ancient poems-第15章

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set　up　a　better　　claim　to　antiquity　than　any　of　the　three　ballads　on　the　same　　subject　to　be　found　in　Evans's　OLD　BALLADS；　viz。；　JOHN　BARLEYCORN；　　THE　LITTLE　BARLEYCORN；　and　MAS　MAULT。　　Our　west…country　version　　bears　the　greatest　resemblance　to　THE　LITTLE　BARLEYCORN；　but　it　is　　very　dissimilar　to　any　of　the　three。　　Burns　altered　the　old　ditty；　　but　on　referring　to　his　version　it　will　be　seen　that　his　　corrections　and　additions　want　the　simplicity　of　the　original；　and　　certainly　cannot　be　considered　improvements。　　The　common　ballad　　does　not　appear　to　have　been　inserted　in　any　of　our　popular　　collections。　　SIR　JOHN　BARLEYCORN　is　very　appropriately　sung　to　the　　tune　of　STINGO。　　See　POPULAR　MUSIC；　p。　305。＇


THERE　came　three　men　out　of　the　West；　Their　victory　to　try；　And　they　have　taken　a　solemn　oath；　Poor　Barleycorn　should　die。

They　took　a　plough　and　ploughed　him　in；　And　harrowed　clods　on　his　head；　And　then　they　took　a　solemn　oath；　Poor　Barleycorn　was　dead。

There　he　lay　sleeping　in　the　ground；　Till　rain　from　the　sky　did　fall：　Then　Barleycorn　sprung　up　his　head；　And　so　amazed　them　all。

There　he　remained　till　Midsummer；　And　looked　both　pale　and　wan；　Then　Barleycorn　he　got　a　beard；　And　so　became　a　man。

Then　they　sent　men　with　scythes　so　sharp；　To　cut　him　off　at　knee；　And　then　poor　little　Barleycorn；　They　served　him　barbarously。

Then　they　sent　men　with　pitchforks　strong　To　pierce　him　through　the　heart；　And　like　a　dreadful　tragedy；　They　bound　him　to　a　cart。

And　then　they　brought　him　to　a　barn；　A　prisoner　to　endure；　And　so　they　fetched　him　out　again；　And　laid　him　on　the　floor。

Then　they　set　men　with　holly　clubs；　To　beat　the　flesh　from　his　bones；　But　the　miller　he　served　him　worse　than　that；　For　he　ground　him　betwixt　two　stones。

O！　Barleycorn　is　the　choicest　grain　That　ever　was　sown　on　land；　It　will　do　more　than　any　grain；　By　the　turning　of　your　hand。

It　will　make　a　boy　into　a　man；　And　a　man　into　an　ass；　It　will　change　your　gold　into　silver；　And　your　silver　into　brass。

It　will　make　the　huntsman　hunt　the　fox；　That　never　wound　his　horn；　It　will　bring　the　tinker　to　the　stocks；　That　people　may　him　scorn。

It　will　put　sack　into　a　glass；　And　claret　in　the　can；　And　it　will　cause　a　man　to　drink　Till　he　neither　can　go　nor　stand。



Ballad：　BLOW　THE　WINDS；　I…HO！



＇THIS　Northumbrian　ballad　is　of　great　antiquity；　and　bears　　considerable　resemblance　to　THE　BAFFLED　KNIGHT；　OR；　LADY'S　POLICY；　　inserted　in　Percy's　RELIQUES。　　It　is　not　in　any　popular　collection。　　　In　the　broadside　from　which　it　is　here　printed；　the　title　and　　chorus　are　given；　BLOW　THE　WINDS；　I…O；　a　form　common　to　many　　ballads　and　songs；　but　only　to　those　of　great　antiquity。　　Chappell；　　in　his　POPULAR　MUSIC；　has　an　example　in　a　song　as　old　as　1698：…

'Here's　a　health　to　jolly　Bacchus；　I…ho！　　I…ho！　　I…ho！'

and　in　another　well…known　old　catch　the　same　form　appears：…

'A　pye　sat　on　a　pear…tree；　I…ho；　I…ho；　I…ho。'

'Io！'　or；　as　we　find　it　given　in　these　lyrics；　'I…ho！'　was　an　　ancient　form　of　acclamation　or　triumph　on　joyful　occasions　and　　anniversaries。　　It　is　common；　with　slight　variations；　to　different　　languages。　　In　the　Gothic；　for　example；　Iola　signifies　to　make　　merry。　　It　has　been　supposed　by　some　etymologists　that　the　word　　'yule'　is　a　corruption　of　'Io！'＇


THERE　was　a　shepherd's　son；　He　kept　sheep　on　yonder　hill；　He　laid　his　pipe　and　his　crook　aside；　And　there　he　slept　his　fill。

And　blow　the　winds；　I…ho！　Sing；　blow　the　winds；　I…ho！　Clear　away　the　morning　dew；　And　blow　the　winds；　I…ho！

He　looked　east；　and　he　looked　west；　He　took　another　look；　And　there　he　spied　a　lady　gay；　Was　dipping　in　a　brook。

She　said；　'Sir；　don't　touch　my　mantle；　Come；　let　my　clothes　alone；　I　will　give　you　as　much　money　As　you　can　carry　home。'

'I　will　not　touch　your　mantle；　I'll　let　your　clothes　alone；　I'll　take　you　out　of　the　water　clear；　My　dear；　to　be　my　own。'

