ancient poems-第34章
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LANDLORD。 You will please pay half…a…crown for court fees; and what you please to the clerk。
THIS NECESSARY CEREMONY BEING GONE THROUGH; THE IMPORTANT BUSINESS TERMINATES BY THE LANDLORD SAYING; 'GOD BLESS THE KING 'OR QUEEN' AND THE LORD OF THE MANOR;' TO WHICH THE CLERK RESPONDS; 'AMEN; AMEN!'
N。B。 THE COURT FEES ARE ALWAYS RETURNED IN WINES; SPIRITS; OR PORTER; OF WHICH THE LANDLORD AND CLERK ARE INVITED TO PARTAKE。
Ballad: FAIRLOP FAIR SONG。
'THE following song is sung at Fairlop fair; one of the gayest of the numerous saturnalia kept by the good citizens of London。 The venerable oak has disappeared; but the song is nevertheless song; and the curious custom of riding through the fair; seated in boats; still continues to be observed。'
COME; come; my boys; with a hearty glee; To Fairlop fair; bear chorus with me; At Hainault forest is known very well; This famous oak has long bore the bell。
CHO。 Let music sound as the boat goes round; If we tumble on the ground; we'll be merry; I'll be bound; We will booze it away; dull care we will defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。
At Tainhall forest; Queen Anne she did ride; And beheld the beautiful oak by her side; And after viewing it from bottom to top; She said that her court should be at Fairlop。
It is eight fathom round; spreads an acre of ground; They plastered it round to keep the tree sound。 So we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。
About a century ago; as I have heard say; This fair it was kept by one Daniel Day; A hearty good fellow as ever could be; His coffin was made of a limb of the tree。
With black…strap and perry he made his friends merry; All sorrow for to drown with brandy and sherry。 So we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。
At Tainhall forest there stands a tree; And it has performed a wonderful bounty; It is surrounded by woods and plains; The merry little warblers chant their strains。
So we'll dance round the tree; and merry we will be; Every year we'll agree the fair for to see; And we'll booze it away; dull care we'll defy; And be happy on the first Friday in July。
Ballad: AS TOM WAS A…WALKING。 AN ANCIENT CORNISH SONG。
'THIS song; said to be translated from the Cornish; 'was taken down;' says Mr。 Sandys; 'from the recital of a modern Corypheus; or leader of a parish choir;' who assigned to it a very remote; but indefinite; antiquity。'
AS Tom was a…walking one fine summer's morn; When the dazies and goldcups the fields did adorn; He met Cozen Mal; with a tub on her head; Says Tom; 'Cozen Mal; you might speak if you we'd。'
But Mal stamped along; and appeared to be shy; And Tom singed out; 'Zounds! I'll knaw of thee why?' So back he tore a'ter; in a terrible fuss; And axed cozen Mal; 'What's the reason of thus?'
'Tom Treloar;' cried out Mal; 'I'll nothing do wi' 'ee; Go to Fanny Trembaa; she do knaw how I'm shy; Tom; this here t'other daa; down the hill thee didst stap; And dab'd a great doat fig (48) in Fan Trembaa's lap。'
'As for Fanny Trembaa; I ne'er taalked wi' her twice; And gived her a doat fig; they are so very nice; So I'll tell thee; I went to the fear t'other day; And the doat figs I boft; why I saved them away。'
Says Mal; 'Tom Treloar; ef that be the caase; May the Lord bless for ever that sweet pretty faace; Ef thee'st give me thy doat figs thee'st boft in the fear; I'll swear to thee now; thee shu'st marry me here。'
Ballad: THE MILLER AND HIS SONS。
'A MILLER; especially if he happen to be the owner of a soke…mill; has always been deemed fair game for the village satirist。 Of the numerous songs written in ridicule of the calling of the 'rogues in grain;' the following is one of the best and most popular: its quaint humour will recommend it to our readers。 For the tune; see POPULAR MUSIC。'
THERE was a crafty miller; and he Had lusty sons; one; two; and three: He called them all; and asked their will; If that to them he left his mill。
He called first to his eldest son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'
'Father;' said he; 'my name is Jack; Out of a bushel I'll take a peck; From every bushel that I grind; That I may a good living find。'
'Thou art a fool!' the old man said; 'Thou hast not well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I ne'er will give; For by such toll no man can live。'
He called for his middlemost son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'
'Father;' says he; 'my name is Ralph; Out of a bushel I'll take a half; From every bushel that I grind; That I may a good living find。'
'Thou art a fool!' the old man said; 'Thou hast not well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I ne'er will give; For by such toll no man can live。'
He called for his youngest son; Saying; 'My life is almost run; If I to you this mill do make; What toll do you intend to take?'
