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第30节

ancient poems-第30节

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eal old  original。'  Two of the above houses have latterly ceased to hold  courts; and the custom is now confined to the 'Fox under the Hill;'  where the rite is celebrated with every attention to ancient forms  and costume; and for a fee which; in deference to modern notions of  economy; is only one shilling。

Byron; in the first canto of CHILDE HAROLD; alludes to the custom  of Highgate:…


Some o'er thy Thamis row the ribboned fair; Others along the safer turnpike fly; Some Richmond…hill ascend; some wend to Wara And many to the steep of Highgate hie。 Ask ye; Boeotian shades! the reason why? 'TIS TO THE WORSHIP OF THE SOLEMN HORN; GRASPED IN THE HOLY HAND OF MYSTERY; IN WHOSE DREAD NAME BOTH MEN AND MAIDS (47) ARE SWORN; AND CONSECRATE THE OATH WITH DRAUGHT; AND DANCE TILL MORN。

Canto I; stanza 70。'


ENTER LANDLORD; DRESSED IN A BLACK GOWN AND BANDS; AND WEARING AN  ANTIQUE…FASHIONED WIG; FOLLOWED BY THE CLERK OF THE COURT; ALSO IN  APPROPRIATE COSTUME; AND CARRYING THE REGISTRY…BOOK AND THE HORNS。

LANDLORD。  Do you wish to be sworn at Highgate? CANDIDATE。  I do; Father。 CLERK。  AMEN。

THE LANDLORD THEN SINGS; OR SAYS; AS FOLLOWS:…

Silence!  O; yes! you are my son! Full to your old father turn; sir; This is an oath you may take as you run; So lay your hand thus on the horn; sir。

HERE THE CANDIDATE PLACES HIS RIGHT HAND ON THE HORN。

You shall spend not with cheaters or cozeners your life; Nor waste it on profligate beauty; And when you are wedded be kind to your wife; And true to all petticoat duty。

THE CANDIDATE SAYS 'I WILL;' AND KISSES THE HORN IN OBEDIENCE TO  THE COMMAND OF THE CLERK; WHO EXCLAIMS IN A LOUD AND SOLEMN TONE;  'KISS THE HORN; SIR!'

And while you thus solemnly swear to be kind; And shield and protect from disaster; This part of your oath you must bear it in mind; That you; and not she; is the master。

CLERK。  'KISS THE HORN; SIR!'

You shall pledge no man first when a woman is near; For neither 'tis proper nor right; sir; Nor; unless you prefer it; drink small for strong beer; Nor eat brown bread when you can get white; sir。

CLERK。  'KISS THE HORN; SIR!'

You shall never drink brandy when wine you can get; Say when good port or sherry is handy; Unless that your taste on spirit is set; In which case … you MAY; sir; drink brandy!

CLERK。  'KISS THE HORN; SIR!'

To kiss with the maid when the mistress is kind; Remember that you must be loth; sir; But if the maid's fairest; your oath doesn't bind; …  Or you may; if you like it; kiss both; sir!

CLERK。  'KISS THE HORN; SIR!'

Should you ever return; take this oath here again; Like a man of good sense; leal and true; sir; And be sure to bring with you some more merry men; That they on the horn may swear too; sir。

LANDLORD。  Now; sir; if you please; sign your name in that book;  and if you can't write; make your mark; and the clerk of the court  will attest it。

HERE ONE OF THE ABOVE REQUESTS IS COMPLIED WITH。

LANDLORD。  You will please pay half…a…crown for court fees; and  what you please to the clerk。

THIS NECESSARY CEREMONY BEING GONE THROUGH; THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS  TERMINATES BY THE LANDLORD SAYING; 'GOD BLESS THE KING 'OR QUEEN'  AND THE LORD OF THE MANOR;' TO WHICH THE CLERK RESPONDS; 'AMEN;  AMEN!'

N。B。  THE COURT FEES ARE ALWAYS RETURNED IN WINES; SPIRITS; OR  PORTER; OF WHICH THE LANDLORD AND CLERK ARE INVITED TO PARTAKE。



Ballad: FAIRLOP FAIR SONG。



'THE following song is sung at Fairlop fair; one of the gayest of  the numerous saturnalia kept by the good citizens of London。  The  venerable oak has disappeared; but the song is nevertheless song;  and the curious custom of riding through the fair; seated in boats;  still continues to be observed。'


COME; come; my boys; with a hearty glee; To Fairlop fair; bear chorus with me; At Hainault forest is known very well; This famous oak has long bore the bell。

