ancient poems-第2章

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's　Daughter。　The　Jovial　Hunter　of　Bromsgrove；　or；　the　old　man　and　his　three　　sons。　Lady　Alice。　The　felon　sewe　of　rokeby　and　the　freeres　of　Richmond。　Arthur　o'Bradley's　wedding。　The　painful　plough。　The　useful　plow；　or；　the　plough's　praise。　The　farmer's　son。　The　farmer's　boy。　Richard　of　Taunton　Dean；　or；　dumble　dum　deary。　Wooing　song　of　a　yeoman　of　Kent's　sonne。　The　clown's　courtship。　Harry's　courtship。　Harvest…home　song。　Harvest…home。　The　mow。　The　barley…mow　song。　The　barley…mow　song。　　（Suffolk　version。）　The　craven　churn…supper　song。　The　rural　dance　about　the　may…pole。　The　Hitchin　may…day　song。　The　Helstone　furry…day　song。　Cornish　midsummer　bonfire　song。　Suffolk　harvest…home　song。　The　haymaker's　song。　The　sword…dancers'　song。　The　sword…dancers'　song　and　interlude。　The　maskers'　song。　Gloucestershire　wassailers'　song。　The　mummers'　song；　or；　the　poor　old　horse。　Fragment　of　the　hagmena　song。　The　greenside　wakes　song。　The　swearing…in　song　or　rhyme。　Fairlop　fair　song。　As　Tom　was　a…walking。　The　miller　and　his　sons。　Jack　and　Tom。　Joan's　ale　was　new。　George　Ridler's　oven。　The　carrion　crow。　The　leathern　bottel。　The　farmer's　old　wife。　Old　Wichet　and　his　wife。　The　Jolly　Waggoner。　The　Yorkshire　horse…dealer。　The　King　and　the　countryman。　Jone　o'　Greenfield's　ramble。　Thornehagh…moor　woods。　The　Lincolnshire　poacher。　Somersetshire　hunting　song。　The　trotting　horse。　The　seeds　of　love。　The　garden…gate。　The　new…mown　hay。　The　praise　of　a　dairy。　The　milk…maid's　life。　The　milking…pail。　The　summer's　morning。　Old　Adam。　Tobacco。　The　Spanish　Ladies。　Harry　the　Tailor。　Sir　Arthur　and　Charming　Mollee。　There　was　an　old　man　came　over　the　lea。　Why　should　we　quarrel　for　riches。　The　merry　fellows；　or；　he　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be。　The　old　man's　song。　Robin　Hood's　hill。　Begone　dull　care。　Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo。　Jockey　to　the　fair。　Long　Preston　Peg。　The　sweet　nightingale；　or；　down　in　those　valleys　below。　The　old　man　and　his　three　sons。　A　begging　we　will　go。




Poem：　THE　PLAIN…DEALING　MAN。



＇THE　oldest　copy　of　the　PLAIN　DEALING　MAN　with　which　we　have　been　　able　to　meet　is　in　black　letter；　printed　by　T。　Vere　at　the　sign　'Of　　the　Angel　without　Newgate。'　　Vere　was　living　in　1609。＇

A　CROTCHET　comes　into　my　mind　Concerning　a　proverb　of　old；　Plain　dealing's　a　jewel　most　rare；　And　more　precious　than　silver　or　gold：　And　therefore　with　patience　give　ear；　And　listen　to　what　here　is　penned；　These　verses　were　written　on　purpose　The　honest　man's　cause　to　defend。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

Yet　some　are　so　impudent　grown；　They'll　domineer；　vapour；　and　swagger；　And　say　that　the　plain…dealing　man　Was　born　to　die　a　beggar：　But　men　that　are　honestly　given　Do　such　evil　actions　detest；　And　every　one　that　is　well…minded　Will　say　that　plain　dealing　is　best。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

For　my　part　I　am　a　poor　man；　And　sometimes　scarce　muster　a　shilling；　Yet　to　live　upright　in　the　world；　Heaven　knows　I　am　wondrous　willing。　Although　that　my　clothes　be　threadbare；　And　my　calling　be　simple　and　poor；　Yet　will　I　endeavour　myself　To　keep　off　the　wolf　from　the　door。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

And　now；　to　be　brief　in　discourse；　In　plain　terms　I'll　tell　you　my　mind；　My　qualities　you　shall　all　know；　And　to　what　my　humour's　inclined：　I　hate　all　dissembling　base　knaves　And　pickthanks　whoever　they　be；　And　for　painted…faced　drabs；　and　such　like；　They　shall　never　get　penny　of　me。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

