ancient poems-第30章

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o　good；　but　in　one　or　two　instances　they　are　　apparently　more　ancient；　and　are；　consequently；　here　adopted。　　The　　Devonport　copy　contains　two　verses；　not　preserved　in　our　　traditional　version。　　These　we　have　incorporated　in　our　present　　text；　in　which　they　form　the　third　and　last　stanzas。＇


IT　was　one　summer's　morning；　as　I　went　o'er　the　moss；　I　had　no　thought　of　'listing；　till　the　soldiers　did　me　cross；　They　kindly　did　invite　me　to　a　flowing　bowl；　and　down；　THEY　ADVANCED　me　some　money；　…　ten　guineas　and　a　crown。

'It's　true　my　love　has　listed；　he　wears　a　white　cockade；　He　is　a　handsome　tall　young　man；　besides　a　roving　blade；　He　is　a　handsome　young　man；　and　he's　gone　to　serve　the　king；　OH！　MY　VERY　heart　is　breaking　for　the　loss　of　him。

'My　love　is　tall　and　handsome；　and　comely　for　to　see；　And　by　a　sad　misfortune　a　soldier　now　is　he；　I　hope　the　man　that　listed　him　may　not　prosper　night　nor　day；　FOR　I　WISH　THAT　the　Hollanders　may　sink　him　in　the　sea。

'Oh！　may　he　never　prosper；　oh！　may　he　never　thrive；　Nor　anything　he　takes　in　hand　so　long　as　he's　alive；　May　the　very　grass　he　treads　upon　the　ground　refuse　to　grow；　SINCE　HE'S　BEEN　the　only　cause　of　my　sorrow；　grief；　and　woe！'

Then　he　pulled　out　a　handkerchief　to　wipe　her　flowing　eyes；　…　'Leave　off　those　lamentations；　likewise　those　mournful　cries；　Leave　of　your　grief　and　sorrow；　while　I　march　o'er　the　plain；　WE'LL　BE　MARRIED　when　I　return　again。'

'O　now　my　love　has　listed；　and　I　for　him　will　rove；　I'll　write　his　name　on　every　tree　that　grows　in　yonder　grove；　Where　the　huntsman　he　does　hollow；　and　the　hounds　do　sweetly　cry；　TO　REMIND　ME　of　my　ploughboy　until　the　day　I　die。'



Ballad：　OLD　ADAM。



＇WE　have　had　considerable　trouble　in　procuring　a　copy　of　this　old　　song；　which　used；　in　former　days；　to　be　very　popular　with　aged　　people　resident　in　the　North　of　England。　　It　has　been　long　out　of　　print；　and　handed　down　traditionally。　　By　the　kindness；　however；　of　　Mr。　S。　Swindells；　printer；　Manchester；　we　have　been　favoured　with　　an　ancient　printed　copy；　which　Mr。　Swindells　observes　he　had　great　　difficulty　in　obtaining。　　Some　improvements　have　been　made　in　the　　present　edition　from　the　recital　of　Mr。　Effingham　Wilson；　who　was　　familiar　with　the　song　in　his　youth。＇


BOTH　sexes　give　ear　to　my　fancy；　While　in　praise　of　dear　woman　I　sing；　Confined　not　to　Moll；　Sue；　or　Nancy；　But　mates　from　a　beggar　to　king。

When　old　Adam　first　was　created；　And　lord　of　the　universe　crowned；　His　happiness　was　not　completed；　Until　that　an　helpmate　was　found。

He'd　all　things　in　food　that　were　wanting　To　keep　and　support　him　through　life；　He'd　horses　and　foxes　for　hunting；　Which　some　men　love　better　than　wife。

He'd　a　garden　so　planted　by　nature；　Man　cannot　produce　in　his　life；　But　yet　the　all…wise　great　Creator　Still　saw　that　he　wanted　a　wife。

