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第32节

ancient poems-第32节

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called MY DOG AND I:  and the eighth verse appears in another old song。  The air and  words bear some resemblance to TODLEN HAME。'


THE stwons that built George Ridler's oven; And thauy keam vrom the Bleakney quaar; And George he wur a jolly old mon; And his yead it grow'd above his yare。

One thing of George Ridler I must commend; And that wur vor a notable thing; He mead his brags avoore he died; Wi' any dree brooders his zons zshould zing。

There's Dick the treble; and John the meean; (Let every mon zing in his auwn pleace;) And George he wur the elder brother; And therevoor he would zing the beass。

Mine hostess's moid; (and her neaum 'twour Nell;) A pretty wench; and I lov'd her well; I lov'd her well; good reauzon why; Because zshe loved my dog and I。

My dog is good to catch a hen; A dug or goose is vood for men; And where good company I spy; O thether gwoes my dog and I。

My mwother told I; when I wur young; If I did vollow the strong…beer pwoot; That drenk would prov my awverdrow; And meauk me wear a threadbare cwoat。

My dog has gotten zitch a trick; To visit moids when thauy be zick; When thauy be zick and like to die; O thether gwoes my dog and I。

When I have dree zixpences under my thumb; O then I be welcome wherever I come; But when I have none; O; then I pass by; … 'Tis poverty pearts good companie。

If I should die; as it may hap; My greauve shall be under the good yeal tap; In voulded yarms there wool us lie; Cheek by jowl; my dog and I。



Ballad: THE CARRION CROW。



'THIS still popular song is quoted by Grose in his OLIO; where it  is made the subject of a burlesque commentary; the covert political  allusions having evidently escaped the penetration of the  antiquary。  The reader familiar with the annals of the Commonwealth  and the Restoration; will readily detect the leading points of the  allegory。  The 'Carrion Crow' in the oak is Charles II。; who is  represented as that bird of voracious appetite; because he deprived  the puritan clergy of their livings; perhaps; also; because he  ordered the bodies of the regicides to be exhumed … as Ainsworth  says in one of his ballads:…

The carrion crow is a sexton bold; He raketh the dead from out of the mould。

The religion of the 'old sow;' whoever she may be; is clearly  pointed out by her little pigs praying for her soul。  The 'tailor'  is not easily identified。  It is possibly intended for some puritan  divine of the name of Taylor; who wrote and preached against both  prelacy and papacy; but with an especial hatred of the latter。  In  the last verse he consoles himself by the reflection that;  notwithstanding the deprivations; his party will have enough  remaining from the voluntary contributions of their adherents。  The  'cloak' which the tailor is engaged in cutting out; is the Genevan  gown; or cloak; the 'spoon' in which he desires his wife to bring  treacle; is apparently an allusion to the 'spatula' upon which the  wafer is placed in the administration of the Eucharist; and the  introduction of 'chitterlings and black…puddings' into the last  verse seems to refer to a passage in Rabelais; where the same  dainties are brought in to personify those who; in the matter of  fasting; are opposed to Romish practices。  The song is found in  collections of the time of Charles II。'


THE carrion crow he sat upon an oak; And he spied an old tailor a cutting out a cloak。 Heigho! the carrion crow。

The carrion crow he began for to rave; And he called the tailor a lousy knave! Heigho! the carrion crow。

'Wife; go fetch me my arrow and my bow; I'll have a shot at that carrion crow。' Heigho! the carrion crow。

The tailor he shot; and he missed his mark; But he shot the old sow through the heart。 Heigho! the carrion crow。

'Wife; go fetch me some treacle in a spoon; For the old sow's in a terrible swoon!' Heigho! the carrion crow。

The old sow died; and the bells they did toll; And the little pigs prayed for the old sow's soul! Heigho! the carrion crow。

'Never mind;' said the tailor; 'I don't care a flea; There'll be still black…puddings; souse; and chitterlings for me。' Heigho! the carrion crow。



Ballad: THE LEATHERN BOTTEL。  SOMERSETSHIRE VERSION。



'IN Chappell's POPULAR MUSIC is a much longer version of THE  LEATHERN BOTTEL。  The following copy is the one sung at the present  time by the country…people in the county of Somerset。  It has been  communicated to our pages by Mr。 Sandys。'


GOD above; who rules all things; Monks and abbots; and beggars and kings; The ships that in the sea do swim; The earth; and all that is therein; Not forgetting the old cow's hide; And everything else in the world beside: And I wish his soul in heaven may dwell; Who first invented this leathern bottel!

