ancient poems-第26部分

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rew。　Fal　de　ral；　&c。

O！　the　next　that　steps　up　is　old　Toss…Pot；　you'll　see；　He's　a　valiant　old　man；　in　every　degree；　He's　a　valiant　old　man；　and　he　wears　a　pig…tail；　And　all　his　delight　is　drinking　mulled　ale。　Fal　de　ral；　&c。

O！　the　next　that　steps　up　is　old　Miser；　you'll　see；　She　heaps　up　her　white　and　her　yellow　money；　She　wears　her　old　rags　till　she　starves　and　she　begs；　And　she's　come　here　to　ask　for　a　dish　of　pace　eggs。　Fal　de　ral；　&a

THE　CHARACTERS　BEING　THUS　DULY　INTRODUCED；　THE　FOLLOWING　LINES　ARE　　SUNG　IN　CHORUS　BY　ALL　THE　PARTY。

Gentlemen　and　ladies；　that　sit　by　the　fire；　Put　your　hand　in　your　pocket；　'tis　all　we　desire；　Put　your　hand　in　your　pocket；　and　pull　out　your　purse；　And　give　us　a　trifle；　…　you'll　not　be　much　worse。

HERE　FOLLOWS　A　DANCE；　AND　THIS　IS　GENERALLY　SUCCEEDED　BY　A　DIALOGUE　　OF　AN　ad　libitum　CHARACTER；　WHICH　VARIES　IN　DIFFERENT　DISTRICTS；　　BEING　SOMETIMES　SIMILAR　TO　THE　ONE　PERFORMED　BY　THE　SWORD…DANCERS。



Ballad：　GLOUCESTERSHIRE　WASSAILERS'　SONG。



＇IT　is　still　customary　in　many　parts　of　England　to　hand　round　the　　wassail；　or　health…bowl；　on　New…Year's　Eve。　　The　custom　is　supposed　　to　be　of　Saxon　origin；　and　to　be　derived　from　one　of　the　　observances　of　the　Feast　of　Yule。　　The　tune　of　this　song　is　given　　in　POPULAR　MUSIC。　　It　is　a　universal　favourite　in　Gloucestershire；　　particularly　in　the　neighbourhood　of

'Stair　on　the　wold；　Where　the　winds　blow　cold；'

as　the　old　rhyme　says。＇


WASSAIL！　wassail！　all　over　the　town；　Our　toast　it　is　white；　and　our　ale　it　is　brown；　Our　bowl　is　made　of　a　maplin　tree；　We　be　good　fellows　all；　…　I　drink　to　thee。

Here's　to　our　horse；　（46）　and　to　his　right　ear；　God　send　our　measter　a　happy　new　year：　A　happy　new　year　as　e'er　he　did　see；　…　With　my　wassailing　bowl　I　drink　to　thee。

Here's　to　our　mare；　and　to　her　right　eye；　God　send　our　mistress　a　good　Christmas　pie；　A　good　Christmas　pie　as　e'er　I　did　see；　…　With　my　wassailing　bowl　I　drink　to　thee。

Here's　to　our　cow；　and　to　her　long　tail；　God　send　our　measter　us　never　may　fail　Of　a　cup　of　good　beer：　I　pray　you　draw　near；　And　our　jolly　wassail　it's　then　you　shall　hear。

Be　here　any　maids？　　I　suppose　here　be　some；　Sure　they　will　not　let　young　men　stand　on　the　cold　stone！　Sing　hey　O；　maids！　come　trole　back　the　pin；　And　the　fairest　maid　in　the　house　let　us　all　in。

Come；　butler；　come；　bring　us　a　bowl　of　the　best；　I　hope　your　soul　in　heaven　will　rest；　But　if　you　do　bring　us　a　bowl　of　the　small；　Then　down　fall　butler；　and　bowl　and　all。



Ballad：　THE　MUMMERS'　SONG；　OR；　THE　POOR　OLD　HORSE。

As　sung　by　the　Mummers　in　the　Neighbourhood　of　Richmond；　Yorkshire；　　at　the　merrie　time　of　Christmas。



＇THE　rustic　actor　who　sings　the　following　song　is　dressed　as　an　old　　horse；　and　at　the　end　of　every　verse　the　jaws　are　snapped　in　　chorus。　　It　is　a　very　old　composition；　and　is　now　printed　for　the　　first　time。　　The　'old　horse'　is；　probably；　of　Scandinavian　origin；　　…　a　reminiscence　of　Odin's　Sleipnor。＇


YOU　gentlemen　and　sportsmen；　And　men　of　courage　bold；　All　you　that's　got　a　good　horse；　Take　care　of　him　when　he　is　old；　Then　put　him　in　your　stable；　And　keep　him　there　so　warm；　Give　him　good　corn　and　hay；　Pray　let　him　take　no　harm。　Poor　old　horse！　poor　old　horse！

