太子爷小说网 > 英语电子书 > ancient poems >

第37节

ancient poems-第37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!






Ballad: THE SPANISH LADIES。



'THIS song is ancient; but we have no means of ascertaining at what  period it was written。  Captain Marryat; in his novel of POOR JACK;  introduces it; and says it is OLD。  It is a general favourite。  The  air is plaintive; and in the minor key。  See POPULAR MUSIC。'


FAREWELL; and adieu to you Spanish ladies; Farewell; and adieu to you ladies of Spain! For we've received orders for to sail for old England; But we hope in a short time to see you again。

We'll rant and we'll roar (66) like true British heroes; We'll rant and we'll roar across the salt seas; Until we strike soundings in the channel of old England; From Ushant to Scilly is thirty…five leagues。

Then we hove our ship to; with the wind at sou'…west; boys; We hove our ship to; for to strike soundings clear; We got soundings in ninety…five fathom; and boldly Up the channel of old England our course we did steer。

The first land we made it was called the Deadman; Next; Ram'shead off Plymouth; Start; Portland; and Wight; We passed by Beachy; by Fairleigh; and Dungeness; And hove our ship to; off the South Foreland light。

Then a signal was made for the grand fleet to anchor All in the Downs; that night for to sleep; Then stand by your stoppers; let go your shank…painters; Haul all your clew…garnets; stick out tacks and sheets。

So let every man toss off a full bumper; Let every man toss off his full bowls; We'll drink and be jolly; and drown melancholy; So here's a good health to all true…hearted souls!



Ballad: HARRY THE TAILOR。  (TRADITIONAL。)



'THE following song was taken down some years ago from the  recitation of a country curate; who said he had learned it from a  very old inhabitant of Methley; near Pontefract; Yorkshire。  We  have never seen it in print。'


WHEN Harry the tailor was twenty years old; He began for to look with courage so bold; He told his old mother he was not in jest; But he would have a wife as well as the rest。

Then Harry next morning; before it was day; To the house of his fair maid took his way。 He found his dear Dolly a making of cheese; Says he; 'You must give me a buss; if you please!'

She up with the bowl; the butter…milk flew; And Harry the tailor looked wonderful blue。 'O; Dolly; my dear; what hast thou done? From my back to my breeks has thy butter…milk run。'

She gave him a push; he stumbled and fell Down from the dairy into the drawwell。 Then Harry; the ploughboy; ran amain; And soon brought him up in the bucket again。

Then Harry went home like a drowned rat; And told his old mother what he had been at。 With butter…milk; bowl; and a terrible fall; O; if this be called love; may the devil take all!



Ballad: SIR ARTHUR AND CHARMING MOLLEE。  (TRADITIONAL。)



'FOR this old Northumbrian song we are indebted to Mr。 Robert  Chambers。  It was taken down from the recitation of a lady。  The  'Sir Arthur' is no less a personage than Sir Arthur Haslerigg; the  Governor of Tynemouth Castle during the Protectorate of Cromwell。'


AS noble Sir Arthur one morning did ride; With his hounds at his feet; and his sword by his side; He saw a fair maid sitting under a tree; He asked her name; and she said 'twas Mollee。

'Oh; charming Mollee; you my butler shall be; To draw the red wine for yourself and for me! I'll make you a lady so high in degree; If you will but love me; my charming Mollee!

'I'll give you fine ribbons; I'll give you fine rings; I'll give you fine jewels; and many fine things; I'll give you a petticoat flounced to the knee; If you will but love me; my charming Mollee!'

'I'll have none of your ribbons; and none of your rings; None of your jewels; and other fine things; And I've got a petticoat suits my degree; And I'll ne'er love a married man till his wife dee。'

'Oh; charming Mollee; lend me then your penknife; And I will go home; and I'll kill my own wife; I'll kill my own wife; and my bairnies three; If you will but love me; my charming Mollee!'