CHO。  Let music sound as the boat goes round; If we tumble on the ground; we'll be merry; I'll be bound; We will booze it away; dull care we will defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。

At Tainhall forest; Queen Anne she did ride; And beheld the beautiful oak by her side; And after viewing it from bottom to top; She said that her court should be at Fairlop。

It is eight fathom round; spreads an acre of ground; They plastered it round to keep the tree sound。 So we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。

About a century ago; as I have heard say; This fair it was kept by one Daniel Day; A hearty good fellow as ever could be; His coffin was made of a limb of the tree。

With black…strap and perry he made his friends merry; All sorrow for to drown with brandy and sherry。 So we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。

At Tainhall forest there stands a tree; And it has performed a wonderful bounty; It is surrounded by woods and plains; The merry little warblers chant their strains。

So we'll dance round the tree; and merry we will be; Every year we'll agree the fair for to see; And we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。



Ballad: AS TOM WAS A…WALKING。  AN ANCIENT CORNISH SONG。



'THIS song; said to be translated from the Cornish; 'was taken  down;' says Mr。 Sandys; 'from the recital of a modern Corypheus; or  leader of a parish choir;' who assigned to it a very remote; but  indefinite; antiquity。'


AS Tom was a…walking one fine summer's morn; When the dazies and goldcups the fields did adorn; He met Cozen Mal; with a tub on her head; Says Tom; 'Cozen Mal; you might speak if you we'd。'

But Mal stamped along; and appeared to be shy; And Tom singed out; 'Zounds! I'll knaw of thee why?' So back he tore a'ter; in a terrible fuss; And axed cozen Mal; 'What's the reason of thus?'

'Tom Treloar;' cried out Mal; 'I'll nothing do wi' 'ee; Go to Fanny Trembaa; she do knaw how I'm shy; Tom; this here t'other daa; down the hill thee didst stap; And dab'd a great doat fig (48) in Fan Trembaa's lap。'

'As for Fanny Trembaa; I ne'er taalked wi' her twice; And gived her a doat fig; they are so very nice; So I'll tell thee; I went to the fear t'other day; And the doat figs I boft; why I saved them away。'

Says Mal; 'Tom Treloar; ef that be the caase; May the Lord bless for ever that sweet pretty faace; Ef thee'st give me thy doat figs thee'st boft in the fear; I'll swear to thee now; thee shu'st marry me here。'



Ballad: THE MILLER AND HIS SONS。



'A MILLER; especially if he happen to be the owner of a soke…mill;  has always been deemed fair game for the village satirist。  Of the  numerous songs written in ridicule of the calling of the 'rogues in  grain;' the following is one of the best and most popular: its  quaint humour will recommend it to our readers。  For the tune; see  POPULAR MUSIC。'


THERE was a crafty miller; and he Had lusty sons; one; two; and three: He called them all; and asked their will; If that to them he left his mill。

He called first to his eldest son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'

'Father;' said he; 'my name is Jack; Out of a bushel I'll take a peck; From every bushel that I grind; That I may a good living find。'

'Thou art a fool!' the old man said; 'Thou hast not well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I ne'er will give; For by such toll no man can live。'

He called for his middlemost son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'

'Father;' says he; 'my name is Ralph; Out of a bushel I'll take a half; From every bushel that I grind; That I may a good living find。'

'Thou art a fool!' the old man said; 'Thou hast not well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I ne'er will give; For by such toll no man can live。'

He called for his youngest son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'

'Father;' said he; 'I'm your only boy; For taking toll is all my joy! Before I will a good living lack; I'll take it all; and forswear the sack!'

'Thou art my boy!' the old man said; 'For thou hast right well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I give;' he cried; … And then he turned up his toes and died。



Ballad: JACK AND TOM。  AN OULD BORDER DITTIE。  (TRADITIONAL。)



'THE following song was taken down from recitation in 1847。  Of its  history nothing is known; but we are strongly inclined to believe  that it may be assigned to the early part of the seventeenth  century; and that it relates to the visit of Prince Charles and  Buckingham; under the assumed names of Jack and Tom; to Spain; in  1623。  Some curious references to the adventures of the Prince and  his companion; on their masquerading tour; will be found in  Halliwell's LETTERS OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND; vol。 ii。'

I'M a north countrie…man; in Redesdale born; Where our land lies lea; and grows ne corn; … And such two lads to my house never com; As them two lads called Jack and Tom!

Now; Jack and Tom; they're going to the sea; I wish them both in good companie! They're going to seek their fortunes ayont the wide sea; Far; far away frae their oan coun

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