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第36节

ancient poems-第36节

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y the milking…pail。

Their hearts are free from care; They never will despair; Whatever them befal; they bravely bear out all; And fortune's frowns outdare。 They pleasantly sing to welcome the spring; 'Gainst heaven they never rail; If grass well grow; their thanks they show; And; frost or snow; they merrily go Along with the milking…pail:

Base idleness they do scorn; They rise very early i' th' morn; And walk into the field; where pretty birds do yield Brave music on every thorn。 The linnet and thrush do sing on each bush; And the dulcet nightingale Her note doth strain; by jocund vein; To entertain that worthy train; Which carry the milking…pail。

Their labour doth health preserve; No doctor's rules they observe; While others too nice in taking their advice; Look always as though they would starve。 Their meat is digested; they ne'er are molested; No sickness doth them assail; Their time is spent in merriment; While limbs are lent; they are content; To carry the milking…pail。

Upon the first of May; With garlands; fresh and gay; With mirth and music sweet; for such a season meet; They pass the time away。 They dance away sorrow; and all the day thorough Their legs do never fail; For they nimbly their feet do ply; And bravely try the victory; In honour o' the milking…pail。

If any think that I Do practise flattery; In seeking thus to raise the merry milkmaids' praise; I'll to them thus reply:… It is their desert inviteth my art; To study this pleasant tale; In their defence; whose innocence; And providence; gets honest pence Out of the milking…pail。



Ballad: THE MILKING…PAIL。



'THE following is another version of the preceding ditty; and is  the one most commonly sung。'


YE nymphs and sylvan gods; That love green fields and woods; When spring newly…born herself does adorn; With flowers and blooming buds: Come sing in the praise; while flocks do graze; On yonder pleasant vale; Of those that choose to milk their ewes; And in cold dews; with clouted shoes; To carry the milking…pail。

You goddess of the morn; With blushes you adorn; And take the fresh air; whilst linnets prepare A concert on each green thorn; The blackbird and thrush on every bush; And the charming nightingale; In merry vein; their throats do strain To entertain; the jolly train Of those of the milking…pail。

When cold bleak winds do roar; And flowers will spring no more; The fields that were seen so pleasant and green; With winter all candied o'er; See now the town lass; with her white face; And her lips so deadly pale; But it is not so; with those that go Through frost and snow; with cheeks that glow; And carry the milking…pail。

The country lad is free From fears and jealousy; Whilst upon the green he oft is seen; With his lass upon his knee。 With kisses most sweet he doth her so treat; And swears her charms won't fail; But the London lass; in every place; With brazen face; despises the grace Of those of the milking…pail。



Ballad: THE SUMMER'S MORNING。



'THIS is a very old ditty; and a favourite with the peasantry in  every part of England; but more particularly in the mining  districts of the North。  The tune is pleasing; but uncommon。  R。 W。  Dixon; Esq。; of Seaton…Carew; Durham; by whom the song was  communicated to his brother for publication; says; 'I have written  down the above; VERBATIM; as generally sung。  It will be seen that  the last lines of each verse are not of equal length。  The singer;  however; makes all right and smooth!  The words underlined in each  verse are sung five times; thus:… THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED;  THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED ME SOME MONEY; …  TEN GUINEAS AND A CROWN。  The last line is thus sung:… WE'LL BE  MARRIED; (as the word is usually pronounced); WE'LL BE MARRIED;  WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MAR… RI…ED WHEN I RETURN AGAIN。'  The tune is given in POPULAR MUSIC。   Since this song appeared in the volume issued by the Percy Society;  we have met with a copy printed at Devonport。  The readings are in  general not so good; but in one or two instances they are  apparently more ancient; and are; consequently; here adopted。  The  Devonport copy contains two verses; not preserved in our  traditional version。  These we have incorporated in our present  text; in which they form the third and last stanzas。'


IT was one summer's morning; as I went o'er the moss; I had no thought of 'listing; till the soldiers did me cross; They kindly did invite me to a flowing bowl; and down; THEY ADVANCED me some money; … ten guineas and a crown。

'It's true my love has listed; he wears a white cockade; He is a handsome tall young man; besides a roving blade; He is a handsome young man; and he's gone to serve the king; OH! MY VERY heart is breaking for the loss of him。

'My love is tall and handsome; and comely for to see; And by a sad misfortune a soldier now is he; I hope the man that listed him may not prosper night nor day; FOR I WISH THAT the Hollanders may sink him in the sea。

'Oh! may he never prosper; oh! may he never thrive; Nor anything he takes in hand so long as he's alive; May the very grass he treads upon the ground refuse to grow; SINCE HE'S BEEN the only cause of my sorrow; grief; and woe!'

