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第41章

ancient poems-第41章

小说: ancient poems 字数: 每页4000字

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'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 til

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