: 'Can you tell me if any there be That will give me employ; To plow and sow; and reap and mow; And be a farmer's boy?

'My father is dead; and mother is left With five children; great and small; And what is worse for mother still; I'm the oldest of them all。 Though little; I'll work as hard as a Turk; If you'll give me employ; To plow and sow; and reap and mow; And be a farmer's boy。

'And if that you won't me employ; One favour I've to ask; … Will you shelter me; till break of day; From this cold winter's blast? At break of day; I'll trudge away Elsewhere to seek employ; To plow and sow; and reap and mow; And be a farmer's boy。'

'Come; try the lad;' the mistress said; 'Let him no further seek。' 'O; do; dear father!' the daughter cried; While tears ran down her cheek: 'He'd work if he could; so 'tis hard to want food; And wander for employ; Don't turn him away; but let him stay; And be a farmer's boy。'

And when the lad became a man; The good old farmer died; And left the lad the farm he had; And his daughter for his bride。 The lad that was; the farm now has; Oft smiles; and thinks with joy Of the lucky day he came that way; To be a farmer's boy。



Ballad: RICHARD OF TAUNTON DEAN; OR; DUMBLE DUM DEARY。



'THIS song is very popular with the country people in every part of  England; but more particularly with the inhabitants of the counties  of Somerset; Devon; and Cornwall。  The chorus is peculiar to  country songs of the West of England。  There are many different  versions。  The following one; communicated by Mr。 Sandys; was taken  down from the singing of an old blind fiddler; 'who;' says Mr。  Sandys; 'used to accompany it on his instrument in an original and  humorous manner; a representative of the old minstrels!'  The air  is in POPULAR MUSIC。  In Halliwell's NURSERY RHYMES OF ENGLAND  there is a version of this song; called RICHARD OF DALTON DALE。

The popularity of this West…country song has extended even to  Ireland; as appears from two Irish versions; supplied by the late  Mr。 T。 Crofton Croker。  One of them is entitled LAST NEW…YEAR'S  DAY; and is printed by Haly; Hanover…street; Cork。  It follows the  English song almost verbatim; with the exception of the first and  second verses; which we subjoin:…


'Last New…Year's day; as I heard say; Dick mounted on his dapple gray; He mounted high and he mounted low; Until he came to SWEET RAPHOE! Sing fal de dol de ree; Fol de dol; righ fol dee。 'My buckskin does I did put on; My spladdery clogs; TO SAVE MY BROGUES! And in my pocket a lump of bread; And round my hat a ribbon red。'


The other version is entitled DICKY OF BALLYMAN; and a note informs  us that 'Dicky of Ballyman's sirname was Byrne!'  As our readers  may like to hear how the Somersetshire bumpkin behaved after he had  located himself in the town of Ballyman; and taken the sirname of  Byrne; we give the whole of his amatory adventures in the sister… island。  We discover from them; INTER ALIA; that he had found 'the  best of friends' in his 'Uncle;' … that he had made a grand  discovery in natural history; viz。; that a rabbit is a FOWL! … that  he had taken the temperance pledge; which; however; his Mistress  Ann had certainly not done; and; moreover; that he had become an  enthusiast in potatoes!


DICKY OF BALLYMAN。


'On New…Year's day; as I heard say; Dicky he saddled his dapple gray; He put on his Sunday clothes; His scarlet vest; and his new made hose。 Diddle dum di; diddle dum do; Diddle dum di; diddle dum do。

'He rode till he came to Wilson Hall; There he rapped; and loud did call; Mistress Ann came down straightway; And asked him what he had to say?

''Don't you know me; Mistress Ann? I am Dicky of Ballyman; An honest lad; though I am poor; … I never was in love before。

''I have an uncle; the best of friends; Sometimes to me a fat rabbit he sends; And many other dainty fowl; To please my life; my joy; my soul。

''Sometimes I reap; sometimes I mow; And to the market I do go; To sell my father's corn and hay; … I earn my sixpence every day!'

''Oh; Dicky! you go beneath your mark; … You only wander in the dark; Sixpence a day will never do; I must have silks; and satins; too!

