ancient poems-第45章
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ight be an inhabitant。 UTRUM HORUM； &c。
（18） That is； they were good soldiers when the MUSTERS were … when the regiments were called up。
（19） Fierce look。
（20） Descended from an ancient race famed for fighting。
（21） Assaulted。 They were； although out of danger； terrified by the attacks of the sow； and their fear was shared by the kiln； which began to smoke！
（22） Watling…street； the Roman way from Catterick to Bowes。
（23） Lost his colour。
（24） Scott； not understanding this expression； has inserted 'Jesus' for the initials 'I。 H。 S。；' and so has given a profane interpretation to the passage。 By a figure of speech the friar is called an I。 H。 S。； from these letters being conspicuously wrought on his robes； just as we might call a livery…servant by his master's motto； because it was stamped on his buttons。
（25） The meaning here is obscure。 The verse is not in Whitaker。
（26） Warlock or wizard。
（27） It is probable that by guest is meant an allusion to the spectre dog of Yorkshire （the BARGUEST）； to which the sow is compared。
（28） Hired。
（29） The monastery of Gray Friars at Richmond。 … See LELAND； ITIN。； vol。 iii； p。 109。
（30） This appears to have been a cant saying in the reign of Charles II。 It occurs in several novels； jest books and satires of the time； and was probably as unmeaning as such vulgarisms are in general。
（31） A cake composed of oatmeal； caraway…seeds； and treacle。 'Ale and parkin' is a common morning meal in the north of England。
（32） We have heard a Yorkshire yeoman sing a version； which commenced with this line：…
' It was at the time of a high holiday。'
（33） Bell…ringing was formerly a great amusement of the English； and the allusions to it are of frequent occurrence。 Numerous payments to bell…ringers are generally to be found in Churchwarden's accounts of the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries。 … CHAPPELL。
（34） The subject and burthen of this song are identical with those of the song which immediately follows； called in some copies THE CLOWN'S COURTSHIP； SUNG TO THE KING AT WINDSOR； and in others； I CANNOT COME EVERYDAY TO WOO。 The Kentish ditty cannot be traced to so remote a date as the CLOWN'S COURTSHIP； but it probably belongs to the same period。
（35） The common modern copies read 'St。 Leger's Round。'
（36） The common stall copies read 'Pan；' which not only furnishes a more accurate rhyme to 'Nan；' but is； probably； the true reading。 About the time when this song was written； there appears to have been some country minstrel or fiddler； who was well known by the sobriquet of 'Pan。' Frequent allusions to such a personage may be found in popular ditties of the period； and it is evidently that individual； and not the heathen deity； who is referred to in the song of ARTHUR O'BRADLEY：…
'Not Pan； the god of the swains； Could e'er produce such strains。' … See ANTE； p。 142。
（37） A correspondent of NOTES AND QUERIES says that； although there is some resemblance between Flora and Furry； the latter word is derived from an old Cornish term； and signifies jubilee or fair。
（38） There is another version of these concluding lines：…
'Down the red lane there lives an old fox； There does he sit a…mumping his chops； Catch him； boys； catch him； catch if you can； 'Tis twenty to one if you catch him or Nan。'
（39） A cant term for a fiddle。 In its literal sense； it means trunk； or box…belly。
（40） 'Helicon；' as observed by Sir C。 Sharp； is； of course； the true reading。
（41） In the introduction of the 'prodigal son；' we have a relic derived from the old mysteries and moralities。 Of late years； the 'prodigal son' has been left out； and his place supplied by a 'sailor。'
（42） Probably the disease here pointed at is the sweating sickness of old times。
（43） Robert Kearton； a working miner； and librarian and lecturer at the Grassington Mechanics' institution； informs us that at Coniston； in Lancashire； and the neighbourhood； the maskers go about at the proper season； viz。； Easter。 Their introductory song is different to the one given above。 He has favoured us with two verses of the delectable composition； he says； 'I dare say they'll be quite sufficient！'
'The next that comes on Is a gentleman's son； … A gentleman's son he was born； For mutton and beef； You may look at his teeth； He's a laddie for picking a bone！
'The next that comes on Is a tailor so bold … He can stitch up a hole in the dark！ There's never a 'prentice In famed London city Can find any fault with his WARK！'
（44） For the history of the paschal egg； see a paper by Mr。 J。 H。 Dixon； in the LOCAL HISTORIAN'S TABLE BOOK （Traditional Division）。 Newcastle。 1843。
（45） We suspect that Lord Nelson's name was introduced out of respect to the late Jack Rider； of Linton （who is himself introduced into the following verse）； an old tar who； for many years； was one of the 'maskers' in the district from whence our version was obtained。 Jack was 'loblolly boy' on board the 'Victory；' and one of the group that surrounded the dying Hero of Trafalgar。 Amongst his many miscellaneous duties； Jack had to help the doctor； and while so employed； he once set fire to the ship as he was engaged investigating； by candlelight； the contents of a bottle of ether。 The fire was soon extinguished； but not without considerable noise and confusion。 Lord Nelson； when the accident happened； was busy writing his despatches。 'What's all that noise about？' he demanded。 The answer was； 'Loblolly boy's set fire to an empty bottle； and it has set fire to the doctor's shop！' 'Oh； that's all； is it？' said Nelson； 'then I wish you and loblolly would put the fire out without making such a confusion' … and he went on writing with the greatest coolness； although the accident might have been attended by the most disastrous consequences； as an immense quantity of powder was on board； and some of it close to the scene of the disaster。 The third day after the above incident Nelson was no more； and the poor 'loblolly boy' left the service minus two fingers。 'Old Jack' used often to relate his 'accident；' and Captain Carslake； now of Sidmouth； who； at the time was one of the officers； permits us to add his corroboration of its truth。
（46） In this place； and in the first line of the following verse； the name of the horse is generally inserted by the singer； and 'Filpail' is often substituted for 'the cow' in a subsequent verse。
（47） The 'swearing…in' is gone through by females as well as the male sex。 See Hone's YEAR…BOOK。
（48） A fig newly gathered from the tree； so called to distinguish it from a grocer's； or preserved fig。
（49） This line is sometimes sung …
O！ I went into the stable； to see what I could see。
（50） Three cabbage…nets； according to some versions。
（51） This is a common phrase in old English songs and ballads。 See THE SUMMER'S MORNING； POST； p。 229。
（52） See ante； p。 82。
（53） Near。
（54） The high…road through a town or village。
（55） That is Tommy's opinion。 In the Yorkshire dialect； when the possessive case is followed by the relative substantive； it is customary to omit the S； but if the relative be understood； and not expressed； the possessive case is formed in the usual manner； as in a subsequent line of this song：…
'Hee'd a horse； too； 'twor war than ond Tommy's； ye see。'
（56） Alive； quick。
（57） Only。
（58） Famished。 The line in which this word occurs exhibits one of the most striking peculiarities of the Lancashire dialect； which is； that in words ending in ING； the termination is changed into INK。 EX。 GR。； for starving； STARVINK； farthing； FARDINK。
（59） In one version this line has been altered； probably by some printer who had a wholesome fear of the 'Bench of Justices；' into …
'Success to every gentleman That lives in Lincolnsheer。'
（60） Dr。 Whitaker gives a traditional version of part of this song as follows：…
'The gardener standing by proferred to chuse for me； The pink； the primrose； and the rose； but I refused the three； The primrose I forsook because it came too soon； The violet I o'erlooked； and vowed to wait till June。
In June； the red rose sprung
