_Music at Funerals._--Pennant, in his MS. relating to North Wales, says,
"there is a custom of singing psalms on the way as the corpse is carried
to church" (Brand's _Pop. Ant._, ed. Ellis, vol. ii. p. 268.). In North
Devon the custom of singing is similar; but it is not a psalm it is a
dirge. I send you a copy of one in use at Lynton, sent to me by my
sister.
Farewell all, my parents[1] dear,
And all my friends, farewell!
I hope I'm going to that place
Where Christ and saints do dwell.
Oppress'd with grief long time I've been,
My bones cleave to my skin,
My flesh is wasted quite away
With pain that I was in,
Till Christ his messenger did send,
And took my life away,
To mingle with my mother earth,
And sleep with fellow clay.
Into thy hands I give my soul,
Oh! cast it not aside,
But favor me and hear my prayer,
And be my rest and guide.
Affliction hath me sore oppress'd,
Brought me to death in time;
O Lord! as thou hast promised,
Let me to life return.
For when that Christ to judgment comes,
He unto us will say,
If we His laws observe and keep,
"Ye blessed, come away."
How blest is he who is prepar'd,
He fears not at his death;
Love fills his heart, and hope his breast,
With joy he yields his breath.
Vain world, farewell! I must be gone,
I cannot longer stay;
My time is spent, my glass is run,
God's will I must obey.
[Footnote 1: Sister or brother, as the case may be.]
Another dirge, ending with the sixth stanza of the foregoing, is used at
an infant's funeral, but the rhyme is not so well kept.