Then he pulled out a handkerchief to wipe her flowing eyes; … 'Leave off those lamentations; likewise those mournful cries; Leave of your grief and sorrow; while I march o'er the plain; WE'LL BE MARRIED when I return again。'

'O now my love has listed; and I for him will rove; I'll write his name on every tree that grows in yonder grove; Where the huntsman he does hollow; and the hounds do sweetly cry; TO REMIND ME of my ploughboy until the day I die。'



Ballad: OLD ADAM。



'WE have had considerable trouble in procuring a copy of this old  song; which used; in former days; to be very popular with aged  people resident in the North of England。  It has been long out of  print; and handed down traditionally。  By the kindness; however; of  Mr。 S。 Swindells; printer; Manchester; we have been favoured with  an ancient printed copy; which Mr。 Swindells observes he had great  difficulty in obtaining。  Some improvements have been made in the  present edition from the recital of Mr。 Effingham Wilson; who was  familiar with the song in his youth。'


BOTH sexes give ear to my fancy; While in praise of dear woman I sing; Confined not to Moll; Sue; or Nancy; But mates from a beggar to king。

When old Adam first was created; And lord of the universe crowned; His happiness was not completed; Until that an helpmate was found。

He'd all things in food that were wanting To keep and support him through life; He'd horses and foxes for hunting; Which some men love better than wife。

He'd a garden so planted by nature; Man cannot produce in his life; But yet the all…wise great Creator Still saw that he wanted a wife。

Then Adam he laid in a slumber; And there he lost part of his side; And when he awoke; with a wonder; Beheld his most beautiful bride!

In transport he gazed upon her; His happiness now was complete! He praised his bountiful donor; Who thus had bestowed him a mate。

She was not took out of his head; sir; To reign and triumph over man; Nor was she took out of his feet; sir; By man to be trampled upon。

But she was took out of his side; sir; His equal and partner to be; But as they're united in one; sir; The man is the top of the tree。

Then let not the fair be despised By man; as she's part of himself; For woman by Adam was prized More than the whole globe full of wealth。

Man without a woman's a beggar; Suppose the whole world he possessed; And the beggar that's got a good woman; With more than the world he is blest。



Ballad: TOBACCO。



'THIS song is a mere adaptation of SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED; see ANTE;  p。 39。  The earliest copy of the abridgment we have been able to  meet with; is published in D'Urfey's PILLS TO PURGE MELANCHOLY;  1719; but whether we are indebted for it to the author of the  original poem; or to 'that bright genius; Tom D'Urfey;' as Burns  calls him; we are not able to determine。  The song has always been  popular。  The tune is in POPULAR MUSIC。'


TOBACCO'S but an Indian weed; Grows green in the morn; cut down at eve; It shows our decay; We are but clay; Think of this when you smoke tobacco!

The pipe that is so lily white; Wherein so many take delight; It's broken with a touch; … Man's life is such; Think of this when you take tobacco!

The pipe that is so foul within; It shows man's soul is stained with sin; It doth require To be purred with fire; Think of this when you smoke tobacco!

The dust that from the pipe doth fall; It shows we are nothing but dust at all; For we came from the dust; And return we must; Think of this when you smoke tobacco!

The ashes that are left behind; Do serve to put us all in mind That unto dust Return we must; Think of this when you take tobacco!

The smoke that does so high ascend; Shows that man's life must have an end; The vapour's gone; … Man's life is done; Think of this when you take tobacco!



Ballad: THE SPANISH LADIES。



'THIS song is ancient; but we have no means of ascertaining at what  period it was written。  Captain M

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