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第40章

ancient poems-第40章

小说: ancient poems 字数: 每页4000字

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Ballad: THE PRAISE OF A DAIRY。



'THIS excellent old country song; which can be traced to 1687; is  sung to the air of PACKINGTON'S POUND; for the history of which see  POPULAR MUSIC。'


IN praise of a dairy I purpose to sing; But all things in order; first; God save the King! (62) And the Queen; I may say; That every May…day; Has many fair dairy…maids all fine and gay。 Assist me; fair damsels; to finish my theme; Inspiring my fancy with strawberry cream。

The first of fair dairy…maids; if you'll believe; Was Adam's own wife; our great grandmother Eve; Who oft milked a cow; As well she knew how。 Though butter was not then as cheap as 'tis now; She hoarded no butter nor cheese on her shelves; For butter and cheese in those days made themselves。

In that age or time there was no horrid money; Yet the children of Israel had both milk and honey; No Queen you could see; Of the highest degree; But would milk the brown cow with the meanest she。 Their lambs gave them clothing; their cows gave them meat; And in plenty and peace all their joys wore complete。

Amongst the rare virtues that milk does produce; For a thousand of dainties it's daily in use: Now a pudding I'll tell 'ee; And so can maid Nelly; Must have from good milk both the cream and the jelly: For a dainty fine pudding; without cream or milk; Is a citizen's wife; without satin or silk。

In the virtues of milk there is more to be mustered: O! the charming delights both of cheesecake and custard! If to wakes (63) you resort; You can have no sport; Unless you give custards and cheesecake too for't: And what's the jack…pudding that makes us to laugh; Unless he hath got a great custard to quaff?

Both pancake and fritter of milk have good store; But a Devonshire white…pot must needs have much more; Of no brew (64) you can think; Though you study and wink; From the lusty sack posset to poor posset drink; But milk's the ingredient; though wine's (65) ne'er the worse; For 'tis wine makes the man; though 'tis milk makes the nurse。



Ballad: THE MILK…MAID'S LIFE。



'OF this popular country song there are a variety of versions。  The  following; which is the most ancient; is transcribed from a black… letter broadside in the Roxburgh Collection; entitled THE MILKE… MAID'S LIFE; OR; A PRETTY NEW DITTY COMPOSED AND PENNED; THE PRAISE  OF THE MILKING…PAIL TO DEFEND。  To a curious new tune called the  MILKE…MAID'S DUMP。  It is subscribed with the initials M。 P。;  probably those of Martin Parker。'


YOU rural goddesses; That woods and fields possess; Assist me with your skill; that may direct my quill; More jocundly to express; The mirth and delight; both morning and night; On mountain or in dale; Of them who choose this trade to use; And; through cold dews; do never refuse To carry the milking…pail。

The bravest lasses gay; Live not so merry as they; In honest civil sort they make each other sport; As they trudge on their way; Come fair or foul weather; they're fearful of neither; Their courages never quail。 In wet and dry; though winds be high; And dark's the sky; they ne'er deny To carry the milking…pail。

Their hearts are free from care; They never will despair; Whatever them befal; they bravely bear out all; And fortune's frowns outdare。 They pleasantly sing to welcome the spring; 'Gainst heaven they never rail; If grass well grow; their thanks they show; And; frost or snow; they merrily go Along with the milking…pail:

Base idleness they do scorn; They rise very early i' th' morn; And walk into the field; where pretty birds do yield Brave music on every thorn。 The linnet and thrush do sing on each bush; And the dulcet nightingale Her note doth strain; by jocund vein; To entertain that worthy train; Which carry the milking…pail。

Their labour doth health preserve; No doctor's rules they observe; While others too nice in taking their advice; Look always as though they would starve。 Their meat is digested; they ne'er are molested; No sickness doth them assail; Their time is spent in merriment; While limbs are lent; they are content; To carry the milking…pail。

Upon the first of May; With garlands; fresh and gay; With mirth and music sweet; for such a season meet; They pass the time away。 They dance away sorrow; and all the day thorough Their legs do never fail; For they nimbly their feet do ply; And bravely try the victory; In honour o' the milking…pail。

If any think that I Do practise flattery; In seeking thus to raise the merry milkmaids' praise; I'll to them thus reply:… It is their desert inviteth my art; To study this pleasant tale; In their defence; whose innocence; And providence; gets honest pence Out of the milking…pail。



Ballad: THE MILKING…PAIL。



'THE following is another version of the preceding ditty; and is  the one most commonly sung。'


YE nymphs and sylvan gods; That love green fields and woods; When spring newly…born herself does adorn; With flowers and blooming buds: Come sing in the praise; while flocks do graze; On yonder pleasant vale; Of those that choose to milk their ewes; And in cold dews; with clouted shoes; To carry the milking…pail。

You goddess of the morn; With blushes you adorn; And take the fresh air; whilst linnets prepare A concert on each green thorn; The blackbird and thrush on every bush; And the charming nightingale; In merry vein; their throats do strain To entertain; the jolly train Of those of the milking…pail。

When cold bleak winds do roar; And flowers will spring no more; The fields that were seen so pleasant and green; With winter all candied o'er; See now the town lass; with her white face; And her lips so deadly pale; But it is not so; with those that go Through frost and snow; with cheeks that glow; And carry the milking…pail。

The country lad is free From fears and jealousy; Whilst upon the green he oft is seen; With his lass upon his knee。 With kisses most sweet he doth her so treat; And swears her charms won't fail; But the London lass; in every place; With brazen face; despises the grace Of those of the milking…pail。



Ballad: THE SUMMER'S MORNING。



'THIS is a very old ditty; and a favourite with the peasantry in  every part of England; but more particularly in the mining  districts of the North。  The tune is pleasing; but uncommon。  R。 W。  Dixon; Esq。; of Seaton…Carew; Durham; by whom the song was  communicated to his brother for publication; says; 'I have written  down the above; VERBATIM; as generally sung。  It will be seen that  the last lines of each verse are not of equal length。  The singer;  however; makes all right and smooth!  The words underlined in each  verse are sung five times; thus:… THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED;  THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED; THEY AD…VAN…CED ME SOME MONEY; …  TEN GUINEAS AND A CROWN。  The last line is thus sung:… WE'LL BE  MARRIED; (as the word is usually pronounced); WE'LL BE MARRIED;  WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MARRIED; WE'LL BE MAR… RI…ED WHEN I RETURN AGAIN。'  The tune is given in POPULAR MUSIC。   Since this song appeared in the volume issued by the Percy Society;  we have met with a copy printed at Devonport。  The readings are in  general not so 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 ali

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