ancient poems-第35节

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ormed　him；　he　is　everything　that's　good；　…　Aye！　everything　a　man　could　wish；　in　bottom；　bone；　and　blood。　For　to　ride　away；　&c。

If　you　drop　therein；　he'll　nod　his　head；　and　boldly　walk　away；　While　others　kick　and　bounce　about；　to　him　it's　only　play；　There　never　was　a　finer　horse　e'er　went　on　English　ground；　He　is　rising　six　years　old；　and　is　all　over　right　and　sound。　For　to　ride　away；　&c。

If　any　frisk　or　milling　match　should　call　me　out　of　town；　I　can　pass　the　blades　with　white　cockades；　their　whiskers　hanging　　down；　With　large　jack…towels　round　their　necks；　they　think　they're　first　　and　fast；　But；　with　their　gapers　open　wide；　they　find　that　they　are　last。　Whilst　I　ride　away；　&c。

If　threescore　miles　I　am　from　home；　I　darkness　never　mind；　My　friend　is　gone；　and　I　am　left；　with　pipe　and　pot　behind；　Up　comes　some　saucy　kiddy；　a　scampsman　on　the　hot；　But　ere　he　pulls　the　trigger　I　am　off　just　like　a　shot。　For　I　ride　away；　&c。

If　Fortune　e'er　should　fickle　be；　and　wish　to　have　again　That　which　she　so　freely　gave；　I'd　give　it　without　pain；　I　would　part　with　it　most　freely；　and　without　the　least　remorse；　Only　grant　to　me　what　God　hath　gave；　my　mistress　and　my　horse！　That　I　may　ride　away；　&c。



Ballad：　THE　SEEDS　OF　LOVE。



＇THIS　very　curious　old　song　is　not　only　a　favourite　with　our　　peasantry；　but；　in　consequence　of　having　been　introduced　into　the　　modern　dramatic　entertainment　of　THE　LOAN　OF　A　LOVER；　has　obtained　　popularity　in　higher　circles。　　Its　sweetly　plaintive　tune　will　be　　found　in　POPULAR　MUSIC。　　The　words　are　quaint；　but　by　no　means　　wanting　in　beauty；　they　are；　no　doubt；　corrupted；　as　we　have　　derived　them　from　common　broadsides；　the　only　form　in　which　we　have　　been　able　to　meet　with　them。　　The　author　of　the　song　was　Mrs。　　Fleetwood　Habergham；　of　Habergham；　in　the　county　of　Lancaster。　　　'Ruined　by　the　extravagance；　and　disgraced　by　the　vices　of　her　　husband；　she　soothed　her　sorrows；'　says　Dr。　Whitaker；　'by　some　　stanzas　yet　remembered　among　the　old　people　of　her　neighbourhood。'　　…　HISTORY　OF　WHALLEY。　　Mrs。　Habergham　died　in　1703；　and　was　buried　　at　Padiham。＇


I　SOWED　the　seeds　of　love；　it　was　all　in　the　spring；　In　April；　May；　and　June；　likewise；　when　small　birds　they　do　sing；　My　garden's　well　planted　with　flowers　everywhere；　Yet　I　had　not　the　liberty　to　choose　for　myself　the　flower　that　I　　loved　so　dear。

My　gardener　he　stood　by；　I　asked　him　to　choose　for　me；　He　chose　me　the　violet；　the　lily　and　pink；　but　those　I　refused　all　　three；　The　violet　I　forsook；　because　it　fades　so　soon；　The　lily　and　the　pink　I　did　o'erlook；　and　I　vowed　I'd　stay　till　　June。

In　June　there's　a　red　rose…bud；　and　that's　the　flower　for　me！　But　often　have　I　plucked　at　the　red　rose…bud　till　I　gained　the　　willow…tree；　The　willow…tree　will　twist；　and　the　willow…tree　will　twice；　…　O！　I　wish　I　was　in　the　dear　youth's　arms　that　once　had　the　heart　of　　mine。

My　gardener　he　stood　by；　he　told　me　to　take　great　care；　For　in　the　middle　of　a　red　rose…bud　there　grows　a　sharp　thorn　　there；　I　told　him　I'd　take　no　care　till　I　did　feel　the　smart；　And　often　I　plucked　at　the　red　rose…bud　till　I　pierced　it　to　the　　heart。

