ancient poems-第13章

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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　him；　Recompence　he　must　afford；　Or　dispute　it　with　the　sword。

Having　read　this　strange　relation；　He　was　in　a　consternation；　But；　advising　with　his　friend；　He　persuades　him　to　attend。

'Be　of　courage；　and　make　ready；　Faint　heart　never　won　fair　lady；　In　regard　it　must　be　so；　I　along　with　you　must　go。'

PART　III。

SHOWING　HOW　THEY　MET　BY　APPOINTMENT　IN　A　GROVE；　WHERE　SHE　OBLIGED　　HIM　TO　FIGHT　OR　WED　HER。

Early　on　a　summer's　morning；　When　bright　Phoebus　was　adorning　Every　bower　with　his　beams；　The　fair　lady　came；　it　seems。

At　the　bottom　of　a　mountain；　Near　a　pleasant　crystal　fountain；　There　she　left　her　gilded　coach；　While　the　grove　she　did　approach。

Covered　with　her　mask；　and　walking；　There　she　met　her　lover　talking　With　a　friend　that　he　had　brought；　So　she　asked　him　whom　he　sought。

'I　am　challenged　by　a　gallant；　Who　resolves　to　try　my　talent；　Who　he　is　I　cannot　say；　But　I　hope　to　show　him　play。'

'It　is　I　that　did　invite　you；　You　shall　wed　me；　or　I'll　fight　you；　Underneath　those　spreading　trees；　Therefore；　choose　you　which　you　please。

'You　shall　find　I　do　not　vapour；　I　have　brought　my　trusty　rapier；　Therefore；　take　your　choice；'　said　she；　'Either　fight　or　marry　me。'

Said　he；　'Madam；　pray　what　mean　you？　In　my　life　I've　never　seen　you；　Pray　unmask；　your　visage　show；　Then　I'll　tell　you　aye　or　no。'

'I　will　not　my　face　uncover　Till　the　marriage　ties　are　over；　Therefore；　choose　you　which　you　will；　Wed　me；　sir；　or　try　your　skill。

'Step　within　that　pleasant　bower；　With　your　friend　one　single　hour；　Strive　your　thoughts　to　reconcile；　And　I'll　wander　here　the　while。'

While　this　beauteous　lady　waited；　The　young　bachelors　debated　What　was　best　for　to　be　done：　Quoth　his　friend；　'The　hazard　run。

'If　my　judgment　can　be　trusted；　Wed　her　first；　you　can't　be　worsted；　If　she's　rich；　you'll　rise　to　fame；　If　she's　poor；　why！　you're　the　same。'

He　consented　to　be　married；　All　three　in　a　coach　were　carried　To　a　church　without　delay；　Where　he　weds　the　lady　gay。

Though　sweet　pretty　Cupids　hovered　Round　her　eyes；　her　face　was　covered　With　a　mask；　…　he　took　her　thus；　Just　for　better　or　for　worse。

With　a　courteous　kind　behaviour；　She　presents　his　friend　a　favour；　And　withal　dismissed　him　straight；　That　he　might　no　longer　wait。

PART　IV。

SHOWING　HOW　THEY　RODE　TOGETHER　IN　HER　GILDED　COACH　TO　HER　NOBLE　　SEAT；　OR　CASTLE；　ETC。

As　the　gilded　coach　stood　ready；　The　young　lawyer　and　his　lady　Rode　together；　till　they　came　To　her　house　of　state　and　fame；

Which　appeared　like　a　castle；　Where　you　might　behold　a　parcel　Of　young　cedars；　tall　and　straight；　Just　before　her　palace　gate。

Hand　in　hand　they　walked　together；　To　a　hall；　or　parlour；　rather；　Which　was　beautiful　and　fair；　…　All　alone　she　left　him　there。

Two　long　hours　there　he　waited　Her　return；　…　at　length　he　fretted；　And　began　to　grieve　at　last；　For　he　had　not　broke　his　fast。

Still　he　sat　like　one　amazed；　Round　a　spacious　room　he　gazed；　Which　was　richly　beautified；　But；　alas！　he　lost　his　bride。

There　was　peeping；　laughing；　sneering；　All　within　the　lawyer's　hearing；　But　his　bride　he　could　not　see；　'Would　I　were　at　home！'　thought　he。

While　his　heart　was　melancholy；　Said　the　steward；　brisk　and　jolly；　'Tell　me；　friend；　how　came　you　here？　You've　some　bad　design；　I　fear。'

He　replied；　'Dear　loving　master；　You　shall　meet　with　no　disaster　Through　my　means；　in　any　case；　…　Madam　brought　me　to　this　place。'

Then　the　steward　did　retire；　Saying；　that　he　would　enquire　Whether　it　was　true　or　no：　Ne'er　was　lover　hampered　so。

Now　the　lady　who　had　filled　him　With　those　fears；　full　well　beheld　him　From　a　window；　as　she　dressed；　Pleased　at　the　merry　jest。

