[Illustration]
PERCY'S RELIQUES.
[Illustration]
RELIQUES OF
ANCIENT ENGLISH
POETRY
CONSISTING OF OLD HEROIC BALLADS, SONGS AND
OTHER PIECES OF OUR EARLIER POETS
TOGETHER WITH SOME FEW
OF LATER DATE
BY
THOMAS PERCY, D.D.
BISHOP OF DROMORE
EDITED, WITH A GENERAL INTRODUCTION, ADDITIONAL
PREFACES, NOTES, GLOSSARY, ETC.
BY
HENRY B. WHEATLEY, F.S.A.
IN THREE VOLUMES
VOL. III
LONDON: GEORGE ALLEN & UNWIN LTD.
RUSKIN HOUSE
40 MUSEUM STREET, W.C.1
First Published by Swan Sonnenschein _April_ 1885
Reprinted _August_ 1891
" _August_ 1899
" _December_ 1909
" _January_ 1927
PRINTED BY THE RIVERSIDE PRESS LIMITED, EDINBURGH
GREAT BRITAIN
[Illustration]
CONTENTS OF VOLUME THE THIRD
BOOK THE FIRST.
(_Poems on King Arthur, &c._)
Page
1. The Boy and the Mantle 3
2. The Marriage of Sir Gawaine 13
3. King Ryence's Challenge 24
4. King Arthur's Death. A Fragment 27
Copy from the Folio MS. 35
5. The Legend of King Arthur 39
6. A Dyttie to Hey Downe 44
7. Glasgerion 45
8. Old Robin of Portingale 50
9. Child Waters 58
10. Phillida and Corydon. By Nicholas Breton 66
11. Little Musgrave and Lady Barnard 68
12. The Ew-bughts, Marion. A Scottish Song 74
13. The Knight, and Shepherd's Daughter 76
14. The Shepherd's Address to his Muse. By N Breton 80
15. Lord Thomas and Fair Ellinor 82
16. Cupid and Campaspe. By John Lilye 85
17. The Lady turned Serving-man 86
18. Gil [Child] Morrice. A Scottish Ballad 91
Copy from the Folio MS. 100
BOOK THE SECOND.
1. The Legend of Sir Guy 107
2. Guy and Amarant. By Samuel Rowlands 114
3. The Auld Good-Man. A Scottish Song 122
4. Fair Margaret and Sweet William 124
5. Barbara Allen's Cruelty 128
6. Sweet William's Ghost. A Scottish Ballad 130
7. Sir John Grehme and Barbara Allen. A Scottish Ballad 133
8. The Bailiff's Daughter of Islington 135
9. The Willow Tree. A Pastoral Dialogue 137
10. The Lady's Fall 139
11. Waly, Waly, Love be bonny. A Scottish Song 145
12. The Bride's Burial 148
13. Dulcina 153
14. The Lady Isabella's Tragedy 155
15. A Hue and Cry after Cupid. By Ben. Jonson 159
16. The King of France's Daughter 161
17. The Sweet Neglect. By Ben. Jonson 169
18. The Children in the Wood 169
19. A Lover of late was I 177
20. The King and the Miller of Mansfield 178
21. The Shepherd's Resolution. By George Wither 188
22. Queen Dido (or the Wandering Prince of Troy) 191
23. The Witches' Song. By Ben. Jonson 196
24. Robin Good-fellow 199
25. The Fairy Queen 204
26. The Fairies Farewell. By Bishop Corbet 207
BOOK THE THIRD.
1. The Birth of St. George 215
2. St. George and the Dragon 224
3. Love will find out the Way 232
4. Lord Thomas and Fair Annet. A Scottish Ballad 234
5. Unfading Beauty. By Thomas Carew 239
6. George Barnwell 240
7. The Stedfast Shepherd. By George Wither 253
8. The Spanish Virgin, or Effects of Jealousy 255
9. Jealousy Tyrant of the Mind. By Dryden 260
10. Constant Penelope 261
11. To Lucasta, on going to the Wars. By Col. Lovelace. 264
12. Valentine and Ursine 265
13. The Dragon of Wantley 279
14. St. George for England. The First Part 288
15. St. George for England. The Second Part. By John Grubb 293
16. Margaret's Ghost. By David Mallet 308
17. Lucy and Colin. By Thomas Tickel 312
18. The Boy and the Mantle, as revised and altered by a
modern hand 315
19. The ancient Fragment of the Marriage of Sir Gawaine 323
APPENDIX.
I. The Wanton Wife of Bath 333
II. Essay on the Ancient Metrical Romances, &c. 339
GLOSSARY 377
INDEX 411
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
RELIQUES OF ANCIENT POETRY, ETC.
SERIES THE THIRD.
BOOK I.