'Oh; noble Sir Arthur; it must not be so; Go home to your wife; and let nobody know; For seven long years I will wait upon thee; But I'll ne'er love a married man till his wife dee。'

Now seven long years are gone and are past; The old woman went to her long home at last; The old woman died; and Sir Arthur was free; And he soon came a…courting to charming Mollee。

Now charming Mollee in her carriage doth ride; With her hounds at her feet; and her lord by her side: Now all ye fair maids take a warning by me; And ne'er love a married man till his wife dee。



Ballad: THERE WAS AN OLD MAN CAME OVER THE LEA。



'THIS is a version of the BAILLIE OF BERWICK; which will be found  in the LOCAL HISTORIAN'S TABLE…BOOK。  It was originally obtained  from Morpeth; and communicated by W。 H。 Longstaffe; Esq。; of  Darlington; who says; 'in many respects the BAILLIE OF BERWICK is  the better edition … still mine may furnish an extra stanza or two;  and the ha! ha! ha! is better than heigho; though the notes suit  either version。''


THERE was an old man came over the Lea; Ha…ha…ha…ha! but I won't have him。 (67) He came over the Lea; A…courting to me; With his grey beard newly…shaven。

My mother she bid me open the door: I opened the door; And he fell on the floor。

My mother she bid me set him a stool: I set him a stool; And he looked like a fool。

My mother she bid me give him some beer: I gave him some beer; And he thought it good cheer。

My mother she bid me cut him some bread: I cut him some bread; And I threw't at his head。

My mother she bid me light him to bed。 I lit him to bed; And wished he were dead。

My mother she bid me tell him to rise: I told him to rise; And he opened his eyes。

My mother she bid me take him to church: I took him to church; And left him in the lurch; With his grey beard newly…shaven。



Ballad: WHY SHOULD WE QUARREL FOR RICHES。



'A VERSION of this very favourite song may be found in Ramsay's  TEA…TABLE MISCELLANY。  Though a sailor's song; we question whether  it is not a greater favourite with landsmen。  The chorus is become  proverbial; and its philosophy has often been invoked to mitigate  the evils and misfortunes of life。'


HOW pleasant a sailor's life passes; Who roams o'er the watery main! No treasure he ever amasses; But cheerfully spends all his gain。 We're strangers to party and faction; To honour and honesty true; And would not commit a bad action For power or profit in view。 Then why should we quarrel for riches; Or any such glittering toys; A light heart; and a thin pair of breeches; Will go through the world; my brave boys!

The world is a beautiful garden; Enriched with the blessings of life; The toiler with plenty rewarding; Which plenty too often breeds strife。 When terrible tempests assail us; And mountainous billows affright; No grandeur or wealth can avail us; But skilful industry steers right。 Then why; &c。

The courtier's more subject to dangers; Who rules at the helm of the state; Than we that; to politics strangers; Escape the snares laid for the great。 The various blessings of nature; In various nations we try; No mortals than us can be greater; Who merrily live till we die。 Then why should; &c。



Ballad: THE MERRY FELLOWS; OR; HE THAT WILL NOT MERRY; MERRY BE。



'THE popularity of this old lyric; of which ours is the ballad… printer's version; has been increased by the lively and appropriate  music recently adapted to it by Mr。 Holderness。  The date of this  song is about the era of Charles II。'


NOW; since we're met; let's merry; merry be; In spite of all our foes; And he that will not merry be; We'll pull him by the nose。 CHO。  Let him be merry; merry there; While we're all merry; merry here; For who can know where he shall go; To be merry another year。

He that will not merry; merry be; With a generous bowl and a toast; May he in Bridewell be shut up; And fast bound to a post。 Let him; &c。

He that will not merry; merry be; And take his glass in course; May he be obliged to drink small beer; Ne'er a penny in his purse。 Let him; &c。

He that will not merry; merry be; With a company of jolly boys; May he be plagued with a scolding wife; To confound him with her noise。 Let him; &c。

'He that will not merry; merry be; With his sweetheart by his side; Let him be laid in the cold churchyard; With a head…stone for his bride。 Let him; &c。'



Ballad: THE OLD MAN'S SONG。



'THIS ditty; still occasionally heard in the country districts;  seems to be the original of the very beautiful song; THE DOWNHILL  OF LIFE。  THE OLD MAN'S SONG may be found in Playford's THEATRE OF  MUSIC; 1685; but we are inclined to refer it to an earlier period。   The song is also published by D'Urfey; accompanied by two  objectionable parodies。'


IF I live to grow old; for I find I go down; Let this be my fate in a country town:… May I have a warm house; with a stone at the gate; And a cleanly young girl to rub my bald pate; May I govern my passions with absolute sway; And grow wiser and better as strength wears away; Without gout or stone; by a gentle decay。

In a country town; by a murmuring brook; With the ocean at distance on which I may look; With a spacious plain; without hedge or stile; And an easy 

返回目录 上一页 下一页 回到顶部 0 0

你可能喜欢的