Once　I　had　my　clothing　Of　linsey…woolsey　fine；　My　tail　and　mane　of　length；　And　my　body　it　did　shine；　But　now　I'm　growing　old；　And　my　nature　does　decay；　My　master　frowns　upon　me；　These　words　I　heard　him　say；　…　Poor　old　horse！　poor　old　horse！

These　pretty　little　shoulders；　That　once　were　plump　and　round；　They　are　decayed　and　rotten；　…　I'm　afraid　they　are　not　sound。　Likewise　these　little　nimble　legs；　That　have　run　many　miles；　Over　hedges；　over　ditches；　Over　valleys；　gates；　and　stiles。　Poor　old　horse！　poor　old　horse！

I　used　to　be　kept　On　the　best　corn　and　hay　That　in　fields　could　be　grown；　Or　in　any　meadows　gay；　But　now；　alas！　it's　not　so；　…　There's　no　such　food　at　all！　I'm　forced　to　nip　the　short　grass　That　grows　beneath　your　wall。　Poor　old　horse！　poor　old　horse！

I　used　to　be　kept　up　All　in　a　stable　warm；　To　keep　my　tender　body　From　any　cold　or　harm；　But　now　I'm　turned　out　In　the　open　fields　to　go；　To　face　all　kinds　of　weather；　The　wind；　cold；　frost；　and　snow。　Poor　old　horse！　poor　old　horse！

My　hide　unto　the　huntsman　So　freely　I　would　give；　My　body　to　the　hounds；　For　I'd　rather　die　than　live：　So　shoot　him；　whip　him；　strip　him；　To　the　huntsman　let　him　go；　For　he's　neither　fit　to　ride　upon；　Nor　in　any　team　to　draw。　Poor　old　horse！　you　must　die！



Ballad：　FRAGMENT　OF　THE　HAGMENA　SONG。

As　sung　at　Richmond；　Yorkshire；　on　the　eve　of　the　New　Year；　by　the　　Corporation　Pinder。



＇THE　custom　of　singing　Hagmena　songs　is　observed　in　different　parts　　of　both　England　and　Scotland。　　The　origin　of　the　term　is　a　matter　　of　dispute。　　Some　derive　it　from　'au　guy　l'an　neuf；'　i。e。；　TO　THE　　MISLETOE　THIS　NEW　YEAR；　and　a　French　Hagmena　song　still　in　use　　seems　to　give　some　authority　to　such　a　derivation；　others；　　dissatisfied　with　a　heathen　source；　find　the　term　to　be　a　　corruption　of　＇Greek　text　which　cannot　be　reproduced＇；　i。e。；　THE　　HOLY　MONTH。　　The　Hagmena　songs　are　sometimes　sung　on　Christmas　Eve　　and　a　few　of　the　preceding　nights；　and　sometimes；　as　at　Richmond；　　on　the　eve　of　the　new　year。　　For　further　information　the　reader　is　　referred　to　Brand's　POPULAR　ANTIQUITIES；　vol。　i。　247…8；　Sir　H。　　Ellis's　edit。　1842。＇


TO…NIGHT　it　is　the　New…year's　night；　to…morrow　is　the　day；　And　we　are　come　for　our　right；　and　for　our　ray；　As　we　used　to　do　in　old　King　Henry's　day。　Sing；　fellows；　sing；　Hagman…heigh。

If　you　go　to　the　bacon…flick；　cut　me　a　good　bit；　Cut；　cut　and　low；　beware　of　your　maw；　Cut；　cut　and　round；　beware　of　your　thumb；　That　me　and　my　merry　men　may　have　some；　Sing；　fellows；　sing；　Hagman…heigh。

If　you　go　to　the　black…ark；　bring　me　X　mark；　Ten　mark；　ten　pound；　throw　it　down　upon　the　ground；　That　me　and　my　merry　men　may　have　some。　Sing；　fellows；　sing；　Hagman…heigh。



Ballad：　THE　GREENSIDE　WAKES　SONG。



＇THE　wakes；　feasts；　or　tides　of　the　North　of　England；　were　　originally　religious　festivals　in　honour　of　the　saints　to　whom　the　　parish　churches　were　dedicated。　　But　now…a…days；　even　in　Catholic　　Lancashire；　all　traces　of　their　pristine　character　have　departed；　　and　the　hymns　and　prayers　by　which　their　observance　was　once　　hallowed　have　given　place　to　dancing　and　merry…making。　　At　　Greenside；　near　Manchester；　during　the　wakes；　two　persons；　dressed　　in　a　grotesque　manner；　the　one　a　male；　the　other　a　female；　appear　　in　the　village　on　horseback；　with　spinning…wheels　before　them；　and　　the　following　is　the　dialogue；　or　song；　which　they　sing　on　these　　occasions。＇


