ancient poems-第43章
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＇WE cannot trace this popular ditty beyond the reign of James II； but we believe it to be older。 The origin is to be found in an early French chanson。 The present version has been taken down from the singing of an old Yorkshire yeoman。 The third verse we have never seen in print； but it is always sung in the west of Yorkshire。＇
BEGONE； dull care！ I prithee begone from me； Begone； dull care！ Thou and I can never agree。 Long while thou hast been tarrying here； And fain thou wouldst me kill； But i' faith； dull care； Thou never shalt have thy will。
Too much care Will make a young man grey； Too much care Will turn an old man to clay。 My wife shall dance； and I shall sing； So merrily pass the day； For I hold it is the wisest thing； To drive dull care away。
Hence； dull care； I'll none of thy company； Hence； dull care； Thou art no pair （68） for me。 We'll hunt the wild boar through the wold； So merrily pass the day； And then at night； o'er a cheerful bowl； We'll drive dull care away。
Ballad： FULL MERRILY SINGS THE CUCKOO。
＇THE earliest copy of this playful song is one contained in a MS。 of the reign of James I。； preserved amongst the registers of the Stationers' Company； but the song can be traced back to 1566。＇
FULL merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the beechen tree； Your wives you well should look to； If you take advice of me。 Cuckoo！ cuckoo！ alack the morn； When of married men Full nine in ten Must be content to wear the horn。
Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the oaken tree； Your wives you well should look to； If you take advice of me。 Cuckoo！ cuckoo！ alack the day！ For married men But now and then； Can 'scape to bear the horn away。
Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the ashen tree； Your wives you well should look to； If you take advice of me。 Cuckoo！ cuckoo！ alack the noon； When married men Must watch the hen； Or some strange fox will steal her soon。
Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the alder tree； Your wives you well should look to； If you take advice of me。 Cuckoo！ cuckoo！ alack the eve； When married men Must bid good den To such as horns to them do give。
Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the aspen tree； Your wives you well should look to； If you take advice of me。 Cuckoo！ cuckoo！ alack the night； When married men； Again and again； Must hide their horns in their despite。
Ballad： JOCKEY TO THE FAIR。
＇A VERSION of this song； not quite so accurate as the following was published from an old broadside in NOTES AND QUERIES； vol。 vii。； p。 49； where it is described as a 'very celebrated Gloucestershire ballad。' But Gloucestershire is not exclusively entitled to the honour of this genuine old country song； which is well known in Westmoreland and other counties。 'Jockey' songs constitute a distinct and numerous class； and belong for the most part to the middle of the last century； when Jockey and Jenny were formidable rivals to the Strephons and Chloes of the artificial school of pastoral poetry。 The author of this song； whoever he was； drew upon real rural life； and not upon its fashionable masquerade。 We have been unable to trace the exact date of this ditty； which still enjoys in some districts a wide popularity。 It is not to be found in any of several large collections of Ranelagh and Vauxhall songs； and other anthologies； which we have examined。 From the christian names of the lovers； it might be supposed to be of Scotch or Border origin； but JOCKEY TO THE FAIR is not confined to the North； indeed it is much better known； and more frequently sung； in the South and West。＇
'TWAS on the morn of sweet May…day； When nature painted all things gay； Taught birds to sing； and lambs to play； And gild the meadows fair； Young Jockey； early in the dawn； Arose and tripped it o'er the lawn； His Sunday clothes the youth put on； For Jenny had vowed away to run With Jockey to the fair； For Jenny had vowed； &c。
The cheerful parish bells had rung； With eager steps he trudged along； While flowery garlands round him hung； Which shepherds use to wear； He tapped the window； 'Haste； my dear！' Jenny impatient cried； 'Who's there？' ''Tis I； my love； and no one near； Step gently down； you've nought to fear； With Jockey to the fair。' Step gently down； &c。
'My dad and mam are fast asleep； My brother's up； and with the sheep； And will you still your promise keep； Which I have heard you swear？ And will you ever constant prove？' 'I will； by all the powers above； And ne'er deceive my charming dove； Dispel these doubts； and haste； my love； With Jockey to the fair。' Dispel； &c。
'Behold； the ring；' the shepherd cried； 'Will Jenny be my charming bride？ Let Cupid be our happy guide； And Hymen meet us there。' Then Jockey did his vows renew； He would be constant； would he true； His word was pledged； away she flew； O'er cowslips tipped with balmy dew； With Jockey to the fair。 O'er cowslips； &c。
In raptures meet the joyful throng； Their gay companions； blithe and young； Each join the dance； each raise the song； To hail the happy pair。 In turns there's none so loud as they； They bless the kind propitious day； The smiling morn of blooming May； When lovely Jenny ran away With Jockey to the fair。 When lovely； &c。
Ballad： LONG PRESTON PEG。 （A FRAGMENT。）
＇MR。 BIRKBECK； of Threapland House； Lintondale； in Craven； has favoured us with the following fragment。 The tune is well known in the North； but all attempts on the part of Mr。 Birkbeck to obtain the remaining verses have been unsuccessful。 The song is evidently of the date of the first rebellion； 1715。＇
LONG Preston Peg to proud Preston went； To see the Scotch rebels it was her intent。 A noble Scotch lord； as he passed by； On this Yorkshire damsel did soon cast an eye。
He called to his servant； which on him did wait； 'Go down to yon girl who stands in the gate； （69） That sings with a voice so soft and so sweet； And in my name do her lovingly greet。'
Ballad： THE SWEET NIGHTINGALE； OR； DOWN IN THOSE VALLEYS BELOW。 AN ANCIENT CORNISH SONG。
＇THIS curious ditty； which may be confidently assigned to the seventeenth century； is said to be a translation from the ancient Cornish tongue。 We first heard it in Germany； in the pleasure… gardens of the Marienberg； on the Moselle。 The singers were four Cornish miners； who were at that time； 1854； employed at some lead mines near the town of Zell。 The leader or 'Captain；' John Stocker； said that the song was an established favourite with the lead miners of Cornwall and Devonshire； and was always sung on the pay…days； and at the wakes； and that his grandfather； who died thirty years before； at the age of a hundred years； used to sing the song； and say that it was very old。 Stocker promised to make a copy of it； but there was no opportunity of procuring it before we left Germany。 The following version has been supplied by a gentleman in Plymouth； who writes：…
I have had a great deal of trouble about THE VALLEY BELOW。 It is not in print。 I first met with one person who knew one part； then with another person who knew another part； but nobody could sing the whole。 At last； chance directed me to an old man at work on the roads； and he sung and recited it throughout； not exactly； however； as I send it； for I was obliged to supply a little here and there； but only where a bad rhyme； or rather none at all； made it evident what the real rhyme was。 I have read it over to a mining gentleman at Truro； and he says 'It is pretty near the way we sing it。'
The tune is plaintive and original。＇
'MY sweetheart； come along！ Don't you hear the fond song； The sweet notes of the nightingale flow？ Don't you hear the fond tale Of the sweet nightingale； As she sings in those valleys below？ So be not afraid To walk in the shade； Nor yet in those valleys below； Nor yet in those valleys below。
'Pretty Betsy； don't fail； For I'll carry your pail； Safe home to your cot as we go； You shall hear the fond tale Of the sweet nightingale； As she sings in those valleys below。' But she was afraid To walk in the shade； To walk in those valleys below； To walk in those valleys below。
'Pray let me alone； I have hands of my own； Along with you I
