ancient poems-第12章

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ve　me　with　love；　or　destroy　me　with　care。'

'Dear　madam；　don't　fix　your　affection　on　me；　You　are　fit　for　some　lord　of　a　noble　degree；　That　is　able　to　keep　up　your　honour　and　fame；　I　am　but　a　poor　sailor；　from　England　who　came。

'A　man　of　mean　fortune；　whose　substance　is　small；　I　have　not　wherewith　to　maintain　you　withal；　Sweet　lady；　according　to　honour　and　state；　Now　this　is　the　truth；　which　I　freely　relate。'

The　lady　she　lovingly　squeezed　his　hand；　And　said　with　a　smile；　'Ever　blessed　be　the　land　That　bred　such　a　noble；　brave　seaman　as　thee；　I　value　no　honours；　thou'rt　welcome　to　me；

'My　parents　are　dead；　I　have　jewels　untold；　Besides　in　possession　a　million　of　gold；　And　thou　shalt　be　lord　of　whatever　I　have；　Grant　me　but　thy　love；　which　I　earnestly　crave。'

Then；　turning　aside；　to　himself　he　replied；　'I　am　courted　with　riches　and　beauty　beside；　This　love　I　may　have；　but　my　Ruth　is　denied。'　Wherefore　he　consented　to　make　her　his　bride。

The　lady　she　clothed　him　costly　and　great；　His　noble　deportment；　both　proper　and　straight；　So　charmed　the　innocent　eye　of　his　dove；　And　added　a　second　new　flame　to　her　love。

Then　married　they　were　without　longer　delay；　Now　here　we　will　leave　them　both　glorious　and　gay；　To　speak　of　fair　Ruth；　who　in　sorrow　was　left　At　home　with　her　parents；　of　comfort　bereft。

PART　III。

When　under　the　window　with　an　aching　heart；　He　told　his　fair　Ruth　he　so　soon　must　depart；　Her　parents　they　heard；　and　well　pleased　they　were；　But　Ruth　was　afflicted　with　sorrow　and　care。

Now；　after　her　lover　had　quitted　the　shore；　They　kept　her　confined　a　fall　twelvemonth　or　more；　And　then　they　were　pleased　to　set　her　at　large；　With　laying　upon　her　a　wonderful　charge：

To　fly　from　a　seaman　as　she　would　from　death；　She　promised　she　would；　with　a　faltering　breath；　Yet；　nevertheless；　the　truth　you　shall　hear；　She　found　out　a　way　for　to　follow　her　dear。

Then；　taking　her　gold　and　her　silver　also；　In　seaman's　apparel　away　she　did　go；　And　found　out　a　master；　with　whom　she　agreed；　To　carry　her　over　the　ocean　with　speed。

Now；　when　she　arrived　at　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　From　city　to　city　she　travelled　amain；　Enquiring　about　everywhere　for　her　love；　Who　now　had　been　gone　seven　years　and　above。

In　Cadiz；　as　she　walked　along　in　the　street；　Her　love　and　his　lady　she　happened　to　meet；　But　in　such　a　garb　as　she　never　had　seen；　…　She　looked　like　an　angel；　or　beautiful　queen。

With　sorrowful　tears　she　turned　her　aside：　'My　jewel　is　gone；　I　shall　ne'er　be　his　bride；　But；　nevertheless；　though　my　hopes　are　in　vain；　I'll　never　return　to　old　England　again。

'But　here；　in　this　place；　I　will　now　be　confined；　It　will　be　a　comfort　and　joy　to　my　mind；　To　see　him　sometimes；　though　he　thinks　not　of　me；　Since　he　has　a　lady　of　noble　degree。'

Now；　while　in　the　city　fair　Ruth　did　reside；　Of　a　sudden　this　beautiful　lady　she　died；　And；　though　he　was　in　the　possession　of　all；　Yet　tears　from　his　eyes　in　abundance　did　fall。

As　he　was　expressing　his　piteous　moan；　Fair　Ruth　came　unto　him；　and　made　herself　known；　He　started　to　see　her；　but　seemed　not　coy；　Said　he；　'Now　my　sorrows　are　mingled　with　joy！'

The　time　of　the　mourning　he　kept　it　in　Spain；　And　then　he　came　back　to　old　England　again；　With　thousands；　and　thousands；　which　he　did　possess；　Then　glorious　and　gay　was　sweet　Ruth　in　her　dress。

PART　IV。

When　over　the　seas　to　fair　Sandwich　he　came；　With　Ruth；　and　a　number　of　persons　of　fame；　Then　all　did　appear　most　splendid　and　gay；　As　if　it　had　been　a　great　festival　day。

Now；　when　that　they　took　up　their　lodgings；　behold！　He　stripped　off　his　coat　of　embroidered　gold；　And　presently　borrows　a　mariner's　suit；　That　he　with　her　parents　might　have　some　dispute；

Before　they　were　sensible　he　was　so　great；　And　when　he　came　in　and　knocked　at　the　gate；　He　soon　saw　her　father；　and　mother　likewise；　Expressing　their　sorrow　with　tears　in　their　eyes；

