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