Then　Adam　he　laid　in　a　slumber；　And　there　he　lost　part　of　his　side；　And　when　he　awoke；　with　a　wonder；　Beheld　his　most　beautiful　bride！

In　transport　he　gazed　upon　her；　His　happiness　now　was　complete！　He　praised　his　bountiful　donor；　Who　thus　had　bestowed　him　a　mate。

She　was　not　took　out　of　his　head；　sir；　To　reign　and　triumph　over　man；　Nor　was　she　took　out　of　his　feet；　sir；　By　man　to　be　trampled　upon。

But　she　was　took　out　of　his　side；　sir；　His　equal　and　partner　to　be；　But　as　they're　united　in　one；　sir；　The　man　is　the　top　of　the　tree。

Then　let　not　the　fair　be　despised　By　man；　as　she's　part　of　himself；　For　woman　by　Adam　was　prized　More　than　the　whole　globe　full　of　wealth。

Man　without　a　woman's　a　beggar；　Suppose　the　whole　world　he　possessed；　And　the　beggar　that's　got　a　good　woman；　With　more　than　the　world　he　is　blest。



Ballad：　TOBACCO。



＇THIS　song　is　a　mere　adaptation　of　SMOKING　SPIRITUALIZED；　see　ANTE；　　p。　39。　　The　earliest　copy　of　the　abridgment　we　have　been　able　to　　meet　with；　is　published　in　D'Urfey's　PILLS　TO　PURGE　MELANCHOLY；　　1719；　but　whether　we　are　indebted　for　it　to　the　author　of　the　　original　poem；　or　to　'that　bright　genius；　Tom　D'Urfey；'　as　Burns　　calls　him；　we　are　not　able　to　determine。　　The　song　has　always　been　　popular。　　The　tune　is　in　POPULAR　MUSIC。＇


TOBACCO'S　but　an　Indian　weed；　Grows　green　in　the　morn；　cut　down　at　eve；　It　shows　our　decay；　We　are　but　clay；　Think　of　this　when　you　smoke　tobacco！

The　pipe　that　is　so　lily　white；　Wherein　so　many　take　delight；　It's　broken　with　a　touch；　…　Man's　life　is　such；　Think　of　this　when　you　take　tobacco！

The　pipe　that　is　so　foul　within；　It　shows　man's　soul　is　stained　with　sin；　It　doth　require　To　be　purred　with　fire；　Think　of　this　when　you　smoke　tobacco！

The　dust　that　from　the　pipe　doth　fall；　It　shows　we　are　nothing　but　dust　at　all；　For　we　came　from　the　dust；　And　return　we　must；　Think　of　this　when　you　smoke　tobacco！

The　ashes　that　are　left　behind；　Do　serve　to　put　us　all　in　mind　That　unto　dust　Return　we　must；　Think　of　this　when　you　take　tobacco！

The　smoke　that　does　so　high　ascend；　Shows　that　man's　life　must　have　an　end；　The　vapour's　gone；　…　Man's　life　is　done；　Think　of　this　when　you　take　tobacco！



Ballad：　THE　SPANISH　LADIES。



＇THIS　song　is　ancient；　but　we　have　no　means　of　ascertaining　at　what　　period　it　was　written。　　Captain　Marryat；　in　his　novel　of　POOR　JACK；　　introduces　it；　and　says　it　is　OLD。　　It　is　a　general　favourite。　　The　　air　is　plaintive；　and　in　the　minor　key。　　See　POPULAR　MUSIC。＇


FAREWELL；　and　adieu　to　you　Spanish　ladies；　Farewell；　and　adieu　to　you　ladies　of　Spain！　For　we've　received　orders　for　to　sail　for　old　England；　But　we　hope　in　a　short　time　to　see　you　again。

We'll　rant　and　we'll　roar　（66）　like　true　British　heroes；　We'll　rant　and　we'll　roar　across　the　salt　seas；　Until　we　strike　soundings　in　the　channel　of　old　England；　From　Ushant　to　Scilly　is　thirty…five　leagues。

