ancient poems-第31章

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oked　to　mitigate　　the　evils　and　misfortunes　of　life。＇


HOW　pleasant　a　sailor's　life　passes；　Who　roams　o'er　the　watery　main！　No　treasure　he　ever　amasses；　But　cheerfully　spends　all　his　gain。　We're　strangers　to　party　and　faction；　To　honour　and　honesty　true；　And　would　not　commit　a　bad　action　For　power　or　profit　in　view。　Then　why　should　we　quarrel　for　riches；　Or　any　such　glittering　toys；　A　light　heart；　and　a　thin　pair　of　breeches；　Will　go　through　the　world；　my　brave　boys！

The　world　is　a　beautiful　garden；　Enriched　with　the　blessings　of　life；　The　toiler　with　plenty　rewarding；　Which　plenty　too　often　breeds　strife。　When　terrible　tempests　assail　us；　And　mountainous　billows　affright；　No　grandeur　or　wealth　can　avail　us；　But　skilful　industry　steers　right。　Then　why；　&c。

The　courtier's　more　subject　to　dangers；　Who　rules　at　the　helm　of　the　state；　Than　we　that；　to　politics　strangers；　Escape　the　snares　laid　for　the　great。　The　various　blessings　of　nature；　In　various　nations　we　try；　No　mortals　than　us　can　be　greater；　Who　merrily　live　till　we　die。　Then　why　should；　&c。



Ballad：　THE　MERRY　FELLOWS；　OR；　HE　THAT　WILL　NOT　MERRY；　MERRY　BE。



＇THE　popularity　of　this　old　lyric；　of　which　ours　is　the　ballad…　printer's　version；　has　been　increased　by　the　lively　and　appropriate　　music　recently　adapted　to　it　by　Mr。　Holderness。　　The　date　of　this　　song　is　about　the　era　of　Charles　II。＇


NOW；　since　we're　met；　let's　merry；　merry　be；　In　spite　of　all　our　foes；　And　he　that　will　not　merry　be；　We'll　pull　him　by　the　nose。　CHO。　　Let　him　be　merry；　merry　there；　While　we're　all　merry；　merry　here；　For　who　can　know　where　he　shall　go；　To　be　merry　another　year。

He　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be；　With　a　generous　bowl　and　a　toast；　May　he　in　Bridewell　be　shut　up；　And　fast　bound　to　a　post。　Let　him；　&c。

He　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be；　And　take　his　glass　in　course；　May　he　be　obliged　to　drink　small　beer；　Ne'er　a　penny　in　his　purse。　Let　him；　&c。

He　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be；　With　a　company　of　jolly　boys；　May　he　be　plagued　with　a　scolding　wife；　To　confound　him　with　her　noise。　Let　him；　&c。

＇He　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be；　With　his　sweetheart　by　his　side；　Let　him　be　laid　in　the　cold　churchyard；　With　a　head…stone　for　his　bride。　Let　him；　&c。＇



Ballad：　THE　OLD　MAN'S　SONG。



＇THIS　ditty；　still　occasionally　heard　in　the　country　districts；　　seems　to　be　the　original　of　the　very　beautiful　song；　THE　DOWNHILL　　OF　LIFE。　　THE　OLD　MAN'S　SONG　may　be　found　in　Playford's　THEATRE　OF　　MUSIC；　1685；　but　we　are　inclined　to　refer　it　to　an　earlier　period。　　　The　song　is　also　published　by　D'Urfey；　accompanied　by　two　　objectionable　parodies。＇


IF　I　live　to　grow　old；　for　I　find　I　go　down；　Let　this　be　my　fate　in　a　country　town：…　May　I　have　a　warm　house；　with　a　stone　at　the　gate；　And　a　cleanly　young　girl　to　rub　my　bald　pate；　May　I　govern　my　passions　with　absolute　sway；　And　grow　wiser　and　better　as　strength　wears　away；　Without　gout　or　stone；　by　a　gentle　decay。

In　a　country　town；　by　a　murmuring　brook；　With　the　ocean　at　distance　on　which　I　may　look；　With　a　spacious　plain；　without　hedge　or　stile；　And　an　easy　pad　nag　to　ride　out　a　mile。　May　I　govern；　&c。

With　Horace　and　Plutarch；　and　one　or　two　more　Of　the　best　wits　that　lived　in　the　age　before；　With　a　dish　of　roast　mutton；　not　venison　or　teal；　And　clean；　though　coarse；　linen　at　every　meal。　May　I　govern；　&c。

With　a　pudding　on　Sunday；　and　stout　humming　liquor；　And　remnants　of　Latin　to　welcome　the　vicar；　With　a　hidden　reserve　of　good　Burgundy　wine；　To　drink　the　king's　health　in　as　oft　as　I　dine。　May　I　govern；　&c。

When　the　days　are　grown　short；　and　it　freezes　and　snows；　May　I　have　a　coal　fire　as　high　as　my　nose；　A　fire　（which　once　stirred　up　with　a　prong）；　Will　keep　the　room　temperate　all　the　night　long。　May　I　govern；　&c。