''TIS　Greenside　wakes；　we've　come　to　the　town　To　show　you　some　sport　of　great　renown；　And　if　my　old　wife　will　let　me　begin；　I'll　show　you　how　fast　and　how　well　I　can　spin。　Tread　the　wheel；　tread　the　wheel；　den；　don；　dell　O。'

'Thou　brags　of　thyself；　but　I　don't　think　it　true；　For　I　will　uphold　thy　faults　are　not　a　few；　For　when　thou　hast　done；　and　spun　very　hard；　Of　this　I'm　well　sure；　thy　work　is　ill　marred。　Tread　the　wheel；　tread　the　wheel；　den；　don；　dell　O。'

'Thou'rt　a　saucy　old　jade；　and　pray　hold　thy　tongue；　Or　I　shall　be　thumping　thee　ere　it　be　long；　And　if　that　I　do；　I　shall　make　thee　to　rue；　For　I　can　have　many　a　one　as　good　as　you。　Tread　the　wheel；　tread　the　wheel；　dan；　don；　dell　O。'

'What　is　it　to　me　who　you　can　have？　I　shall　not　be　long　ere　I'm　laid　in　my　grave；　And　when　I　am　dead　you　may　find　if　you　can；　One　that'll　spin　as　hard　as　I've　done。　Tread　the　wheel；　tread　the　wheel；　dan；　don；　dell　O。'

'Come；　come；　my　dear　wife；　here　endeth　my　song；　I　hope　it　has　pleased　this　numerous　throng；　But　if　it　has　missed；　you　need　not　to　fear；　We'll　do　our　endeavour　to　please　them　next　year。　Tread　the　wheel；　tread　the　wheel；　dan；　don；　dell　O。'



Ballad：　THE　SWEARING…IN　SONG　OR　RHYME。

As　formerly　sung　or　said　at　Highgate；　in　the　county　of　Middlesex。



＇THE　proverb；　'He　has　been　sworn　at　Highgate；'　is　more　widely　　circulated　than　understood。　　In　its　ordinary　signification　it　is　　applied　to　a　'knowing'　fellow　who　is　well　acquainted　with　the　'good　　things；'　and　always　helps　himself　to　the　best；　and　it　has　its　　origin　in　an　old　usage　still　kept　up　at　Highgate；　in　Middlesex。　　　Grose；　in　his　CLASSICAL　DICTIONARY　OF　THE　VULGAR　TONGUE；　London；　　1785；　says；　…


A　ridiculous　custom　formerly　prevailed　at　the　public…houses　of　　Highgate；　to　administer　a　ludicrous　oath　to　all　the　men　of　the　　middling　rank　who　stopped　there。　　The　party　was　sworn　on　a　pair　of　　horns　fastened　on　a　stick；　the　substance　of　the　oath　was　never　to　　kiss　the　maid　when　he　could　kiss　the　mistress；　never　to　drink　small　　beer　when　be　could　get　strong；　with　many　other　injunctions　of　the　　like　kind　to　all　of　which　was　added　a　saving　clause　…　UNLESS　YOU　　LIKE　IT　BEST！　　The　person　administering　the　oath　was　always　to　be　　called　father　by　the　juror；　and　he　in　return　was　to　style　him　son；　　under　the　penalty　of　a　bottle。


From　this　extract　it　is　evident　that　in　1786　the　custom　was　　ancient；　and　had　somewhat　fallen　into　desuetude。　　Hone's　YEAR…BOOK　　contains　a　very　complete　account　of　the　ceremony；　with　full　　particulars　of　the　mode　in　which　the　'swearing…in'　was　then　　performed　in　the　'Fox　under　the　Hill。'　　Hone　does　not　throw　any　　light　on　the　origin　of　the　practice；　nor　does　he　seem　to　have　been　　aware　of　its　comparative　antiquity。　　He　treated　the　ceremony　as　a　　piece　of　modern　foolery；　got　up　by　some　landlord　for　'the　good　of　　the　house；'　and　adopted　from　the　same　interested　motive　by　others　　of　the　tribe。　　A　subsequent　correspondent　of　Mr。　Hone；　however；　　points　out　the　antiquity　of　the　custom；　and　shows　that　it　could　be　　traced　back　long　before　the　year　1782；　when　it　was　introduced　into　　a　pantomime　called　HARLEQUIN　TEAGUE；　OR；　THE　GIANT'S　CAUSEWAY；　　which　was　performed　at　the　Haymarket　on　Saturday；　August　17；　1782。　　　One　of　the　scenes　was　Highgate；　where；　in　the　'parlour'　of　a　public　　house；　the　ceremony　was　performed。　　Mr。　Hone's　correspondent　sends　　a　copy　of　the　old　initiation　song；　which　varies　considerably　from　　our　version；　supplied　to　us　in　1851　by　a　very　old　man　（an　ostler）　　at　Highgate。　　The　reciter　said　that　the　COPY　OF　VERSES　was　not　　often　used　now；　as　there　was　no　landl