Then　we　hove　our　ship　to；　with　the　wind　at　sou'…west；　boys；　We　hove　our　ship　to；　for　to　strike　soundings　clear；　We　got　soundings　in　ninety…five　fathom；　and　boldly　Up　the　channel　of　old　England　our　course　we　did　steer。

The　first　land　we　made　it　was　called　the　Deadman；　Next；　Ram'shead　off　Plymouth；　Start；　Portland；　and　Wight；　We　passed　by　Beachy；　by　Fairleigh；　and　Dungeness；　And　hove　our　ship　to；　off　the　South　Foreland　light。

Then　a　signal　was　made　for　the　grand　fleet　to　anchor　All　in　the　Downs；　that　night　for　to　sleep；　Then　stand　by　your　stoppers；　let　go　your　shank…painters；　Haul　all　your　clew…garnets；　stick　out　tacks　and　sheets。

So　let　every　man　toss　off　a　full　bumper；　Let　every　man　toss　off　his　full　bowls；　We'll　drink　and　be　jolly；　and　drown　melancholy；　So　here's　a　good　health　to　all　true…hearted　souls！



Ballad：　HARRY　THE　TAILOR。　　（TRADITIONAL。）



＇THE　following　song　was　taken　down　some　years　ago　from　the　　recitation　of　a　country　curate；　who　said　he　had　learned　it　from　a　　very　old　inhabitant　of　Methley；　near　Pontefract；　Yorkshire。　　We　　have　never　seen　it　in　print。＇


WHEN　Harry　the　tailor　was　twenty　years　old；　He　began　for　to　look　with　courage　so　bold；　He　told　his　old　mother　he　was　not　in　jest；　But　he　would　have　a　wife　as　well　as　the　rest。

Then　Harry　next　morning；　before　it　was　day；　To　the　house　of　his　fair　maid　took　his　way。　He　found　his　dear　Dolly　a　making　of　cheese；　Says　he；　'You　must　give　me　a　buss；　if　you　please！'

She　up　with　the　bowl；　the　butter…milk　flew；　And　Harry　the　tailor　looked　wonderful　blue。　'O；　Dolly；　my　dear；　what　hast　thou　done？　From　my　back　to　my　breeks　has　thy　butter…milk　run。'

She　gave　him　a　push；　he　stumbled　and　fell　Down　from　the　dairy　into　the　drawwell。　Then　Harry；　the　ploughboy；　ran　amain；　And　soon　brought　him　up　in　the　bucket　again。

Then　Harry　went　home　like　a　drowned　rat；　And　told　his　old　mother　what　he　had　been　at。　With　butter…milk；　bowl；　and　a　terrible　fall；　O；　if　this　be　called　love；　may　the　devil　take　all！



Ballad：　SIR　ARTHUR　AND　CHARMING　MOLLEE。　　（TRADITIONAL。）



＇FOR　this　old　Northumbrian　song　we　are　indebted　to　Mr。　Robert　　Chambers。　　It　was　taken　down　from　the　recitation　of　a　lady。　　The　　'Sir　Arthur'　is　no　less　a　personage　than　Sir　Arthur　Haslerigg；　the　　Governor　of　Tynemouth　Castle　during　the　Protectorate　of　Cromwell。＇


AS　noble　Sir　Arthur　one　morning　did　ride；　With　his　hounds　at　his　feet；　and　his　sword　by　his　side；　He　saw　a　fair　maid　sitting　under　a　tree；　He　asked　her　name；　and　she　said　'twas　Mollee。

'Oh；　charming　Mollee；　you　my　butler　shall　be；　To　draw　the　red　wine　for　yourself　and　for　me！　I'll　make　you　a　lady　so　high　in　degree；　If　you　will　but　love　me；　my　charming　Mollee！

