ancient poems-第15章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！



And　being　asked　the　reason　why；　Such　base　objections　she　did　make；　She　answered　thus　scornfully；　In　words　not　fit　for　Billingsgate：　'She　might　have　taken　fairer　on　…　Or　else　be　hanged：'　Oh　heart　of　stone！

What　hell…born　fury　had　possessed；　Thy　vile　inhuman　spirit　thus？　What　swelling　rage　was　in　thy　breast；　That　could　occasion　this　disgust；　And　make　thee　show　such　spleen　and　rage；　Which　life　can't　cure　nor　death　assuage？

Sure　some　of　Satan's　minor　imps；　Ordained　were　to　be　thy　guide；　To　act　the　part　of　sordid　pimps；　And　fill　thy　heart　with　haughty　pride；　But　take　this　caveat　once　for　all；　Such　devilish　pride　must　have　a　fall。

But　when　to　church　the　corpse　was　brought；　And　both　of　them　met　at　the　gate；　What　mournful　tears　by　friends　were　shed；　When　that　alas　it　was　too　late；　…　When　they　in　silent　grave　were　laid；　Instead　of　pleasing　marriage…bed。

You　parents　all　both　far　and　near；　By　this　sad　story　warning　take；　Nor　to　your　children　be　severe；　When　they　their　choice　in　love　do　make；　Let　not　the　love　of　cursed　gold；　True　lovers　from　their　love　withhold。



Ballad：　THE　CRAFTY　LOVER；　OR；　THE　LAWYER　OUTWITTED。

Tune　of　I　LOVE　THEE　MORE　AND　MORE。



＇THIS　excellent　old　ballad　is　transcribed　from　a　copy　printed　in　　Aldermary　church…yard。　　It　still　continues　to　be　published　in　the　　old　broadside　form。＇


Of　a　rich　counsellor　I　write；　Who　had　one　only　daughter；　Who　was　of　youthful　beauty　bright；　Now　mark　what　follows　after。　（10）　Her　uncle　left　her；　I　declare；　A　sumptuous　large　possession；　Her　father　he　was　to　take　care　Of　her　at　his　discretion。

She　had　ten　thousand　pounds　a…year；　And　gold　and　silver　ready；　And　courted　was　by　many　a　peer；　Yet　none　could　gain　this　lady。　At　length　a　squire's　youngest　son　In　private　came　a…wooing；　And　when　he　had　her　favour　won；　He　feared　his　utter　ruin。

The　youthful　lady　straightway　cried；　'I　must　confess　I　love　thee；　Though　lords　and　knights　I　have　denied；　Yet　none　I　prize　above　thee：　Thou　art　a　jewel　in　my　eye；　But　here；'　said　she；　'the　care　is；　…　I　fear　you　will　be　doomed　to　die　For　stealing　of　an　heiress。'

The　young　man　he　replied　to　her　Like　a　true　politician；　'Thy　father　is　a　counsellor；　I'll　tell　him　my　condition。　Ten　guineas　they　shall　be　his　fee；　He'll　think　it　is　some　stranger；　Thus　for　the　gold　he'll　counsel　me；　And　keep　me　safe　from　danger。'

Unto　her　father　he　did　go；　The　very　next　day　after；　But　did　not　let　the　lawyer　know　The　lady　was　his　daughter。　Now　when　the　lawyer　saw　the　gold　That　he　should　be　she　gainer；　A　pleasant　trick　to　him　he　told　With　safety　to　obtain　her。

'Let　her　provide　a　horse；'　he　cried；　'And　take　you　up　behind　her；　Then　with　you　to　some　parson　ride　Before　her　parents　find　her：　That　she　steals　you；　you　may　complain；　And　so　avoid　their　fury。　Now　this　is　law　I　will　maintain　Before　or　judge　or　jury。

'Now　take　my　writing　and　my　seal；　Which　I　cannot　deny　thee；　And　if　you　any　trouble　feel；　In　court　I　will　stand　by　thee。'　'I　give　you　thanks；'　the　young　man　cried；　'By　you　I　am　befriended；　And　to　your　house　I'll　bring　my　bride　After　the　work　is　ended。'

Next　morning；　ere　the　day　did　break；　This　news　to　her　he　carried；　She　did　her　father's　counsel　take　And　they　were　fairly　married；　And　now　they　felt　but　ill　at　case；　And；　doubts　and　fears　expressing；　They　home　returned；　and　on　their　knees　They　asked　their　father's　blessing；

But　when　he　had　beheld　them　both；　He　seemed　like　one　distracted；　And　vowed　to　be　revenged　on　oath　For　what　they　now　had　acted。　With　that　bespoke　his　new…made　son　…　'There　can　be　no　deceiving；　That　this　is　law　which　we　have　done　Here　is　your　hand　and　sealing！'

The　counsellor　did　then　reply；　Was　ever　man　so　fitted；　'My　hand　and　seal　I　can't　deny；　By　you　I　am　outwitted。　'Ten　thousand　pounds　a…year　in　store　'She　was　left　by　my　brother；　And　when　I　die　there　will　be　more；　For　child　I　have　no　other。