'Father;' said he; 'I'm your only boy; For taking toll is all my joy! Before I will a good living lack; I'll take it all; and forswear the sack!'
'Thou art my boy!' the old man said; 'For thou hast right well learned thy trade; This mill to thee I give;' he cried; … And then he turned up his toes and died。
Ballad: JACK AND TOM。 AN OULD BORDER DITTIE。 (TRADITIONAL。)
'THE following song was taken down from recitation in 1847。 Of its history nothing is known; but we are strongly inclined to believe that it may be assigned to the early part of the seventeenth century; and that it relates to the visit of Prince Charles and Buckingham; under the assumed names of Jack and Tom; to Spain; in 1623。 Some curious references to the adventures of the Prince and his companion; on their masquerading tour; will be found in Halliwell's LETTERS OF THE KINGS OF ENGLAND; vol。 ii。'
I'M a north countrie…man; in Redesdale born; Where our land lies lea; and grows ne corn; … And such two lads to my house never com; As them two lads called Jack and Tom!
Now; Jack and Tom; they're going to the sea; I wish them both in good companie! They're going to seek their fortunes ayont the wide sea; Far; far away frae their oan countrie!
They mounted their horses; and rode over the moor; Till they came to a house; when they rapped at the door; And out came Jockey; the hostler…man。 'D'ye brew ony ale? D'ye sell ony beer? Or have ye ony lodgings for strangers here?'
'Ne; we brew ne ale; nor we sell ne beer; Nor we have ne lodgings for strangers here。' So he bolted the door; and bade them begone; For there was ne lodgings there for poor Jack and Tom。
They mounted their horses; and rode over the plain; … Dark was the night; and down fell the rain; Till a twinkling light they happened to spy; And a castle and a house they were close by。
They rode up to the house; and they rapped at the door; And out came Jockey; the hosteler。 'D'ye brew ony ale? D'ye sell ony beer? Or have ye ony lodgings for strangers here?'
'Yes; we have brewed ale this fifty lang year; And we have got lodgings for strangers here。' So the roast to the fire; and the pot hung on; 'Twas all to accommodate poor Jack and Tom。
When supper was over; and all was SIDED DOWN; The glasses of wine did go merrily roun'。 'Here is to thee; Jack; and here is to thee; And all the bonny lasses in our countrie!' 'Here is to thee; Tom; and here is to thee; And look they may LEUK for thee and me!'
'Twas early next morning; before the break of day; They mounted their horses; and so they rode away。 Poor Jack; he died upon a far foreign shore; And Tom; he was never; never heard of more!
Ballad: JOAN'S ALE WAS NEW。
'OURS is the common version of this popular song; it varies considerably from the one given by D'Urfey; in the PILLS TO PURGE MELANCHOLY。 From the names of Nolly and Joan and the allusion to ale; we are inclined to consider the song as a lampoon levelled at Cromwell; and his wife; whom the Royalist party nick…named 'Joan。' The Protector's acquaintances (depicted as low and vulgar tradesmen) are here humorously represented paying him a congratulatory visit o