'I'll　give　you　fine　ribbons；　I'll　give　you　fine　rings；　I'll　give　you　fine　jewels；　and　many　fine　things；　I'll　give　you　a　petticoat　flounced　to　the　knee；　If　you　will　but　love　me；　my　charming　Mollee！'

'I'll　have　none　of　your　ribbons；　and　none　of　your　rings；　None　of　your　jewels；　and　other　fine　things；　And　I've　got　a　petticoat　suits　my　degree；　And　I'll　ne'er　love　a　married　man　till　his　wife　dee。'

'Oh；　charming　Mollee；　lend　me　then　your　penknife；　And　I　will　go　home；　and　I'll　kill　my　own　wife；　I'll　kill　my　own　wife；　and　my　bairnies　three；　If　you　will　but　love　me；　my　charming　Mollee！'

'Oh；　noble　Sir　Arthur；　it　must　not　be　so；　Go　home　to　your　wife；　and　let　nobody　know；　For　seven　long　years　I　will　wait　upon　thee；　But　I'll　ne'er　love　a　married　man　till　his　wife　dee。'

Now　seven　long　years　are　gone　and　are　past；　The　old　woman　went　to　her　long　home　at　last；　The　old　woman　died；　and　Sir　Arthur　was　free；　And　he　soon　came　a…courting　to　charming　Mollee。

Now　charming　Mollee　in　her　carriage　doth　ride；　With　her　hounds　at　her　feet；　and　her　lord　by　her　side：　Now　all　ye　fair　maids　take　a　warning　by　me；　And　ne'er　love　a　married　man　till　his　wife　dee。



Ballad：　THERE　WAS　AN　OLD　MAN　CAME　OVER　THE　LEA。



＇THIS　is　a　version　of　the　BAILLIE　OF　BERWICK；　which　will　be　found　　in　the　LOCAL　HISTORIAN'S　TABLE…BOOK。　　It　was　originally　obtained　　from　Morpeth；　and　communicated　by　W。　H。　Longstaffe；　Esq。；　of　　Darlington；　who　says；　'in　many　respects　the　BAILLIE　OF　BERWICK　is　　the　better　edition　…　still　mine　may　furnish　an　extra　stanza　or　two；　　and　the　ha！　ha！　ha！　is　better　than　heigho；　though　the　notes　suit　　either　version。'＇


THERE　was　an　old　man　came　over　the　Lea；　Ha…ha…ha…ha！　but　I　won't　have　him。　（67）　He　came　over　the　Lea；　A…courting　to　me；　With　his　grey　beard　newly…shaven。

My　mother　she　bid　me　open　the　door：　I　opened　the　door；　And　he　fell　on　the　floor。

My　mother　she　bid　me　set　him　a　stool：　I　set　him　a　stool；　And　he　looked　like　a　fool。

My　mother　she　bid　me　give　him　some　beer：　I　gave　him　some　beer；　And　he　thought　it　good　cheer。

My　mother　she　bid　me　cut　him　some　bread：　I　cut　him　some　bread；　And　I　threw't　at　his　head。

My　mother　she　bid　me　light　him　to　bed。　I　lit　him　to　bed；　And　wished　he　were　dead。

My　mother　she　bid　me　tell　him　to　rise：　I　told　him　to　rise；　And　he　opened　his　eyes。

My　mother　she　bid　me　take　him　to　church：　I　took　him　to　church；　And　left　him　in　the　lurch；　With　his　grey　beard　newly…shaven。



Ballad：　WHY　SHOULD　WE　QUARREL　FOR　RICHES。



＇A　VERSION　of　this　very　favourite　song　may　be　found　in　Ramsay's　　TEA…TABLE　MISCELLANY。　　Though　a　sailor's　song；　we　question　whether　　it　is　not　a　greater　favourite　with　landsmen。　　The　chorus　is　become　　proverbial；　and　its　philosophy　has　often　been　invoked　to　mitigate　　the　evils　and　misfortunes　of　life。＇


HOW　pleasant　a　sailor's　life　passes；　Who