When　she　had　herself　attired　In　rich　robes；　to　be　admired；　She　appeared　in　his　sight；　Like　a　moving　angel　bright。

'Sir！　my　servants　have　related；　How　some　hours　you　have　waited　In　my　parlour；　…　tell　me　who　In　my　house　you　ever　knew？'

'Madam！　if　I　have　offended；　It　is　more　than　I　intended；　A　young　lady　brought　me　here：'　…　'That　is　true；'　said　she；　'my　dear。

'I　can　be　no　longer　cruel　To　my　joy；　and　only　jewel；　Thou　art　mine；　and　I　am　thine；　Hand　and　heart　I　do　resign！

'Once　I　was　a　wounded　lover；　Now　these　fears　are　fairly　over；　By　receiving　what　I　gave；　Thou　art　lord　of　what　I　have。'

Beauty；　honour；　love；　and　treasure；　A　rich　golden　stream　of　pleasure；　With　his　lady　he　enjoys；　Thanks　to　Cupid's　kind　decoys。

Now　he's　clothed　in　rich　attire；　Not　inferior　to　a　squire；　Beauty；　honour；　riches'　store；　What　can　man　desire　more？



Ballad：　THE　NOBLEMAN'S　GENEROUS　KINDNESS。

Giving　an　account　of　a　nobleman；　who；　taking　notice　of　a　poor　man's　　industrious　care　and　pains　for　the　maintaining　of　his　charge　of　　seven　small　children；　met　him　upon　a　day；　and　discoursing　with　him；　　invited　him；　and　his　wife　and　his　children；　home　to　his　house；　and　　bestowed　upon　them　a　farm　of　thirty　acres　of　land；　to　be　continued　　to　him　and　his　heirs　for　ever。

To　the　tune　of　THE　TWO　ENGLISH　TRAVELLERS。



＇THIS　still　popular　ballad　is　entitled　in　the　modern　copies；　THE　　NOBLEMAN　AND　THRASHER；　OR；　THE　GENEROUS　GIFT。　　There　is　a　copy　　preserved　in　the　Roxburgh　Collection；　with　which　our　version　has　　been　collated。　　It　is　taken　from　a　broadside　printed　by　Robert　　Marchbank；　in　the　Custom…house　Entry；　Newcastle。＇


A　NOBLEMAN　lived　in　a　village　of　late；　Hard　by　a　poor　thrasher；　whose　charge　it　was　great；　For　he　had　seven　children；　and　most　of　them　small；　And　nought　but　his　labour　to　support　them　withal。

He　never　was　given　to　idle　and　lurk；　For　this　nobleman　saw　him　go　daily　to　work；　With　his　flail　and　his　bag；　and　his　bottle　of　beer；　As　cheerful　as　those　that　have　hundreds　a　year。

Thus　careful；　and　constant；　each　morning　he　went；　Unto　his　daily　labour　with　joy　and　content；　So　jocular　and　jolly　he'd　whistle　and　sing；　As　blithe　and　as　brisk　as　the　birds　in　the　spring。

One　morning；　this　nobleman　taking　a　walk；　He　met　this　poor　man；　and　he　freely　did　talk；　He　asked　him　＇at　first＇　many　questions　at　large；　And　then　began　talking　concerning　his　charge。

'Thou　hast　many　children；　I　very　well　know；　Thy　labour　is　hard；　and　thy　wages　are　low；　And　yet　thou　art　cheerful；　I　pray　tell　me　true；　How　can　you　maintain　them　as　well　as　you　do？'

'I　carefully　carry　home　what　I　do　earn；　My　daily　expenses　by　this　I　do　learn；　And　find　it　is　possible；　though　we　be　poor；　To　still　keep　the　ravenous　wolf　from　the　door。

'I　reap　and　I　mow；　and　I　harrow　and　sow；　Sometimes　a　hedging　and　ditching　I　go；　No　work　comes　amiss；　for　I　thrash；　and　I　plough；　Thus　my　bread　I　do　earn　by　the　sweat　of　my　brow。

'My　wife　she　is　willing　to　pull　in　a　yoke；　We　live　like　two　lambs；　nor　each　other　provoke；　We　both　of　us　strive；　like　the　labouring　ant；　And　do　our　endeavours　to　keep　us　from　want。

'And　when　I　come　home　from　my　labour　at　night；　To　my　wife　and　my　children；　in　whom　I　delight；　To　see　them　come　round　me　with　prattling　noise；　…　Now　these　are　the　riches　a　poor　man　enjoys。

'Though　I　am　as　weary　as　weary　may　be；　The　youngest　I　commonly　dance　on　my　knee；　I　find　that　content　is　a　moderate　feast；　I　never　repine　at　my　lot　in　the　least。'

Now　the　nobleman　hearing　what　he　did　say；　Was　pleased；　and　invited　him　home　the　next　day；　His　wife　and　his　children　he　charged　him　to　bring；　In　token　of　favour　he　gave　him　a　ring。