'She　might　have　had　a　lord　or　knight；　From　royal　loins　descended；　But；　since　thou　art　her　heart's　delight；　I　will　not　be　offended；　'If　I　the　gordian　knot　should　part；　'Twere　cruel　out　of　measure；　Enjoy　thy　love；　with　all　my　heart；　In　plenty；　peace；　and　pleasure。'



Ballad：　THE　DEATH　OF　QUEEN　JANE。　　（TRADITIONAL。）



＇WE　have　seen　an　old　printed　copy　of　this　ballad；　which　was　written　　probably　about　the　date　of　the　event　it　records；　1537。　　Our　version　　was　taken　down　from　the　singing　of　a　young　gipsy　girl；　to　whom　it　　had　descended　orally　through　two　generations。　　She　could　not　　recollect　the　whole　of　it。　　In　Miss　Strickland's　LIVES　OF　THE　　QUEENS　OF　ENGLAND；　we　find　the　following　passage：　'An　English　　ballad　is　extant；　which；　dwelling　on　the　elaborate　mourning　of　　Queen　Jane's　ladies；　informs　the　world；　in　a　line　of　pure　bathos；

In　black　were　her　ladies；　and　black　were　their　faces。'

Miss　Strickland　does　not　appear　to　have　seen　the　ballad　to　which　　she　refers；　and　as　we　are　not　aware　of　the　existence　of　any　other　　ballad　on　the　subject；　we　presume　that　her　line　of　'pure　bathos'　is　　merely　a　corruption　of　one　of　the　ensuing　verses。＇


QUEEN　JANE　was　in　travail　For　six　weeks　or　more；　Till　the　women　grew　tired；　And　fain　would　give　o'er。　'O　women！　　O　women！　Good　wives　if　ye　be；　Go；　send　for　King　Henrie；　And　bring　him　to　me。'

King　Henrie　was　sent　for；　He　came　with　all　speed；　In　a　gownd　of　green　velvet　From　heel　to　the　head。　'King　Henrie！　　King　Henrie！　If　kind　Henrie　you　be；　Send　for　a　surgeon；　And　bring　him　to　me。'

The　surgeon　was　sent　for；　He　came　with　all　speed；　In　a　gownd　of　black　velvet　From　heel　to　the　head。　He　gave　her　rich　caudle；　But　the　death…sleep　slept　she。　Then　her　right　side　was　opened；　And　the　babe　was　set　free。

The　babe　it　was　christened；　And　put　out　and　nursed；　While　the　royal　Queen　Jane　She　lay　cold　in　the　dust。

*　*　*　*　*

So　black　was　the　mourning；　And　white　were　the　wands；　Yellow；　yellow　the　torches；　They　bore　in　their　hands。

The　bells　they　were　muffled；　And　mournful　did　play；　While　the　royal　Queen　Jane　She　lay　cold　in　the　clay。

Six　knights　and　six　lords　Bore　her　corpse　through　the　grounds；　Six　dukes　followed　after；　In　black　mourning　gownds。

The　flower　of　Old　England　Was　laid　in　cold　clay；　Whilst　the　royal　King　Henrie　Came　weeping　away。



Ballad：　THE　WANDERING　YOUNG　GENTLEWOMAN；　OR；　CATSKIN。



＇THE　following　version　of　this　ancient　English　ballad　has　been　　collated　with　three　copies。　　In　some　editions　it　is　called　　CATSKIN'S　GARLAND；　OR；　THE　WANDERING　YOUNG　GENTLEWOMAN。　　The　story　　has　a　close　similarity　to　that　of　CINDERELLA；　and　is　supposed　to　be　　of　oriental　origin。　　Several　versions　of　it　are　current　in　　Scandinavia；　Germany；　Italy；　Poland；　and　Wales。　　For　some　account　　of　it　see　PICTORIAL　BOOK　OF　BALLADS；　ii。　153；　edited　by　Mr。　J。　S。　　　Moore。＇


PART　1。

YOU　fathers　and　mothers；　and　children　also；　Draw　near　unto　me；　and　soon　you　shall　know　The　sense　of　my　ditty；　and　I　dare　to　say；　The　like's　not　been　heard　of　this　many　a　day。

The　subject　which　to　you　I　am　to　relate；　It　is　of　a　young　squire　of　vast　estate；　The　first　dear　infant　his　wife　did　him　bear；　It　was　a　young　daughter　of　beauty　most　rare。

He　said　to　his　wife；　'Had　this　child　been　a　boy；　'Twould　have　pleased　me　better；　and　increased　my　joy；　If　the　next　be　the　same　sort；　I　declare；　Of　what　I'm　possessed　it　shall　have　no　share。'

In　twelve　months'　time　after；　this　woman；　we　hear；　Had　another　daughter　of　beauty　most　clear；　And　when　that　he　knew　it　was　but　a　female；　Into　a　bitter　passion　he　presently　fell；

