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第32章

ancient poems-第32章

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 Linton in Craven; who for some years past  has himself been one of these rustic actors。  From the allusion to  the pace; or paschal…egg; it is evident that the play was  originally an Easter pageant; which; in consequence of the decline  of the gorgeous rites formerly connected with that season; has been  transferred to Christmas; the only festival which; in the rural  districts of Protestant England; is observed after the olden  fashion。  The maskers generally consist of five characters; one of  whom officiates in the threefold capacity of clown; fiddler; and  master of the ceremonies。  The custom of masking at Christmas is  common to many parts of Europe; and is observed with especial zest  in the Swiss cantons; where the maskers are all children; and the  performances closely resemble those of England。  In Switzerland;  however; more care is bestowed upon the costume; and the songs are  better sung。'


ENTER CLOWN; WHO SINGS IN A SORT OF CHANT; OR RECITATIVE。

I OPEN this door; I enter in; I hope your favour for to win; Whether we shall stand or fall; We do endeavour to please you all。

A room! a room! a gallant room; A room to let us ride! We are not of the raggald sort; But of the royal tribe: Stir up the fire; and make a light; To see the bloody act to…night!

HERE ANOTHER OF THE PARTY INTRODUCES HIS COMPANIONS BY SINGING TO A  VIOLIN ACCOMPANIMENT; AS FOLLOWS:

Here's two or three jolly boys; all in one mind; We've come a pace…egging; (44) I hope you'll prove kind: I hope you'll prove kind with your money and beer; We shall come no more near you until the next year。 Fal de ral; lal de lal; &c。

The first that steps up is Lord 'Nelson' (45) you'll see; With a bunch of blue ribbons tied down to his knee; With a star on his breast; like silver doth shine; I hope you'll remember this pace…egging time。 Fal de ral; &c。

O! the next that steps up is a jolly Jack tar; He sailed with Lord 'Nelson'; during last war: He's right on the sea; Old England to view: He's come a pace…egging with so jolly a crew。 Fal de ral; &c。

O! the next that steps up is old Toss…Pot; you'll see; He's a valiant old man; in every degree; He's a valiant old man; and he wears a pig…tail; And all his delight is drinking mulled ale。 Fal de ral; &c。

O! the next that steps up is old Miser; you'll see; She heaps up her white and her yellow money; She wears her old rags till she starves and she begs; And she's come here to ask for a dish of pace eggs。 Fal de ral; &a

THE CHARACTERS BEING THUS DULY INTRODUCED; THE FOLLOWING LINES ARE  SUNG IN CHORUS BY ALL THE PARTY。

Gentlemen and ladies; that sit by the fire; Put your hand in your pocket; 'tis all we desire; Put your hand in your pocket; and pull out your purse; And give us a trifle; … you'll not be much worse。

HERE FOLLOWS A DANCE; AND THIS IS GENERALLY SUCCEEDED BY A DIALOGUE  OF AN ad libitum CHARACTER; WHICH VARIES IN DIFFERENT DISTRICTS;  BEING SOMETIMES SIMILAR TO THE ONE PERFORMED BY THE SWORD…DANCERS。



Ballad: GLOUCESTERSHIRE WASSAILERS' SONG。



'IT is still customary in many parts of England to hand round the  wassail; or health…bowl; on New…Year's Eve。  The custom is supposed  to be of Saxon origin; and to be derived from one of the  observances of the Feast of Yule。  The tune of this song is given  in POPULAR MUSIC。  It is a universal favourite in Gloucestershire;  particularly in the neighbourhood of

'Stair on the wold; Where the winds blow cold;'

as the old rhyme says。'


WASSAIL! wassail! all over the town; Our toast it is white; and our ale it is brown; Our bowl is made of a maplin tree; We be good fellows all; … I drink to thee。

Here's to our horse; (46) and to his right ear; God send our measter a happy new year: A happy new year as e'er he did see; … With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee。

Here's to our mare; and to her right eye; God send our mistress a good Christmas pie; A good Christmas pie as e'er I did see; … With my wassailing bowl I drink to thee。