With　a　courage　undaunted　may　I　face　my　last　day；　And　when　I　am　dead　may　the　better　sort　say　…　'In　the　morning　when　sober；　in　the　evening　when　mellow；　He's　gone；　and　he　leaves　not　behind　him　his　fellow！'　May　I　govern；　&c。



Ballad：　ROBIN　HOOD'S　HILL。



＇RITSON　speaks　of　a　Robin　Hood's　Hill　near　Gloucester；　and　of　a　　'foolish　song'　about　it。　　Whether　this　is　the　song　to　which　he　　alludes　we　cannot　determine。　　We　find　it　in　NOTES　AND　QUERIES；　　where　it　is　stated　to　be　printed　from　a　MS。　of　the　latter　part　of　　the　last　century；　and　described　as　a　song　well　known　in　the　　district　to　which　it　refers。＇


YE　bards　who　extol　the　gay　valleys　and　glades；　The　jessamine　bowers；　and　amorous　shades；　Who　prospects　so　rural　can　boast　at　your　will；　Yet　never　once　mentioned　sweet　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

This　spot；　which　of　nature　displays　every　smile；　From　famed　Glo'ster　city　is　distanced　two　mile；　Of　which　you　a　view　may　obtain　at　your　will；　From　the　sweet　rural　summit　of　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

Where　a　clear　crystal　spring　does　incessantly　flow；　To　supply　and　refresh　the　fair　valley　below；　No　dog…star's　brisk　heat　e'er　diminished　the　rill　Which　sweetly　doth　prattle　on　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

Here；　gazing　around；　you　find　objects　still　new；　Of　Severn's　sweet　windings；　how　pleasing　the　view；　Whose　stream　with　the　fruits　of　blessed　commerce　doth　fill　The　sweet…smelling　vale　beneath　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

This　hill；　though　so　lofty；　yet　fertile　and　rare；　Few　valleys　can　with　it　for　herbage　compare；　Some　far　greater　bard　should　his　lyre　and　his　quill　Direct　to　the　praise　of　sweet　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

Here　lads　and　gay　lasses　in　couples　resort；　For　sweet　rural　pastime　and　innocent　sport；　Sure　pleasures　ne'er　flowed　from　gay　nature　or　skill；　Like　those　that　are　found　on　sweet　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

Had　I　all　the　riches　of　matchless　Peru；　To　revel　in　splendour　as　emperors　do；　I'd　forfeit　the　whole　with　a　hearty　good　will；　To　dwell　in　a　cottage　on　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'

Then；　poets；　record　my　loved　theme　in　your　lays：　First　view；　…　then　you'll　own　that　'tis　worthy　of　praise；　Nay；　Envy　herself　must　acknowledge　it　still；　That　no　spot's　so　delightful　as　'Robin　Hood's　Hill。'



Ballad：　BEGONE　DULL　CARE。　　（TRADITIONAL。）



＇WE　cannot　trace　this　popular　ditty　beyond　the　reign　of　James　II；　　but　we　believe　it　to　be　older。　　The　origin　is　to　be　found　in　an　　early　French　chanson。　　The　present　version　has　been　taken　down　from　　the　singing　of　an　old　Yorkshire　yeoman。　　The　third　verse　we　have　　never　seen　in　print；　but　it　is　always　sung　in　the　west　of　　Yorkshire。＇


BEGONE；　dull　care！　I　prithee　begone　from　me；　Begone；　dull　care！　Thou　and　I　can　never　agree。　Long　while　thou　hast　been　tarrying　here；　And　fain　thou　wouldst　me　kill；　But　i'　faith；　dull　care；　Thou　never　shalt　have　thy　will。

Too　much　care　Will　make　a　young　man　grey；　Too　much　care　Will　turn　an　old　man　to　clay。　My　wife　shall　dance；　and　I　shall　sing；　So　merrily　pass　the　day；　For　I　hold　it　is　the　wisest　thing；　To　drive　dull　care　away。

Hence；　dull　care；　I'll　none　of　thy　company；　Hence；　dull　care；　Thou　art　no　pair　（68）　for　me。　We'll　hunt　the　wild　boar　through　the　wold；　So　merrily　pass　the　day；　And　then　at　night；　o'er　a　cheerful　bowl；　We'll　drive　dull　care　away。



Ballad：　FULL　MERRILY　SINGS　THE　CUCKOO。



＇THE　earliest　copy　of　this　playful　song　is　one　contained　in　a　MS。　　of　the　reign　of　James　I。；　preserved　amongst　the　registers　of　the　　Stationers'　Company；　but　the　song　can　be　traced　back　to　1566。＇


FULL　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo　Upon　the　beechen　tree；　Your　wives　you　well　should　look　to；　If　you　take　advice　of　me。　Cuckoo！　cuckoo！　alack　the　morn；　When　of　married　men　Full　nine　in　ten　Must　be　content　to　wear　the　horn。

Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo　Upon　the　oaken　tree；　Your　wives　you　well　should　look　to；　If　you　take　advice　of　me。　Cuckoo！　cuckoo！　alack　the　day！　For　married　men　But　now　and　then；　Can　'scape　to　bear　the　horn　away。

Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo　Upon　the　ashen　tree；　Your　wives　you　well　should　look　to；　If　you　take　advice　of　me。　Cuckoo！　cuckoo！　alack　the　noon；　When　married　men　Must　watch　the　hen；　Or　some　strange　fox　will　steal　her　soon。

Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo　Upon　the　alder　tree；　Your　wives　you　well　should　look　to；　If　you　take　advice　of　me。　Cuckoo！　cuckoo！　alack　the　eve；　When　married　men　Must　bid　good　den　To　such　as　horns　to　them　do　give。

Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo　Upon　the　aspen　tree；　Your　wives　you　well　should　look　to；　If　you　take　advice　of　me。　Cuckoo！　cuckoo！　alack　the　night；　When　married　men；　Again　and　again；　Must　hide　their　horns　in　their　despite。



Ballad：　JOCKEY　TO　THE　FAIR。



＇A　VERSION　of　this　song；　not　quite　so　accurate　as　the　following　was　　published　from　an　old　broadside　in　NOTES　AND　QUERIES；　vol。　vii。；　p。　　49；　where　it　is　described　as　a　'very　celebrated　Gloucestershire　　ballad。'　　But　Gloucestershire　is　not　exclusively　entitled　to　the　　honour　of　this　genuine　old　country　song；　which　is　well　known　in　　Westmoreland　and　other　counties。　　'Jockey'　songs　constitute　a　　distinct　and　numerous　class；　and　belong　for　the　most　part　to　the　　middle　of　the　last　century；　when　Jockey　and　Jenny　were　formidable　　rivals　to　the　Strephons　and　Chloes　of　the　artificial　school　of　　pastoral　poetry。　　The　author　of　this　song；　whoever　he　was；　drew　　upon　real　rural　life；　and　not　upon　its　fashionable　masquerade。　　We　　have　been　unable　to　trace　the　exact　date　of　this　ditty；　which　still　　enjoys　in　some　districts　a　wide　popularity。　　It　is　not　to　be　found　　in　any　of　several　large　collections　of　Ranelagh　and　Vauxhall　songs；　　and　other　anthologies；　which　we　have　examined。　　From　the　christian　　names　of　the　lovers；　it　might　be　supposed　to　be　of　Scotch　or　Border　　origin；　but　JOCKEY　TO　THE　FAIR　is　not　confined　to　the　North；　indeed　　it　is　much　better　known；　and　more　frequently　sung；　in　the　South　and　　West。＇


'TWAS　on　the　morn　of　sweet　May…day；　When　nature　painted　all　things　gay；　Taught　birds　to　sing；　and　lambs　to　play；　And　gild　the　meadows　fair；　Young　Jockey；　early　in　the　dawn；　Arose　and　tripped　it　o'er　the　lawn；　His　Sunday　clothes　the　youth　put　on；　For　Jenny　had　vowed　away　to　run　With　Jockey　to　the　fair；　For　Jenny　had　vowed；　&c。

The　cheerful　parish　bells　had　rung；　With　eager　steps　he　trudged　along；　While　flowery　garlands　round　him　hung；　Which　shepherds　use　to　wear；　He　tapped　the　window；　'Haste；　my　dear！'　Jenny　impatient　cried；　'Who's　there？'　''Tis　I；　my　love；　and　no　one　near；　Step　gently　down；　you've　nought　to　fear；　With　Jockey　to　the　fair。'　Step　gently　down；　&c。

'My　dad　and　mam　are　fast　asleep；　My　brother's　up；　and　with　the　sheep；　And　will　you　still　your　promise　keep；　Which　I　have　heard　you　swear？　And　will　you　ever　constant　prove？'　'I　will；　by　all　the　powers　above；　And　ne'er　deceive　my　charming　dove；　Dispel　these　doubts；　and　haste；　my　love；　With　Jockey　to　the　fair。'　Dispel；　&c。

'Behold；　the　ring；'　the　shepherd　cried；　'Will　Jenny　be　my　charming　bride？　Let　Cupid　be　our　happy　guide；　And　Hymen　meet　us　there。'　Then　Jockey　did　his　vows　renew；　He　would　be　constant；　would　he　true；　His　word　was　pledged；　away　she　flew；　O'er　cowslips　tipped　with　balmy　dew；　With　Jockey　to　the　fair。　O'er　cowslips；　&c。

In　raptures　meet　the　joyful　throng；　Their　gay　companions；　blithe　and　young；　Each　join　the　dance；　each　raise　the　song；　To　hail　the　happy　pair。　In　turns　there's　none　so　loud　as　they；　They　bless　the　kind　propitious　day；　The　smiling　morn　of　blooming　May；　When　lovely　Jenny　ran　away　With　Jockey　to　the　fair。　When　lovely；　&c。



Ballad：　LONG　PRESTON