I'll　make　me　a　posy　of　hyssop；　…　no　other　I　can　touch；　…　That　all　the　world　may　plainly　see　I　love　one　flower　too　much；　My　garden　is　run　wild！　where　shall　I　plant　anew　…　For　my　bed；　that　once　was　covered　with　thyme；　is　all　overrun　with　　rue？　（60）



Ballad：　THE　GARDEN…GATE。



＇ONE　of　our　most　pleasing　rural　ditties。　　The　air　is　very　　beautiful。　　We　first　heard　it　sung　in　Malhamdale；　Yorkshire；　by　　Willy　Bolton；　an　old　Dales'…minstrel；　who　accompanied　himself　on　　the　union…pipes。　（61）＇


THE　day　was　spent；　the　moon　shone　bright；　The　village　clock　struck　eight；　Young　Mary　hastened；　with　delight；　Unto　the　garden…gate：　But　what　was　there　that　made　her　sad？　…　The　gate　was　there；　but　not　the　lad；　Which　made　poor　Mary　say　and　sigh；　'Was　ever　poor　girl　so　sad　as　I？'

She　traced　the　garden　here　and　there；　The　village　clock　struck　nine；　Which　made　poor　Mary　sigh；　and　say；　'You　shan't；　you　shan't　be　mine！　You　promised　to　meet　at　the　gate　at　eight；　You　ne'er　shall　keep　me；　nor　make　me　wait；　For　I'll　let　all　such　creatures　see；　They　ne'er　shall　make　a　fool　of　me！'

She　traced　the　garden　here　and　there；　The　village　clock　struck　ten；　Young　William　caught　her　in　his　arms；　No　more　to　part　again：　For　he'd　been　to　buy　the　ring　that　day；　And　O！　he　had　been　a　long；　long　way；　…　Then；　how　could　Mary　cruel　prove；　To　banish　the　lad　she　so　dearly　did　love？

Up　with　the　morning　sun　they　rose；　To　church　they　went　away；　And　all　the　village　joyful　were；　Upon　their　wedding…day：　Now　in　a　cot；　by　a　river　side；　William　and　Mary　both　reside；　And　she　blesses　the　night　that　she　did　wait　For　her　absent　swain；　at　the　garden…gate。



Ballad：　THE　NEW…MOWN　HAY。



＇THIS　song　is　a　village…version　of　an　incident　which　occurred　in　　the　Cecil　family。　　The　same　English　adventure　has；　strangely　　enough；　been　made　the　subject　of　one　of　the　most　romantic　of　　Moore's　IRISH　MELODIES；　viz。；　YOU　REMEMBER　HELEN；　THE　HAMLET'S　　PRIDE。＇


AS　I　walked　forth　one　summer's　morn；　Hard　by　a　river's　side；　Where　yellow　cowslips　did　adorn　The　blushing　field　with　pride；　I　spied　a　damsel　on　the　grass；　More　blooming　than　the　may；　Her　looks　the　Queen　of　Love　surpassed；　Among　the　new…mown　hay。

I　said；　'Good　morning；　pretty　maid；　How　came　you　here　so　soon？'　'To　keep　my　father's　sheep；'　she　said；　'The　thing　that　must　be　done：　While　they　are　feeding　'mong　the　dew；　To　pass　the　time　away；　I　sit　me　down　to　knit　or　sew；　Among　the　new…mown　hay。'

Delighted　with　her　simple　tale；　I　sat　down　by　her　side；　With　vows　of　love　I　did　prevail　On　her　to　be　my　bride：　In　strains　of　simple　melody；　She　sung　a　rural　lay；　The　little　lambs　stood　listening　by；　Among　the　new…mown　hay。

Then　to　the　church　they　went　with　speed；　And　Hymen　joined　them　there；　No　more　her　ewes　and　lambs　to　feed；　For　she's　a　lady　fair：　A　lord　he　was　that　married　her；　To　town　they　came　straightway：　She　may　bless　the　day　he　spied　her　there；　Among　the　new…mown　hay。



Ballad：　THE　PRAISE　OF　A　DAIRY。



＇THIS　excellent　old　country　song；　which　can　be　traced　to　1687；　is　　sung　to　the　air　of　PACKINGTON'S　POUND；　for　the　history　of　which　see　　POPULAR　MUSIC。＇