Nor　can　I　abide　any　tongues　That　will　prattle　and　prate　against　reason；　About　that　which　doth　not　concern　them；　Which　thing　is　no　better　than　treason。　Wherefore　I'd　wish　all　that　do　hear　me　Not　to　meddle　with　matters　of　state；　Lest　they　be　in　question　called　for　it；　And　repent　them　when　it　is　too　late。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　spiteful　neighbours；　Whose　malicious　humours　are　bent；　And　do　practise　and　strive　every　day　To　wrong　the　poor　innocent。　By　means　of　such　persons　as　they；　There　hath　many　a　good　mother's　son　Been　utterly　brought　to　decay；　Their　wives　and　their　children　undone。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　forsworn　knaves；　That　do　no　conscience　make　To　swear　and　forswear　themselves　At　every　third　word　they　do　speak：　So　they　may　get　profit　and　gain；　They　care　not　what　lies　they　do　tell；　Such　cursed　dissemblers　as　they　Are　worse　than　the　devils　of　hell。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　greedy　bribe　takers；　'Tis　pity　they　ever　drew　breath；　For　they；　like　to　base　caterpillars；　Devour　up　the　fruits　of　the　earth。　They're　apt　to　take　money　with　both　hands；　On　one　side　and　also　the　other；　And　care　not　what　men　they　undo；　Though　it　be　their　own　father　or　brother。　Therefore　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　show　very　good　reasons　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　cheaters　and　thieves；　That　liveth　by　fraud　and　deceit；　The　gallows　do　for　such　blades　groan；　And　the　hangmen　do　for　their　clothes　wait。　Though　poverty　be　a　disgrace；　And　want　is　a　pitiful　grief；　'Tis　better　to　go　like　a　beggar　Than　to　ride　in　a　cart　like　a　thief。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

And　now　let　all　honest　men　judge；　If　such　men　as　I　have　here　named　For　their　wicked　and　impudent　dealings；　Deserveth　not　much　to　be　blamed。　And　now　here；　before　I　conclude；　One　item　to　the　world　I　will　give；　Which　may　direct　some　the　right　way；　And　teach　them　the　better　to　live。　For　now　I　have　made　it　appear；　And　many　men　witness　it　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

1。　　I'　th'　first　place　I'd　wish　you　beware　What　company　you　come　in；　For　those　that　are　wicked　themselves　May　quickly　tempt　others　to　sin。

2。　　If　youths　be　induced　with　wealth；　And　have　plenty　of　silver　and　gold；　I'd　wish　them　keep　something　in　store；　To　comfort　them　when　they　are　old。

3。　　I　have　known　many　young　prodigals；　Which　have　wasted　their　money　so　fast；　That　they　have　been　driven　in　want；　And　were　forced　to　beg　at　the　last。

4。　　I'd　wish　all　men　bear　a　good　conscience；　And　in　all　their　actions　be　just；　For　he's　a　false　varlet　indeed　That　will　not　be　true　to　his　trust。

And　now　to　conclude　my　new　song；　And　draw　to　a　perfect　conclusion；　I　have　told　you　what　is　in　my　mind；　And　what　is　my　＇firm＇　resolution。　For　this　I　have　made　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。



Poem：　THE　VANITIES　OF　LIFE。



＇THE　following　verses　were　copied　by　John　Clare；　the　　Northamptonshire　peasant；　from　a　MS。　on　the　fly…leaves　of　an　old　　book　in　the　possession　of　a　poor　man；　entitled　THE　WORLD'S　BEST　　WEALTH；　A　COLLECTION　OF　CHOICE　COUNCILS　IN　VERSE　AND　PROSE。　　　PRINTED　FOR　A。　BETTESWORTH；　AT　THE　RED　LION　IN　PATERNOSTER…ROW；　　1720。　　They　were　written　in　a　'crabbed；　quaint　hand；　and　difficult　　to　decipher。'　　Clare　remitted　the　poem　（along　with　the　original　　MS。）　to　Montgomery；　the　author　of　THE　WORLD　BEFORE　THE　FLOOD；　&c。　　&c。；　by　whom　it　was　published　in　the　SHEFFIELD　IRIS。　　Montgomery's　　criticism　is　as　follows：…　'Long　as　the　poem　appears　to　the　eye；　it　　will　abundantly　repay　the　trouble　of　perusal；　being　full　of　　condensed　and　admirable　thought；　as　well　as　diversified　with　　exuberant　imagery；　and　embellished　with　peculiar　felicity　of　　language：　the　moral　points　in　the　closing　couplets　of　the　stanzas　　are　often　powerfully　enforced。'　　Most　readers　will　agree　in　the　　justice　of　these　remarks。　　The　poem　was；　probably；　as　Clare　　supposes；　written　about　the　commencement　of　the　18th　century；　and　　the　unknown　author　appears　to　have　been　deeply　imbued　with　the　　spirit　of　the　popular　devotional　writers　of　the　preceding　century；　　as　Herbert；　Quarles；　&c。；　but　seems　to　have　modelled　his　smoother　　and　more　elegant　versification　after　that　of　the　poetic　school　of　　his　own　times。＇