''Besides; Dicky; I must have tea For my breakfast; every day; And after dinner a bottle of wine; … For without it I cannot dine。'

''If on fine clothes our money is spent; Pray how shall my lord be paid his rent? He'll expect it when 'tis due; … Believe me; what I say is true。

''As for tea; good stirabout Will do far better; I make no doubt; And spring water; when you dine; Is far wholesomer than wine。

''Potatoes; too; are very nice food; … I don't know any half so good: You may have them boiled or roast; Whichever way you like them most。'

'This gave the company much delight; And made them all to laugh outright; So Dicky had no more to say; But saddled his dapple and rode away。 Diddle dum di; &c。''


LAST New…Year's day; as I've heerd say; (32) Young Richard he mounted his dapple grey; And he trotted along to Taunton Dean; To court the parson's daughter; Jean。 Dumble dum deary; dumble dum deary; Dumble dum deary; dumble dum dee。

With buckskin breeches; shoes and hose; And Dicky put on his Sunday clothes; Likewise a hat upon his head; All bedaubed with ribbons red。

Young Richard he rode without dread or fear; Till he came to the house where lived his sweet dear; When he knocked; and shouted; and bellowed; 'Hallo! Be the folks at home? say aye or no。'

A trusty servant let him in; That he his courtship might begin; Young Richard he walked along the great hall; And loudly for mistress Jean did call。

Miss Jean she came without delay; To hear what Dicky had got to say; 'I s'pose you knaw me; mistress Jean; I'm honest Richard of Taunton Dean。

'I'm an honest fellow; although I be poor; And I never was in love afore; My mother she bid me come here for to woo; And I can fancy none but you。'

'Suppose that I would be your bride; Pray how would you for me provide? For I can neither sew nor spin; … Pray what will your day's work bring in?'

'Why; I can plough; and I can zow; And zometimes to the market go With Gaffer Johnson's straw or hay; And yarn my ninepence every day!'

'Ninepence a…day will never do; For I must have silks and satins too! Ninepence a day won't buy us meat!' 'Adzooks!' says Dick; 'I've a zack of wheat;

'Besides; I have a house hard by; 'Tis all my awn; when mammy do die; If thee and I were married now; Ods!  I'd feed thee as fat as my feyther's old zow。'

Dick's compliments did so delight; They made the family laugh outright; Young Richard took huff; and no more would say; He kicked up old Dobbin; and trotted away; Singing; dumble dum deary; &c。



Ballad: WOOING SONG OF A YEOMAN OF KENT'S SONNE。



'THE following song is the original of a well…known and popular  Scottish song:…

'I hae laid a herring in saut; Lass; 'gin ye lo'e me; tell me now! I ha'e brewed a forpit o' maut; An' I canna come ilka day to woo。'

There are modern copies of our Kentish WOOING SONG; but the present  version is taken from MELISMATA; MUSICAL PHANSIES FITTING THE  COURT; CITIE; AND COUNTREE。  TO 3; 4; and 5 VOYCES。  London;  printed by William Stansby; for Thomas Adams; 1611。  The tune will  be found in POPULAR MUSIC; I。; 90。  The words are in the Kentish  dialect。'


ICH have house and land in Kent; And if you'll love me; love me now; Two…pence half…penny is my rent; … Ich cannot come every day to woo。 CHORUS。  Two…pence half…penny is his rent; And he cannot come every day to woo。

Ich am my vather's eldest zonne; My mouther eke doth love me well! For Ich can bravely clout my shoone; And Ich full…well can ring a bell。 CHO。  For he can bravely clout his shoone; And he full well can ring a bell。 (33)

My vather he gave me a hogge; My mouther she gave me a zow; Ich have a god…vather dwells there by; And he on me bestowed a plow。 CHO。  He has a god…vather dwells there by; And he on him bestowed a plow。

One time Ich gave thee a paper of pins; Anoder time a taudry lace; And if thou wilt not grant me love; In truth Ich die bevore thy vace。 CHO。  And if thou wilt not grant his love; In truth he'll die bevore thy vace。

Ich have been twice our Whitson Lord; Ich have had ladies many vare; And eke thou hast my heart in hold; And in my minde zeemes passing rare。 CHO。  And eke thou hast his he

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的