He　thanked　his　honour；　and　taking　his　leave；　He　went　to　his　wife；　who　would　hardly　believe　But　this　same　story　himself　he　might　raise；　Yet　seeing　the　ring　she　was　＇lost＇　in　amaze。

Betimes　in　the　morning　the　good　wife　she　arose；　And　made　them　all　fine；　in　the　best　of　their　clothes；　The　good　man　with　his　good　wife；　and　children　small；　They　all　went　to　dine　at　the　nobleman's　hall。

But　when　they　came　there；　as　truth　does　report；　All　things　were　prepared　in　a　plentiful　sort；　And　they　at　the　nobleman's　table　did　dine；　With　all　kinds　of　dainties；　and　plenty　of　wine。

The　feast　being　over；　he　soon　let　them　know；　That　he　then　intended　on　them　to　bestow　A　farm…house；　with　thirty　good　acres　of　land；　And　gave　them　the　writings　then；　with　his　own　hand。

'Because　thou　art　careful；　and　good　to　thy　wife；　I'll　make　thy　days　happy　the　rest　of　thy　life；　It　shall　be　for　ever；　for　thee　and　thy　heirs；　Because　I　beheld　thy　industrious　cares。'

No　tongue　then　is　able　in　full　to　express　The　depth　of　their　joy；　and　true　thankfulness；　With　many　a　curtsey；　and　bow　to　the　ground；　…　Such　noblemen　there　are　but　few　to　be　found。



Ballad：　THE　DRUNKARD'S　LEGACY。　　IN　THREE　PARTS。

First；　giving　an　account　of　a　gentlemen　a　having　a　wild　son；　and　　who；　foreseeing　he　would　come　to　poverty；　had　a　cottage　built　with　　one　door　to　it；　always　kept　fast；　and　how；　on　his　dying　bed；　he　　charged　him　not　to　open　it　till　he　was　poor　and　slighted；　which　the　　young　man　promised　he　would　perform。　　Secondly；　of　the　young　man's　　pawning　his　estate　to　a　vintner；　who；　when　poor；　kicked　him　out　of　　doors；　when　thinking　it　time　to　see　his　legacy；　he　broke　open　the　　cottage　door；　where　instead　of　money　he　found　a　gibbet　and　halter；　　which　he　put　round　his　neck；　and　jumping　off　the　stool；　the　gibbet　　broke；　and　a　thousand　pounds　came　down　upon　his　head；　which　lay　hid　　in　the　ceiling。　　Thirdly；　of　his　redeeming　his　estate；　and　fooling　　the　vintner　out　of　two　hundred　pounds；　who；　for　being　jeered　by　his　　neighbours；　cut　his　own　throat。　　And　lastly；　of　the　young　man's　　reformation。　　Very　proper　to　be　read　by　all　who　are　given　to　　drunkenness。



＇PERCY；　in　the　introductory　remarks　to　the　ballad　of　THE　HEIR　OF　　LINNE；　says；　'the　original　of　this　ballad　＇THE　HEIR　OF　LINNE＇　is　　found　in　the　editor's　folio　MS。；　the　breaches　and　defects　of　which　　rendered　the　insertion　of　supplemental　stanzas　necessary。　　These　it　　is　hoped　the　reader　will　pardon；　as；　indeed；　the　completion　of　the　　story　was　suggested　by　a　modern　ballad　on　a　similar　subject。'　　The　　ballad　thus　alluded　to　by　Percy　is　THE　DRUNKARD'S　LEGACY；　which；　it　　may　be　remarked；　although　styled　by　him　a　MODERN　ballad；　is　only　so　　comparatively　speaking；　for　it　must　have　been　written　long　anterior　　to　Percy's　time；　and；　by　his　own　admission；　must　be　older　than　the　　latter　portion　of　the　HEIR　OF　LINNE。　　Our　copy　is　taken　from　an　old　　chap…book；　without　date　or　printer's　name；　and　which　is　decorated　　with　three　rudely　executed　wood…cuts。＇


YOUNG　people　all；　I　pray　draw　near；　And　listen　to　my　ditty　here；　Which　subject　shows　that　drunkenness　Brings　many　mortals　to　distress！

As；　for　example；　now　I　can　Tell　you　of　one；　a　gentleman；　Who　had　a　very　good　estate；　His　earthly　travails　they　were　great。

We　understand　he　had　one　son　Who　a　lewd　wicked　race　did　run；　He　daily　spent　his　father's　store；　When　moneyless；　he　came　for　more。

The　father　oftentimes　with　tears；　Would　this　alarm　sound　in　his　ears；　'Son！　thou　dost　all　my　comfort　blast；　And　thou　wilt　come　to　want　at　last。'

The　son　these　words　did　little　mind；　To　cards　and　dice　he　was　inclined；　Feeding　his　drunken　appetite　In　taverns；　which　was　his　delight。

The　father；　ere　it　was　too　late；　He　had　a　project　in　his　pate；　Before　his　aged　days　were　run；　To　make　provision　for　his　son。