ancient poems-第7部分

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　whereby　that　I　might　know；　What　pleasures　hath　a　servingman？

SERVINGMAN。

A　servingman　hath　pleasure；　which　passeth　time　and　measure；　When　the　hawk　on　his　fist　doth　stand；　His　hood；　and　his　verrils　brave；　and　other　things；　we　have；　Which　yield　joy　to　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

My　pleasure's　more　than　that　to　see　my　oxen　fat；　And　to　prosper　well　under　my　hand；　And　therefore　I　do　mean；　with　my　horse；　and　with　my　team；　To　keep　myself　a　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

O　'tis　a　gallant　thing　in　the　prime　time　of　the　spring；　To　hear　the　huntsman　now　and　than　His　bugle　for　to　blow；　and　the　hounds　run　all　a　row：　This　is　pleasure　for　a　servingman！　To　hear　the　beagle　cry；　and　to　see　the　falcon　fly；　And　the　hare　trip　over　the　plain；　And　the　huntsmen　and　the　hound　make　hill　and　dale　rebound：　This　is　pleasure　for　a　servingman！

HUSBANDMAN。

'Tis　pleasure；　too；　you　know；　to　see　the　corn　to　grow；　And　to　grow　so　well　on　the　land；　The　plowing　and　the　sowing；　the　reaping　and　the　mowing；　Yield　pleasure　to　the　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

At　our　table　you　may　eat　all　sorts　of　dainty　meat；　Pig；　cony；　goose；　capon；　and　swan；　And　with　lords　and　ladies　fine；　you　may　drink　beer；　ale；　and　wine！　This　is　pleasure　for　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

While　you　eat　goose　and　capon；　I'll　feed　on　beef　and　bacon；　And　piece　of　hard　cheese　now　and　than；　We　pudding　have；　and　souse；　always　ready　in　the　house；　Which　contents　the　honest　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

At　the　court　you　may　have　your　garments　fine　and　brave；　And　cloak　with　gold　lace　laid　upon；　A　shirt　as　white　as　milk；　and　wrought　with　finest　silk：　That's　pleasure　for　a　servingman！

HUSBANDMAN。

Such　proud　and　costly　gear　is　not　for　us　to　wear；　Amongst　the　briers　and　brambles　many　a　one；　A　good　strong　russet　coat；　and　at　your　need　a　groat；　Will　suffice　the　husbandman。　A　proverb　here　I　tell；　which　likes　my　humour　well；　And　remember　it　well　I　can；　If　a　courtier　be　too　bold；　he'll　want　when　he　is　old。　Then　farewell　the　servingman。

SERVINGMAN。

It　needs　must　be　confest　that　your　calling　is　the　best；　No　longer　discourse　with　you　I　can；　But　henceforth　I　will　pray；　by　night　and　by　day；　Heaven　bless　the　honest　husbandman。



Poem：　A　DIALOGUE　BETWEEN　THE　HUSBANDMAN　AND　THE　SERVINGMAN。



＇THIS　traditional　version　of　the　preceding　ancient　dialogue　has　　long　been　popular　at　country　festivals。　　At　a　harvest…home　feast　at　　Selborne；　in　Hampshire；　in　1836；　we　heard　it　recited　by　two　　countrymen；　who　gave　it　with　considerable　humour；　and　dramatic　　effect。　　It　was　delivered　in　a　sort　of　chant；　or　recitative。　　　Davies　Gilbert　published　a　very　similar　copy　in　his　ANCIENT　　CHRISTMAS　CAROLS。　　In　the　modern　printed　editions；　which　are　almost　　identical　with　ours；　the　term　'servantman'　has　been　substituted　for　　the　more　ancient　designation。＇


SERVINGMAN。

WELL　met；　my　brother　friend；　all　at　this　highway　end；　So　simple　all　alone；　as　you　can；　I　pray　you　tell　to　me；　what　may　your　calling　be；　Are　you　not　a　servingman？

HUSBANDMAN。

No；　no；　my　brother　dear；　what　makes　you　to　inquire　Of　any　such　a　thing　at　my　hand？　Indeed　I　shall　not　feign；　but　I　will　tell　you　plain；　I　am　a　downright　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

If　a　husbandman　you　be；　then　go　along　with　me；　And　quickly　you　shall　see　out　of　hand；　How　in　a　little　space　I　will　help　you　to　a　place；　Where　you　may　be　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

Kind　sir！　I　'turn　you　thanks　for　your　intelligence；　These　things　I　receive　at　your　hand；　But　something　pray　now　show；　that　first　I　may　plainly　know　The　pleasures　of　a　servingman。

