按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Where are those Spaniards That make so great a boast； O？ They shall eat the grey goose feather； And we will eat the roast； O！ In every land； O！ The land where'er we go。 With ha…lan…tow； &c
As for Saint George； O！ Saint George he was a knight； O！ Of all the knights in Christendom； Saint George is the right； O！ In every land； O！ The land where'er we go。 With ha…lan…tow； &c。
Ballad： CORNISH MIDSUMMER BONFIRE SONG。
＇THE very ancient custom of lighting fires on Midsummer…eve； being the vigil of St。 John the Baptist； is still kept up in several parts of Cornwall。 On these occasions the fishermen and others dance about the fires； and sing appropriate songs。 The following has been sung for a long series of years at Penzance and the neighbourhood； and is taken down from the recitation of the leader of a West…country choir。 It is communicated to our pages by Mr。 Sandys。 The origin of the Midsummer bonfires is fully explained in Brand's POPULAR ANTIQUITIES。 See Sir H。 Ellis's edition of that work； vol。 i。 pp。 166…186。＇
THE bonny month of June is crowned With the sweet scarlet rose； The groves and meadows all around With lovely pleasure flows。
As I walked out to yonder green； One evening so fair； All where the fair maids may be seen Playing at the bonfire。
Hail！ lovely nymphs； be not too coy； But freely yield your charms； Let love inspire with mirth and joy； In Cupid's lovely arms。
Bright Luna spreads its light around； The gallants for to cheer； As they lay sporting on the ground； At the fair June bonfire。
All on the pleasant dewy mead； They shared each other's charms； Till Phoebus' beams began to spread； And coming day alarms。
Whilst larks and linnets sing so sweet； To cheer each lovely swain； Let each prove true unto their love； And so farewell the plain。
Ballad： SUFFOLK HARVEST…HOME SONG。
＇IN no part of England are the harvest…homes kept up with greater spirit than in Suffolk。 The following old song is a general favourite on such occasions。＇
HERE'S a health unto our master； The founder of the feast！ I wish； with all my heart and soul； In heaven he may find rest。 I hope all things may prosper； That ever be takes in hand； For we are all his servants； And all at his command。
Drink； boys； drink； and see you do not spill； For if you do； you must drink two； … it is your master's will。
Now our harvest is ended； And supper is past； Here's our mistress' good health； In a full flowing glass！ She is a good woman； … She prepared us good cheer； Come； all my brave boys； And drink off your beer。
Drink； my boys； drink till you come unto me； The longer we sit； my boys； the merrier shall we be！
In yon green wood there lies an old fox； Close by his den you may catch him； or no； Ten thousand to one you catch him； or no。 His beard and his brush are all of one colour； … ＇TAKES THE GLASS AND EMPTIES IT OFF。 I am sorry； kind sir； that your glass is no fuller。 'Tis down the red lane！ 'tis down the red lane！ So merrily hunt the fox down the red lane！ （38）
Ballad： THE HAYMAKER'S SONG。
＇AN old and very favourite ditty sung in many parts of England at merry…makings； especially at those which occur during the hay… harvest。 It is not in any collection。＇
IN the merry month of June； In the prime time of the year； Down in yonder meadows There runs a river clear： And many a little fish Doth in that river play； And many a lad； and many a lass； Go abroad a…making hay。
In come the jolly mowers； To mow the meadows down； With budget and with bottle Of ale； both stout and brown； All labouring men of courage bold Come here their strength to try； They sweat and blow； and cut and mow； For the grass cuts very dry。
Here's nimble Ben and Tom； With pitchfork； and with rake； Here's Molly； Liz； and Susan； Come here their hay to make。 While sweet； jug； jug； jug！ The nightingale doth sing； From morning unto even…song； As they are hay…making。
And when that bright day faded； And the sun was going down； There was a merry piper Approached from the town： He pulled out his pipe and tabor； So sweetly he did play； Which made all lay down their rakes； And leave off making hay。
Then joining in a dance； They jig it o'er the green； Though tired with their labour； No one less was seen。 But sporting like some fairies； Their dance they did pursue； In leading up； and casting off； Till morning was in view。
And when that bright daylight； The morning it was come； They lay down and rested Till the rising of the sun： Till the rising of the sun； When the merry larks do sing； And each lad did rise and take his lass； And away to hay…making。