He　did　not　touch　her　mantle；　He　let　her　clothes　alone；　But　he　took　her　from　the　clear　water；　And　all　to　be　his　own。

He　set　her　on　a　milk…white　steed；　Himself　upon　another；　And　there　they　rode　along　the　road；　Like　sister；　and　like　brother。

And　as　they　rode　along　the　road；　He　spied　some　cocks　of　hay；　'Yonder；'　he　says；　'is　a　lovely　place　For　men　and　maids　to　play！'

And　when　they　came　to　her　father's　gate；　She　pulled　at　a　ring；　And　ready　was　the　proud　porter　For　to　let　the　lady　in。

And　when　the　gates　were　open；　This　lady　jumped　in；　She　says；　'You　are　a　fool　without；　And　I'm　a　maid　within。

'Good　morrow　to　you；　modest　boy；　I　thank　you　for　your　care；　If　you　had　been　what　you　should　have　been；　I　would　not　have　left　you　there。

'There　is　a　horse　in　my　father's　stable；　He　stands　beyond　the　thorn；　He　shakes　his　head　above　the　trough；　But　dares　not　prie　the　corn。

'There　is　a　bird　in　my　father's　flock；　A　double　comb　he　wears；　He　flaps　his　wings；　and　crows　full　loud；　But　a　capon's　crest　he　bears。

'There　is　a　flower　in　my　father's　garden；　They　call　it　marygold；　The　fool　that　will　not　when　he　may；　He　shall　not　when　he　wold。'

Said　the　shepherd's　son；　as　he　doft　his　shoon；　'My　feet　they　shall　run　bare；　And　if　ever　I　meet　another　maid；　I　rede　that　maid　beware。'



Ballad：　THE　BEAUTIFUL　LADY　OF　KENT；　OR；　THE　SEAMAN　OF　DOVER。



＇WE　have　met　with　two　copies　of　this　genuine　English　ballad；　the　　older　one　is　without　printer's　name；　but　from　the　appearance　of　the　　type　and　the　paper；　it　must　have　been　published　about　the　middle　of　　the　last　century。　　It　is　certainly　not　one　of　the　original　　impressions；　for　the　other　copy；　though　of　recent　date；　has　　evidently　been　taken　from　some　still　older　and　better　edition。　　In　　the　modern　broadside　the　ballad　is　in　four　parts；　whereas；　in　our　　older　one；　there　is　no　such　expressed　division；　but　a　word　at　the　　commencement　of　each　part　is　printed　in　capital　letters。＇


PART　I。

A　SEAMAN　of　Dover；　whose　excellent　parts；　For　wisdom　and　learning；　had　conquered　the　hearts　Of　many　young　damsels；　of　beauty　so　bright；　Of　him　this　new　ditty　in　brief　I　shall　write；

And　show　of　his　turnings；　and　windings　of　fate；　His　passions　and　sorrows；　so　many　and　great：　And　how　he　was　blessed　with　true　love　at　last；　When　all　the　rough　storms　of　his　troubles　were　past。

Now；　to　be　brief；　I　shall　tell　you　the　truth：　A　beautiful　lady；　whose　name　it　was　Ruth；　A　squire's　young　daughter；　near　Sandwich；　in　Kent；　Proves　all　his　heart's　treasure；　his　joy　and　content。

Unknown　to　their　parents　in　private　they　meet；　Where　many　love　lessons　they'd　often　repeat；　With　kisses；　and　many　embraces　likewise；　She　granted　him　love；　and　thus　gained　the　prize。

She　said；　'I　consent　to　be　thy　sweet　bride；　Whatever　becomes　of　my　fortune；'　she　cried。　'The　frowns　of　my　father　I　never　will　fear；　But　freely　will　go　through　the　world　with　my　dear。'

A　jewel　he　gave　her；　in　token　of　love；　And　vowed；　by　the　sacred　powers　above；　To　wed　the　next　morning；　but　they　were　betrayed；　And　all　by　the　means　of　a　treacherous　maid。

She　told　her　parents　that　they　were　agreed：　With　that　they　fell　into　a　passion　with　speed；　And　said；　ere　a　seaman　their　daughter　should　have；　They　rather　would　follow　her　corpse　to　the　grave。

The　lady　was　straight　to　her　chamber　confined；　Here　long　she　continued　in　sorrow　of　mind；　And　so　did　her　love；　for　the　loss　of　his　dear；　…　No　sorrow　was　ever　so　sharp　and　severe。

When　long　he　had　mourned　for　his　love　and　delight；　Close　under　the　window　he　came　in　the　night；　And　sung　forth　this　ditty：…　'My　dearest；　farewell！　Behold；　in　this　nation　no　longer　I　dwell。

'I　am　going　from　hence　to　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　Because　I　am　willing　that　you　should　obtain　Your　freedom　once　more；　for　my　heart　it　will　break　If　longer　thou　liest　confined　for　my　sake。'

The　words　which　he　uttered；　they　caused　her　to　weep；　Yet；　nevertheless；　she　was　forced　to　keep　Deep　silence　that　minute；　that　minute　for　fear　Her　honoured　father　and　mother　should　hear。

PART　II。

Soon　after；　bold　Henry　he　entered　on　board；　The　heavens　a　prosperous　gale　did　afford；　And　brought　him　with　speed　to　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　There　he　with　a　merchant　some　time　did　remain；

Who；　finding　that　he　was　both　faithful　and　just；　Preferred　him　to　places　of　honour　and　trust；　He　made　him　as　great　as　his　heart