To　them；　with　obeisance；　he　modestly　said；　'Pray　where　is　my　jewel；　that　innocent　maid；　Whose　sweet　lovely　beauty　doth　thousands　excel？　I　fear；　by　your　weeping；　that　all　is　not　well！'

'No；　no！　she　is　gone；　she　is　utterly　lost；　We　have　not　heard　of　her　a　twelvemonth　at　most！　Which　makes　us　distracted　with　sorrow　and　care；　And　drowns　us　in　tears　at　the　point　of　despair。'

'I'm　grieved　to　hear　these　sad　tidings；'　he　cried。　'Alas！　honest　young　man；'　her　father　replied；　'I　heartily　wish　she'd　been　wedded　to　you；　For　then　we　this　sorrow　had　never　gone　through。'

Sweet　Henry　he　made　them　this　answer　again；　'I　am　newly　come　home　from　the　kingdom　of　Spain；　From　whence　I　have　brought　me　a　beautiful　bride；　And　am　to　be　married　to…morrow；'　he　cried；

'And　if　you　will　go　to　my　wedding；'　said　he；　'Both　you　and　your　lady　right　welcome　shall　be。'　They　promised　they　would；　and　accordingly　came；　Not　thinking　to　meet　with　such　persons　of　fame。

All　decked　with　their　jewels　of　rubies　and　pearls；　As　equal　companions　of　lords　and　of　earls；　Fair　Ruth；　with　her　love；　was　as　gay　as　the　rest；　So　they　in　their　marriage　were　happily　blessed。

Now；　as　they　returned　from　the　church　to　an　inn；　The　father　and　mother　of　Ruth　did　begin　Their　daughter　to　know；　by　a　mole　they　behold；　Although　she　was　clothed　in　a　garment　of　gold。

With　transports　of　joy　they　flew　to　the　bride；　'O！　where　hast　thou　been；　sweetest　daughter？'　they　cried；　'Thy　tedious　absence　has　grieved　us　sore；　As　fearing；　alas！　we　should　see　thee　no　more。'

'Dear　parents；'　said　she；　'many　hazards　I　run；　To　fetch　home　my　love；　and　your　dutiful　son；　Receive　him　with　joy；　for　'tis　very　well　known；　He　seeks　not　your　wealth；　he's　enough　of　his　own。'

Her　father　replied；　and　he　merrily　smiled；　'He's　brought　home　enough；　as　he's　brought　home　my　child；　A　thousand　times　welcome　you　are；　I　declare；　Whose　presence　disperses　both　sorrow　and　care。'

Full　seven　long　days　in　feasting　they　spent；　The　bells　in　the　steeple　they　merrily　went；　And　many　fair　pounds　were　bestowed　on　the　poor；　…　The　like　of　this　wedding　was　never　before！



Ballad：　THE　BERKSHIRE　LADY'S　GARLAND。　IN　FOUR　PARTS。　To　the　tune　of　THE　ROYAL　FORESTER。



＇WHEN　we　first　met　with　this　very　pleasing　English　ballad；　we　　deemed　the　story　to　be　wholly　fictitious；　but　'strange'　as　the　　'relation'　may　appear；　the　incidents　narrated　are　'true'　or　at　　least　founded　on　fact。　　The　scene　of　the　ballad　is　Whitley　Park；　　near　Reading；　in　Berkshire；　and　not；　as　some　suppose；　Calcot　House；　　which　was　not　built　till　1759。　　Whitley　is　mentioned　as　'the　　Abbot's　Park；　being　at　the　entrance　of　Redding　town。'　　At　the　　Dissolution　the　estate　passed　to　the　crown；　and　the　mansion　seems；　　from　time　to　time；　to　have　been　used　as　a　royal　'palace'　till　the　　reign　of　Elizabeth；　by　whom　it　was　granted；　along　with　the　estate；　　to　Sir　Francis　Knollys；　it　was　afterwards；　by　purchase；　the　　property　of　the　Kendricks；　an　ancient　race；　descended　from　the　　Saxon　kings。　　William　Kendrick；　of　Whitley；　armr。　was　created　a　　baronet　in　1679；　and　died　in　1685；　leaving　issue　one　son；　Sir　　William　Kendrick；　of　Whitley；　Bart。；　who　married　Miss　Mary　House；　　of　Reading；　and　died　in　1699；　without　issue　male；　leaving　an　only　　daughter。　　It　was　this　rich　heiress；　who　possessed　'store　of　wealth　　and　beauty　bright；'　that　is　the　heroine　of　the　ballad。　　She　married　　Benjamin　Child；　Esq。；　a　young　and　handsome；　but　very　poor　attorney　　of　Reading；　and　the　marriage　is　traditionally　reported　to　have　been　　brought　about　exactly　as　related　in　the　ballad。　　We　have　not　been　　able　to　ascertain　the　exact　date　of　the　marriage；　which　was　　celebrated　in　St。　Mary's　Church；　Reading；　the　bride　wearing　a　thick　　veil；　but　the　ceremony　must　have　taken　place　some　time　about　1705。　　　In　1714；　Mr。　Child　was　high　sheriff　of　Berkshire。　　As　he　was　an　　humble　and　obscure　personage　previously　to　his　espousing　the　　heiress　of　Whitley；　and；　in　fact；　owed　all　his　wealth　and　influence　　to　his　marriage；　it　cannot　be　supposed　that　IMMEDIATELY　after　his　　union　he　would　be　elevated　to　so　important　and　dignified　a　post　as　　the　high…shrievalty　of　the　very　aristocratical　county　of　Berks。　　We　　may；　therefore；　consider　nine　or　ten　years　to　have　elapsed　betwixt　　his　marriage　and　his　holding　the　office　of　high　sheriff；　which　he　　filled　when　he　was　about　thirty…two　years　of　age。　　The　author　of　　the　ballad　is　unknown：　supposing　him　to　have　composed　it　shortly　　after　the　events　which　he　records；　we　cannot　be　far　wrong　in　fixing　　its　date　about　1706。　　The　earliest　broadside　we　have　seen　contains　　a　rudely　executed；　but　by　no　means　bad　likeness　of　Queen　Anne；　the　　reigning　monarch　at　that　period。＇