Ballad： THE SWORD…DANCERS' SONG。
＇SWORD…DANCING is not so common in the North of England as it was a few years ago； but a troop of rustic practitioners of the art may still be occasionally met with at Christmas time； in some of the most secluded of the Yorkshire dales。 The following is a copy of the introductory song； as it used to be sung by the Wharfdale sword…dancers。 It has been transcribed from a MS。 in the possession of Mr。 Holmes； surgeon； at Grassington； in Craven。 At the conclusion of the song a dance ensues； and sometimes a rustic drama is performed。 See post； p。 175。 JUMPING JOAN； alluded to in the last verse； is a well…known old country dance tune。＇
THE SPECTATORS BEING ASSEMBLED； THE CLOWN ENTERS； AND AFTER DRAWING A CIRCLE WITH HIS SWORD； WALKS ROUND IT； AND CALLS IN THE ACTORS IN THE FOLLOWING LINES； WHICH ARE SUNG TO THE ACCOMPANIMENT OF A VIOLIN PLAYED OUTSIDE； OR BEHIND THE DOOR。
THE first that enters on the floor； His name is Captain Brown； I think he is as smart a youth As any in this town： In courting of the ladies gay； He fixes his delight； He will not stay from them all day； And is with them all the night。
The next's a tailor by his trade； Called Obadiah Trim； You may quickly guess； by his plain dress； And hat of broadest brim； That he is of the Quaking sect； Who would seem to act by merit Of yeas and nays； and hums and hahs； And motions of the spirit。
The next that enters on the floor； He is a foppish knight； The first to be in modish dress； He studies day and night。 Observe his habit round about； … Even from top to toe； The fashion late from France was brought； … He's finer than a beau！
Next I present unto your view A very worthy man； He is a vintner； by his trade； And Love…ale is his name。 If gentlemen propose a glass； He seldom says 'em nay； But does always think it's right to drink； While other people pay。
The next that enters on the floor； It is my beauteous dame； Most dearly I do her adore； And Bridget is her name。 At needlework she does excel All that e'er learnt to sew； And when I choose； she'll ne'er refuse； What I command her do。
And I myself am come long since； And Thomas is my name； Though some are pleased to call me Tom； I think they're much to blame： Folks should not use their betters thus； But I value it not a groat； Though the tailors； too； that botching crew； Have patched it on my coat。
I pray who's this we've met with here； That tickles his trunk wame？ （39） We've picked him up as here we came； And cannot learn his name： But sooner than he's go without； I'll call him my son Tom； And if he'll play； be it night or day； We'll dance you JUMPING JOAN。
Ballad： THE SWORD…DANCERS' SONG AND INTERLUDE。 AS NOW PERFORMED AT CHRISTMAS； IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM。
＇THE late Sir Cuthbert Sharp remarks； that 'It is still the practice during the Christmas holidays for companies of fifteen to perform a sort of play or dance； accompanied by song or music。' The following version of the song； or interlude； has been transcribed from Sir C。 Sharp's BISHOPRICK GARLAND； corrected by collation with a MS。 copy recently remitted to the editor by a countryman of Durham。 The Devonshire peasants have a version almost identical with this； but laths are used instead of swords； and a few different characters are introduced to suit the locality。 The pageant called THE FOOL PLOUGH； which consists of a number of sword…dancers dragging a plough with music； was anciently observed in the North of England； not only at Christmas time； but also in the beginning of Lent。 Wallis thinks that the SWORD DANCE is the antic dance； or chorus armatus of the Romans。 Brand supposes that it is a composition made up of the gleaning of several obsolete customs anciently followed in England and other countries。 The Germans still practise the SWORD DANCE at Christmas and Easter。 We once witnessed a SWORD DANCE in the Eifel mountains； which closely resembled our own； but no interlude； or drama； was performed。＇
ENTER DANCERS； DECORATED WITH SWORDS AND RIBBONS； THE CAPTAIN OF THE BAND WEARING A COCKED HAT AND A PEACOCK'S FEATHER IN IT BY WAY OF COCKADE； AND THE CLOWN； OR 'BESSY；' WHO ACTS AS TREASURER； BEING DECORATED WITH A HAIRY CAP AND A FOX'S BRUSH DEPENDENT。
THE CAPTAIN FORMS WITH HIS SWORD A CIRCLE； AROUND WHICH WALKS。
THE BESSY OPENS THE PROCEEDINGS BY SINGING …
GOOD gentlemen all； to our captain take heed； And hear what he's got for to sing； He's lived among music these forty long year； And drunk of the elegant （40） spring。
THE CAPTAIN THEN PROCEEDS AS FOLLOWS； HI