Saying；　'Since　this　is　of　the　same　sort　as　the　first；　In　my　habitation　she　shall　not　be　nursed；　Pray　let　her　be　sent　into　the　countrie；　For　where　I　am；　truly；　this　child　shall　not　be。'

With　tears　his　dear　wife　unto　him　did　say；　'Husband；　be　contented；　I'll　send　her　away。'　Then　to　the　countrie　with　speed　her　did　send；　For　to　be　brought　up　by　one　was　her　friend。

Although　that　her　father　he　hated　her　so；　He　a　good　education　on　her　did　bestow；　And　with　a　gold　locket；　and　robes　of　the　best；　This　slighted　young　damsel　was　commonly　dressed。

And　when　unto　stature　this　damsel　was　grown；　And　found　from　her　father　she　had　no　love　shown；　She　cried；　'Before　I　will　lay　under　his　frown；　I'm　resolved　to　travel　the　country　around。'

PART　II。

But　now　mark；　good　people；　the　cream　of　the　jest；　In　what　sort　of　manner　this　creature　was　dressed；　With　cat…skins　she　made　her　a　robe；　I　declare；　The　which　for　her　covering　she　daily　did　wear。

Her　own　rich　attire；　and　jewels　beside；　Then　up　in　a　bundle　by　her　they　were　tied；　And　to　seek　her　fortune　she　wandered　away；　And　when　she　had　travelled　a　cold　winter's　day；

In　the　evening…tide　she　came　to　a　town；　Where　at　a　knight's　door　she　sat　herself　down；　For　to　rest　herself；　who　was　tired　sore；　…　This　noble　knight's　lady　then　came　to　the　door。

This　fair　creature　seeing　in　such　sort　of　dress；　The　lady　unto　her　these　words　did　express：　'Whence　camest　thou；　girl；　and　what　wouldst　thou　have？'　She　said；　'A　night's　rest　in　your　stable　I　crave。'

The　lady　said　to　her；　'I'll　grant　thy　desire；　Come　into　the　kitchen；　and　stand　by　the　fire。'　Then　she　thanked　the　lady；　and　went　in　with　haste；　And　there　she　was　gazed　on　from　highest　to　least。

And；　being　well　warmed；　her　hunger　was　great；　They　gave　her　a　plate　of　good　food　for　to　eat；　And　then　to　an　outhouse　this　creature　was　led；　Where　with　fresh　straw　she　soon　made　her　a　bed。

And　when　in　the　morning　the　daylight　she　saw；　Her　riches　and　jewels　she　hid　in　the　straw；　And；　being　very　cold；　she　then　did　retire　Into　the　kitchen；　and　stood　by　the　fire。

The　cook　said；　'My　lady　hath　promised　that　thee　Shall　be　as　a　scullion　to　wait　upon　me；　What　say'st　thou　girl；　art　thou　willing　to　bide？'　'With　all　my　heart　truly；'　to　him　she　replied。

To　work　at　her　needle　she　could　very　well；　And　for　raising　of　paste　few　could　her　excel；　She　being　so　handy；　the　cook's　heart　did　win；　And　then　she　was　called　by　the　name　of　Catskin。

PART　III。

The　lady　a　son　had　both　comely　and　tall；　Who　oftentimes　used　to　be　at　a　ball　A　mile　out　of　town；　and　one　evening…tide；　To　dance　at　this　ball　away　he　did　ride。

Catskin　said　to　his　mother；　'Pray；　madam；　let　me　Go　after　your　son　now；　this　ball　for　to　see。'　With　that　in　a　passion　this　lady　she　grew；　And　struck　her　with　the　ladle；　and　broke　it　in　two。

On　being　thus　served　she　quick　got　away；　And　in　her　rich　garments　herself　did　array；　And　then　to　this　ball　she　with　speed　did　retire；　Where　she　danced　so　bravely　that　all　did　admire。

The　sport　being　done；　the　young　squire　did　say；　'Young　lady；　where　do　you　live？　tell　me；　I　pray。'　Her　answer　was　to　him；　'Sir；　that　I　will　tell；　…　At　the　sign　of　the　broken　ladle　I　dwell。'

She　being　very　nimble；　got　home　first；　'tis　said；　And　in　her　catskin　robes　she　soon　was　arrayed；　And　into　the　kitchen　again　she　did　go；　But　where　she　had　been　they　did　none　of　them　know。

Next　night　this　young　squire；　to　give　him　content；　To　dance　at　this　ball　again　forth　he　went。　She　said；　'Pray　let　me　go　this　ball　for　to　view。'　Then　she　struck　with　the　skimmer；　and　broke　it　in　two。

Then　out　of　the　doors　she　ran　full　of　heaviness；　And　in　her　rich　garments　herself　soon　did　dress；　And　to　this　ball　ran　away　with　all　speed；　Where　to　see　her　dancing　all　wondered　indeed。

The　ball　being　ended；　the　young　squire　said；　'Where　is　it　you　live？'　　She　again　answered；　'Sir；　because　you