PART　I。

SHOWING　CUPID'S　CONQUEST　OVER　A　COY　LADY　OF　FIVE　THOUSAND　A　YEAR。

BACHELORS　of　every　station；　Mark　this　strange　and　true　relation；　Which　in　brief　to　you　I　bring；　…　Never　was　a　stranger　thing！

You　shall　find　it　worth　the　hearing；　Loyal　love　is　most　endearing；　When　it　takes　the　deepest　root；　Yielding　charms　and　gold　to　boot。

Some　will　wed　for　love　of　treasure；　But　the　sweetest　joy　and　pleasure　Is　in　faithful　love；　you'll　find；　Graced　with　a　noble　mind。

Such　a　noble　disposition　Had　this　lady；　with　submission；　Of　whom　I　this　sonnet　write；　Store　of　wealth；　and　beauty　bright。

She　had　left；　by　a　good　grannum；　Full　five　thousand　pounds　per　annum；　Which　she　held　without　control；　Thus　she　did　in　riches　roll。

Though　she　had　vast　store　of　riches；　Which　some　persons　much　bewitches；　Yet　she　bore　a　virtuous　mind；　Not　the　least　to　pride　inclined。

Many　noble　persons　courted　This　young　lady；　'tis　reported；　But　their　labour　proved　in　vain；　They　could　not　her　favour　gain。

Though　she　made　a　strong　resistance；　Yet　by　Cupid's　true　assistance；　She　was　conquered　after　all；　How　it　was　declare　I　shall。

Being　at　a　noble　wedding；　Near　the　famous　town　of　Redding；　（7）　A　young　gentleman　she　saw；　Who　belonged　to　the　law。

As　she　viewed　his　sweet　behaviour；　Every　courteous　carriage　gave　her　New　addition　to　her　grief；　Forced　she　was　to　seek　relief。

Privately　she　then　enquired　About　him；　so　much　admired；　Both　his　name；　and　where　he　dwelt；　…　Such　was　the　hot　flame　she　felt。

Then；　at　night；　this　youthful　lady　Called　her　coach；　which　being　ready；　Homewards　straight　she　did　return；　But　her　heart　with　flames　did　burn。

PART　II。

SHOWING　THE　LADY'S　LETTER　OF　A　CHALLENGE　TO　FIGHT　HIM　UPON　HIS　　REFUSING　TO　WED　HER　IN　A　MASK；　WITHOUT　KNOWING　WHO　SHE　WAS。

Night　and　morning；　for　a　season；　In　her　closet　would　she　reason　With　herself；　and　often　said；　'Why　has　love　my　heart　betrayed？

'I；　that　have　so　many　slighted；　Am　at　length　so　well　requited；　For　my　griefs　are　not　a　few！　Now　I　find　what　love　can　do。

'He　that　has　my　heart　in　keeping；　Though　I　for　his　sake　be　weeping；　Little　knows　what　grief　I　feel；　But　I'll　try　it　out　with　steel。

'For　I　will　a　challenge　send　him；　And　appoint　where　I'll　attend　him；　In　a　grove；　without　delay；　By　the　dawning　of　the　day。

'He　shall　not　the　least　discover　That　I　am　a　virgin　lover；　By　the　challenge　which　I　send；　But　for　justice　I　contend。

'He　has　caused　sad　distraction；　And　I　come　for　satisfaction；　Which　if　he　denies　to　give；　One　of　us　shall　cease　to　live。'

Having　thus　her　mind　revealed；　She　her　letter　closed　and　sealed；　Which；　when　it　came　to　his　hand；　The　young　man　was　at　a　stand。

In　her　letter　she　conjured　him　For　to　meet；　and　well　assured