'Vanity　of　vanities；　all　is　vanity。'　…　SOLOMON。


WHAT　are　life's　joys　and　gains？　What　pleasures　crowd　its　ways；　That　man　should　take　such　pains　To　seek　them　all　his　days？　Sift　this　untoward　strife　On　which　thy　mind　is　bent；　See　if　this　chaff　of　life　Is　worth　the　trouble　spent。

Is　pride　thy　heart's　desire？　Is　power　thy　climbing　aim？　Is　love　thy　folly's　fire？　Is　wealth　thy　restless　game？　Pride；　power；　love；　wealth　and　all；　Time's　touchstone　shall　destroy；　And；　like　base　coin；　prove　all　Vain　substitutes　for　joy。

Dost　think　that　pride　exalts　Thyself　in　other's　eyes；　And　hides　thy　folly's　faults；　Which　reason　will　despise？　Dost　strut；　and　turn；　and　stride；　Like　walking　weathercocks？　The　shadow　by　thy　side　Becomes　thy　ape；　and　mocks。

Dost　think　that　power's　disguise　Can　make　thee　mighty　seem？　It　may　in　folly's　eyes；　But　not　in　worth's　esteem：　When　all　that　thou　canst　ask；　And　all　that　she　can　give；　Is　but　a　paltry　mask　Which　tyants　wear　and　live。

Go；　let　thy　fancies　range　And　ramble　where　they　may；　View　power　in　every　change；　And　what　is　the　display？　…　The　country　magistrate；　The　lowest　shade　in　power；　To　rulers　of　the　state；　The　meteors　of　an　hour：　…

View　all；　and　mark　the　end　Of　every　proud　extreme；　Where　flattery　turns　a　friend；　And　counterfeits　esteem；　Where　worth　is　aped　in　show；　That　doth　her　name　purloin；　Like　toys　of　golden　glow　That's　sold　for　copper　coin。

Ambition's　haughty　nod；　With　fancies　may　deceive；　Nay；　tell　thee　thou'rt　a　god；　…　And　wilt　thou　such　believe？　Go；　bid　the　seas　be　dry；　Go；　hold　earth　like　a　ball；　Or　throw　her　fancies　by；　For　God　can　do　it　all。

Dost　thou　possess　the　dower　Of　laws　to　spare　or　kill？　Call　it　not　heav'nly　power　When　but　a　tyrant's　will；　Know　what　a　God　will　do；　And　know　thyself　a　fool；　Nor　tyrant…like　pursue　Where　He　alone　should　rule。

Dost　think；　when　wealth　is　won；　Thy　heart　has　its　desire？　Hold　ice　up　to　the　sun；　And　wax　before　the　fire；　Nor　triumph　o'er　the　reign　Which　they　so　soon　resign；　In　this　world　weigh　the　gain；　Insurance　safe　is　thine。

Dost　think　life's　peace　secure　In　houses　and　in　land？　Go；　read　the　fairy　lure　To　twist　a　cord　of　sand；　Lodge　stones　upon　the　sky；　Hold　water　in　a　sieve；　Nor　give　such　tales　the　lie；　And　still　thine　own　believe。

Whoso　with　riches　deals；　And　thinks　peace　bought　and　sold；　Will　find　them　slippery　eels；　That　slide　the　firmest　hold：　Though　sweet　as　sleep　with　health；　Thy　lulling　luck　may　be；　Pride　may　o'erstride　thy　wealth；　And　check　prosperity。

Dost　think　that　beauty's　power；　Life's　sweetest　pleasure　gives？　Go；　pluck　the　summer　flower；　And　see　how　long　it　lives：　Behold；　the　rays　glide　on；　Along　the　summer　plain；　Ere　thou　canst　say；　they're　gone；　…　And　measure　beauty's　reign。

Look　on　the　brightest　eye；　Nor