SERVINGMAN。

Why　a　servingman　has　pleasure　beyond　all　sort　of　measure；　With　his　hawk　on　his　fist；　as　he　does　stand；　For　the　game　that　he　does　kill；　and　the　meat　that　does　him　fill；　Are　pleasures　for　the　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

And　my　pleasure's　more　than　that；　to　see　my　oxen　fat；　And　a　good　stock　of　hay　by　them　stand；　My　plowing　and　my　sowing；　my　reaping　and　my　mowing；　Are　pleasures　for　the　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

Why　it　is　a　gallant　thing　to　ride　out　with　a　king；　With　a　lord；　duke；　or　any　such　man；　To　hear　the　horns　to　blow；　and　see　the　hounds　all　in　a　row；　That　is　pleasure　for　the　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

But　my　pleasure's　more　I　know；　to　see　my　corn　to　grow；　So　thriving　all　over　my　land；　And；　therefore；　I　do　mean；　with　my　plowing　with　my　team；　To　keep　myself　a　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

Why　the　diet　that　we　eat　is　the　choicest　of　all　meat；　Such　as　pig；　goose；　capon；　and　swan；　Our　pastry　is　so　fine；　we　drink　sugar　in　our　wine；　That　is　living　for　the　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

Talk　not　of　goose　nor　capon；　give　me　good　beef　or　bacon；　And　good　bread　and　cheese；　now　at　hand；　With　pudding；　brawn；　and　souse；　all　in　a　farmer's　house；　That　is　living　for　the　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

Why　the　clothing　that　we　wear　is　delicate　and　rare；　With　our　coat；　lace；　buckles；　and　band；　Our　shirts　are　white　as　milk；　and　our　stockings　they　are　silk；　That　is　clothing　for　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

But　I　value　not　a　hair　your　delicate　fine　wear；　Such　as　gold　is　laced　upon；　Give　me　a　good　grey　coat；　and　in　my　purse　a　groat；　That　is　clothing　for　the　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

Kind　sir！　it　would　be　bad　if　none　could　be　had　Those　tables　for　to　wait　upon；　There　is　no　lord；　duke；　nor　squire；　nor　member　for　the　shire；　Can　do　without　a　servingman。

HUSBANDMAN。

But；　Jack！　it　would　be　worse　if　there　was　none　of　us　To　follow　the　plowing　of　the　land；　There　is　neither　king；　lord；　nor　squire；　nor　member　for　the　shire；　Can　do　without　the　husbandman。

SERVINGMAN。

Kind　sir！　I　must　confess't；　and　I　humbly　protest　I　will　give　you　the　uppermost　hand；　Although　your　labour's　painful；　and　mine　it　is　so　very　gainful；　I　wish　I　were　a　husbandman。

HUSBANDMAN。

So　come　now；　let　us　all；　both　great　as　well　as　small；　Pray　for　the　grain　of　our　land；　And　let　us；　whatsoever；　do　all　our　best　endeavour；　For　to　maintain　the　good　husbandman。



Poem：　THE　CATHOLICK。



＇THE　following　ingenious　production　has　been　copied　literally　from　　a　broadside　posted　against　the　'parlour'　wall　of　a　country　inn　in　　Gloucestershire。　　The　verses　are　susceptible　of　two　　interpretations；　being　Catholic　if　read　in　the　columns；　but　　Protestant　if　read　across。＇


I　HOLD　as　faith　　　　　　　　　　　　　What　ENGLAND'S　CHURCH　alows　What　ROME'S　church　saith　　　　My　conscience　disavows　Where　the　KING'S　head　　　　　　　That　CHURCH　can　have　no　shame　The　flocks　misled　　　　　　　　　　　That　holds　the　POPE　supreame。　Where　the　ALTARS　drest　　　　　　There's　service　scarce　divine　The　peoples　blest　　　　　　　　　　　With　table；　bread；　and　wine。　He's　but　an　asse　　　　　　　　　　　　Who　the　COMMUNION　flies　Who　shuns　the　MASSE　　　　　　　　　Is　CATHOLICK　and　wise。


London：　printed　for　George　Eversden；　at　the　signe　of　the　　Maidenhead；　in　St。　Powle's　Church…yard；　1655。　　CUM　PRIVILEGIO。