Oh! what do you say to the glasses fine? Oh! they shall have no praise of mine; Suppose a gentleman sends his man To fill them with liquor; as fast as he can; The man he falls; in coming away; And sheds the liquor so fine and gay; But had it been in the leathern bottel; And the stopper been in; 'twould all have been well!

Oh! what do you say to the tankard fine? Oh! it shall have no praise of mine; Suppose a man and his wife fall out; … And such things happen sometimes; no doubt; … They pull and they haul; in the midst of the fray They shed the liquor so fine and gay; But had it been in the leathern bottel; And the stopper been in; 'twould all have been well!

Now; when this bottel it is worn out; Out of its sides you may cut a clout; This you may hang upon a pin; … 'Twill serve to put odd trifles in; Ink and soap; and candle…ends; For young beginners have need of such friends。 And I wish his soul in heaven may dwell; Who first invented the leathern bottel!



Ballad: THE FARMER'S OLD WIFE。  A SUSSEX WHISTLING SONG。



'THIS is a countryman's whistling song; and the only one of the  kind which we remember to have heard。  It is very ancient; and a  great favourite。  The farmer's wife has an adventure somewhat  resembling the hero's in the burlesque version of DON GIOVANNI。   The tune is LILLI BURLERO; and the song is sung as follows:… the  first line of each verse is given as a solo; then the tune is  continued by a chorus of whistlers; who whistle that portion of the  air which in LILLI BURLERO would be sung to the words; LILLI  BURLERO BULLEN A LA。  The songster then proceeds with the tune; and  sings the whole of the verse through; after which the strain is  resumed and concluded by the whistlers。  The effect; when  accompanied by the strong whistles of a group of lusty countrymen;  is very striking; and cannot be adequately conveyed by description。   This song constitutes the 'traditionary verses' upon which Burns  founded his CARLE OF KILLYBURN BRAES。'


THERE was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell;

'CHORUS OF WHISTLERS。'

There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell; And he had a bad wife; as many knew well。

'CHORUS OF WHISTLERS。'

Then Satan came to the old man at the plough; … 'One of your family I must have now。

'It is not your eldest son that I crave; But it is your old wife; and she I will have。'

'O; welcome! good Satan; with all my heart; I hope you and she will never more part。'

Now Satan has got the old wife on his back; And he lugged her along; like a pedlar's pack。

He trudged away till they came to his hall…gate; Says he; 'Here! take in an old Sussex chap's mate!'

O! then she did kick the young imps about; … Says one to the other; 'Let's try turn her out。'

She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains; She up with her pattens; and beat out their brains。

She knocked the old Satan against the wall; … 'Let's try turn her out; or she'll murder us all!'

Now he's bundled her up on his back amain; And to her old husband he took her again。

'I have been a tormenter the whole of my life; But I ne'er was tormenter till I met with your wife。'



Ballad: OLD WICHET AND HIS WIFE。



'THIS song still retains its popularity in the North of England;  and; when sung with humour; never fails to elicit roars of  laughter。  A Scotch version may be found in Herd's Collection;  1769; and also in Cunningham's SONGS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND;  London; 1835。  We cannot venture to give an opinion as to which is  the original; but the English set is of unquestionable antiquity。   Our copy was obtained from Yorkshire。  It has been collated with  one printed at the Aldermary press; and preserved in the third  volume of the Roxburgh Collection。  The tune is peculiar to the  song。'


O! I went into the stable; and there for to see; (49) And there I saw three horses stand; by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'O! what do these three horses here; without the leave of me?'

'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three milking cows my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! milking cows with saddles on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!

O! I went into the kitchen; and there for to see; And there I saw three swords hang; by one; by two; quoth she; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' 'O! what do these three swords do here; without the lea

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