IN　praise　of　a　dairy　I　purpose　to　sing；　But　all　things　in　order；　first；　God　save　the　King！　（62）　And　the　Queen；　I　may　say；　That　every　May…day；　Has　many　fair　dairy…maids　all　fine　and　gay。　Assist　me；　fair　damsels；　to　finish　my　theme；　Inspiring　my　fancy　with　strawberry　cream。

The　first　of　fair　dairy…maids；　if　you'll　believe；　Was　Adam's　own　wife；　our　great　grandmother　Eve；　Who　oft　milked　a　cow；　As　well　she　knew　how。　Though　butter　was　not　then　as　cheap　as　'tis　now；　She　hoarded　no　butter　nor　cheese　on　her　shelves；　For　butter　and　cheese　in　those　days　made　themselves。

In　that　age　or　time　there　was　no　horrid　money；　Yet　the　children　of　Israel　had　both　milk　and　honey；　No　Queen　you　could　see；　Of　the　highest　degree；　But　would　milk　the　brown　cow　with　the　meanest　she。　Their　lambs　gave　them　clothing；　their　cows　gave　them　meat；　And　in　plenty　and　peace　all　their　joys　wore　complete。

Amongst　the　rare　virtues　that　milk　does　produce；　For　a　thousand　of　dainties　it's　daily　in　use：　Now　a　pudding　I'll　tell　'ee；　And　so　can　maid　Nelly；　Must　have　from　good　milk　both　the　cream　and　the　jelly：　For　a　dainty　fine　pudding；　without　cream　or　milk；　Is　a　citizen's　wife；　without　satin　or　silk。

In　the　virtues　of　milk　there　is　more　to　be　mustered：　O！　the　charming　delights　both　of　cheesecake　and　custard！　If　to　wakes　（63）　you　resort；　You　can　have　no　sport；　Unless　you　give　custards　and　cheesecake　too　for't：　And　what's　the　jack…pudding　that　makes　us　to　laugh；　Unless　he　hath　got　a　great　custard　to　quaff？

Both　pancake　and　fritter　of　milk　have　good　store；　But　a　Devonshire　white…pot　must　needs　have　much　more；　Of　no　brew　（64）　you　can　think；　Though　you　study　and　wink；　From　the　lusty　sack　posset　to　poor　posset　drink；　But　milk's　the　ingredient；　though　wine's　（65）　ne'er　the　worse；　For　'tis　wine　makes　the　man；　though　'tis　milk　makes　the　nurse。



Ballad：　THE　MILK…MAID'S　LIFE。



＇OF　this　popular　country　song　there　are　a　variety　of　versions。　　The　　following；　which　is　the　most　ancient；　is　transcribed　from　a　black…　letter　broadside　in　the　Roxburgh　Collection；　entitled　THE　MILKE…　MAID'S　LIFE；　OR；　A　PRETTY　NEW　DITTY　COMPOSED　AND　PENNED；　THE　PRAISE　　OF　THE　MILKING…PAIL　TO　DEFEND。　　To　a　curious　new　tune　called　the　　MILKE…MAID'S　DUMP。　　It　is　subscribed　with　the　initials　M。　P。；　　probably　those　of　Martin　Parker。＇


YOU　rural　goddesses；　That　woods　and　fields　possess；　Assist　me　with　your　skill；　that　may　direct　my　quill；　More　jocundly　to　express；　The　mirth　and　delight；　both　morning　and　night；　On　mountain　or　in　dale；　Of　them　who　choose　this　trade　to　use；　And；　through　cold　dews；　do　never　refuse　To　carry　the　milking…pail。

The　bravest　lasses　gay；　Live　not　so　merry　as　they；　In　honest　civil　sort　they　make　each　other　sport；　As　they　trudge　on　their　way；　Come　fair　or　foul　weather；　they're　fearful　of　neither；　Their　courages　never　quail。　In　wet　and　dry；　though　winds　be　high；　And　dark's　the　sky；　they　ne'er　deny　To　carry　the　milking…pail。

Their　hearts　are　free　from　care；　They　never　will　despair；　Whatever　them　befal