Here's to our cow; and to her long tail; God send our measter us never may fail Of a cup of good beer: I pray you draw near; And our jolly wassail it's then you shall hear。

Be here any maids?  I suppose here be some; Sure they will not let young men stand on the cold stone! Sing hey O; maids! come trole back the pin; And the fairest maid in the house let us all in。

Come; butler; come; bring us a bowl of the best; I hope your soul in heaven will rest; But if you do bring us a bowl of the small; Then down fall butler; and bowl and all。



Ballad: THE MUMMERS' SONG; OR; THE POOR OLD HORSE。

As sung by the Mummers in the Neighbourhood of Richmond; Yorkshire;  at the merrie time of Christmas。



'THE rustic actor who sings the following song is dressed as an old  horse; and at the end of every verse the jaws are snapped in  chorus。  It is a very old composition; and is now printed for the  first time。  The 'old horse' is; probably; of Scandinavian origin;  … a reminiscence of Odin's Sleipnor。'


YOU gentlemen and sportsmen; And men of courage bold; All you that's got a good horse; Take care of him when he is old; Then put him in your stable; And keep him there so warm; Give him good corn and hay; Pray let him take no harm。 Poor old horse! poor old horse!

Once I had my clothing Of linsey…woolsey fine; My tail and mane of length; And my body it did shine; But now I'm growing old; And my nature does decay; My master frowns upon me; These words I heard him say; … Poor old horse! poor old horse!

These pretty little shoulders; That once were plump and round; They are decayed and rotten; … I'm afraid they are not sound。 Likewise these little nimble legs; That have run many miles; Over hedges; over ditches; Over valleys; gates; and stiles。 Poor old horse! poor old horse!

I used to be kept On the best corn and hay That in fields could be grown; Or in any meadows gay; But now; alas! it's not so; … There's no such food at all! I'm forced to nip the short grass That grows beneath your wall。 Poor old horse! poor old horse!

I used to be kept up All in a stable warm; To keep my tender body From any cold or harm; But now I'm turned out In the open fields to go; To face all kinds of weather; The wind; cold; frost; and snow。 Poor old horse! poor old horse!

My hide unto the huntsman So freely I would give; My body to the hounds; For I'd rather die than live: So shoot him; whip him; strip him; To the huntsman let him go; For he's neither fit to ride upon; Nor in any team to draw。 Poor old horse! you must die!



Ballad: FRAGMENT OF THE HAGMENA SONG。

As sung at Richmond; Yorkshire; on the eve of the New Year; by the  Corporation Pinder。



'THE custom of singing Hagmena songs is observed in different parts  of both England and Scotland。  The origin of the term is a matter  of dispute。  Some derive it from 'au guy l'an neuf;' i。e。; TO THE  MISLETOE THIS NEW YEAR; and a French Hagmena song still in use  seems to give some authority to such a derivation; others;  dissatisfied with a heathen source; find the term to be a  corruption of 'Greek text which cannot be reproduced'; i。e。; THE  HOLY MONTH。  The Hagmena songs are sometimes sung on Christmas Eve  and a few of the preceding nights; and sometimes; as at Richmond;  on the eve of the new year。  For further information the reader is  referred to Brand's POPULAR ANTIQUITIES; vol。 i。 247…8; Sir H。  Ellis's edit。 1842。'


TO…NIGHT it is the New…year's night; to…morrow is the day; And we are come for our right; and for our ray; As we used to do in old King Henry's day。 Sing; fellows; sing; Hagman…heigh。

If you go to the bacon…flick; cut me a good bit; Cut; cut and low; beware of your maw; Cut; cut and round; beware of your thumb; That me and my merry men may have some; Sing; fellows; sing; Hagman…heigh。

If you go to the black…ark; bring me X mark; Ten mark; ten pound; throw it down upon the ground; That me and my merry men may have some。 Sing; fellows; sing; Hagman…heigh。



Ballad: THE GREENSIDE WAKES SONG。



'THE wakes; feasts; or tides of the North of England; were  originally religious festivals in honour of the saints to whom the  parish churches were dedicated。  But now…a…days; even in Catholic  Lancashir

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