Ballad：　THE　THREE　KNIGHTS。　　（TRADITIONAL。）



＇THE　THREE　KNIGHTS　was　first　printed　by　the　late　Davies　Gilbert；　　F。R。S。；　in　the　appendix　to　his　work　on　CHRISTMAS　CAROLS。　　Mr。　　Gilbert　thought　that　some　verses　were　wanting　after　the　eighth　　stanza；　but　we　entertain　a　different　opinion。　　A　conjectural　　emendation　made　in　the　ninth　verse；　viz。；　the　substitution　of　FAR　　for　FOR；　seems　to　render　the　ballad　perfect。　　The　ballad　is　still　　popular　amongst　the　peasantry　in　the　West　of　England。　　The　tune　is　　given　by　Gilbert。　　The　refrain；　in　the　second　and　fourth　lines；　　printed　with　the　first　verse；　should　be　repeated　in　recitation　in　　every　verse。＇


THERE　did　three　Knights　come　from　the　west；　With　the　high　and　the　lily　oh！　And　these　three　Knights　courted　one　ladye；　As　the　rose　was　so　sweetly　blown。　The　first　Knight　came　was　all　in　white；　And　asked　of　her　if　she'd　be　his　delight。　The　next　Knight　came　was　all　in　green；　And　asked　of　her　if　she'd　be　his　queen。　The　third　Knight　came　was　all　in　red；　And　asked　of　her　if　she　would　wed。　'Then　have　you　asked　of　my　father　dear？　Likewise　of　her　who　did　me　bear？　'And　have　you　asked　of　my　brother　John？　And　also　of　my　sister　Anne？'　'Yes；　I've　asked　of　your　father　dear；　Likewise　of　her　who　did　you　bear。　'And　I've　asked　of　your　sister　Anne；　But　I've　not　asked　of　your　brother　John。'　Far　on　the　road　as　they　rode　along；　There　did　they　meet　with　her　brother　John。　She　stooped　low　to　kiss　him　sweet；　He　to　her　heart　did　a　dagger　meet。　（2）　'Ride　on；　ride　on；'　cried　the　servingman；　'Methinks　your　bride　she　looks　wondrous　wan。'　'I　wish　I　were　on　yonder　stile；　For　there　I　would　sit　and　bleed　awhile。　'I　wish　I　were　on　yonder　hill；　There　I'd　alight　and　make　my　will。'　'What　would　you　give　to　your　father　dear？'　'The　gallant　steed　which　doth　me　bear。'　'What　would　you　give　to　your　mother　dear？'　'My　wedding　shift　which　I　do　wear。　'But　she　must　wash　it　very　clean；　For　my　heart's　blood　sticks　in　every　seam。'　'What　would　you　give　to　your　sister　Anne？'　'My　gay　gold　ring；　and　my　feathered　fan。'　'What　would　you　give　to　your　brother　John？'　'A　rope；　and　a　gallows　to　hang　him　on。'　'What　would　you　give　to　your　brother　John's　wife？'　'A　widow's　weeds；　and　a　quiet　life。'



Poem：　THE　BLIND　BEGGAR　OF　BEDNALL　GREEN。　　SHOWING　HOW　HIS　DAUGHTER　　WAS　MARRIED　TO　A　KNIGHT；　AND　HAD　THREE　THOUSAND　POUND　TO　HER　　PORTION。



＇Percy's　copy　of　THE　BEGGAR'S　DAUGHTER　OF　BEDNALL　GREEN　is　known　to　　be　very　incorrect：　besides　many　alterations　and　improvements　which　　it　received　at　the　hands　of　the　Bishop；　it　contains　no　less　than　　eight　stanzas　written　by　Robert　Dodsley；　the　author　of　THE　ECONOMY　　OF　HUMAN　LIFE。　　So　far　as　poetry　is　concerned；　there　cannot　be　a　　question　that　the　version　in　the　RELIQUES　IS　far　superior　to　the　　original；　which　is　still　a　popular　favourite；　and　a　correct　copy　of　　which　is　now　given；　as　it　appears　in　all　the　common　broadside　　editions　that　have　been　printed　from　1672　to　the　present　time。　　　Although　the　original　copies　have　all　perished；　the　ballad　has　been　　very　satisfactorily　proved　by　Percy　to　have　been　written　in　the　　reign　of　Elizabeth。　　The　present　reprint　is　from　a　modern　copy；　　carefully　collated　with　one　in　the　Bagford　Collection；　entitled；


'The　rarest　ballad　that　ever　was　seen；　Of　the　Blind　Beggar's　Daughter　of　Bednal　Green。'


The　imprint　to　it　is；　'Printed　by　and　for　W。　Onley；　and　are　to　be　　sold　by　C。　Bates；　at　the　sign　of　the　Sun　and　Bible；　in　Pye　Corner。'　　　The　very　antiquated　orthography　ad