[Illustration]
"An ordinary song or ballad, that is the delight of the common
people, cannot fail to please all such readers, as are not
unqualified for the entertainment by their affectation or their
ignorance; and the reason is plain, because the same paintings of
nature which recommend it to the most ordinary reader, will appear
beautiful to the most refined."--ADDISON, in _Spectator_, No. 70.
[Illustration]
POEMS ON KING ARTHUR, ETC.
The third volume being chiefly devoted to romantic subjects, may not be
improperly introduced with a few slight strictures on the old metrical
romances: a subject the more worthy attention, as it seems not to have
been known to such as have written on the nature and origin of books of
chivalry, that the first compositions of this kind were in verse, and
usually sung to the harp.[1]
FOOTNOTES:
[1] [See Appendix.]
I.
THE BOY AND THE MANTLE
Is printed verbatim from the old MS. described in the Preface.[2]
The Editor believes it more ancient than it will appear to be at
first sight; the transcriber of that manuscript having reduced the
orthography and style in many instances to the standard of his own
times.
The incidents of the _Mantle and the Knife_ have not, that I can
recollect, been borrowed from any other writer. The former of these
evidently suggested to Spenser his conceit of _Florimel's Girdle_, b.
iv. c. 5, st. 3.
"That girdle gave the virtue of chaste love
And wivehood true to all that did it beare;
But whosoever contrarie doth prove,
Might not the same about her middle weare,
But it would loose or else asunder teare."
So it happened to the false Florimel, st. 16, when
"Being brought, about her middle small
They thought to gird, as best it her became,
But by no means they could it thereto frame,
For ever as they fastned it, it loos'd
And fell away, as feeling secret blame, &c.
That all men wondred at the uncouth sight
And each one thought as to their fancies came.
But she herself did think it done for spight,
And touched was with secret wrath and shame
Therewith, as thing deviz'd her to defame:
Then many other ladies likewise tride
About their tender loynes to knit the same,
But it would not on none of them abide,
But when they thought it fast, eftsoones it was untide.
Thereat all knights gan laugh and ladies lowre,
Till that at last the gentle Amoret
Likewise assayed to prove that girdle's powre.
And having it about her middle set
Did find it fit withouten breach or let,
Whereat the rest gan greatly to envie.
But Florimel exceedingly did fret
And snatching from her hand," &c.
As for the trial of the _Horne_, it is not peculiar to our poet:
it occurs in the old romance, intitled _Morte Arthur_, which was
translated out of French in the time of K. Edw. IV., and first printed
anno 1484. From that romance Ariosto is thought to have borrowed his
tale of the _Enchanted Cup_, c. 42, &c. See Mr. Warton's _Observations
on the Faerie Queen_, &c.
The story of the _Horn_ in _Morte Arthur_ varies a good deal from this
of our poet, as the reader will judge from the following extract:--"By
the way they met with a knight that was sent from Morgan la Faye to
king Arthur, and this knight had a fair horne all garnished with
gold, and the horne had such a virtue, that there might no ladye or
gentlewoman drinke of that horne, but if she were true to her husband:
and if shee were false she should spill all the drinke, and if shee
were true unto her lorde, shee might drink peaceably: and because of
queene Guenever and in despite of Sir Launcelot du Lake, this horne
was sent unto king Arthur." This horn is intercepted and brought unto
another king named Marke, who is not a whit more fortunate than the
British hero, for he makes "his qeene drinke thereof and an hundred
ladies moe, and there were but foure ladies of all those that drank
cleane," of which number the said queen proves not to be one (book ii.
chap. 22, ed. 1632).
In other respects the two stories are so different, that we have just
reason to suppose this ballad was written before that romance was
translated into English.
As for queen Guenever, she is here represented no otherwise than in
the old histories and romances. Holinshed observes, that "she was
evil reported of, as noted of incontinence and breach of faith to hir
husband" (vol. i. p. 93).
Such readers, as have no relish for pure antiquity, will find a more
modern copy of this ballad at the end of the volume.
* * * * *
[For Percy's further notes on this ballad see the modernized
version (book iii. No. 18). Professor Child prints the ballad in
his _English and Scottish Ballads_ (vol. i. p. 1) with a full
notice of the various forms of the story by way of introduction.
He writes:--"No incident is more common in romantic fiction than
the employment of some magical contrivance as a test of conjugal
fidelity, or of constancy in love. In some romances of the Round
Table, and tales founded upon them, this experiment is performed
by means either of an enchanted horn, of such properties that no
dishonoured husband or unfaithful wife can drink from it without
spilling, or of a mantle which will fit none but chaste women.
The earliest known instances of the use of these ordeals are
afforded by the _Lai du Corn_, by Robert Bikez, a French minstrel
of the twelfth or thirteenth century, and the _Fabliau du Mantel_
_Mautaillé_, which, in the opinion of a competent critic, dates
from the second half of the thirteenth century, and is only the
older lay worked up into a new shape (Wolf, _Ueber die Lais_, 327,
sq., 342, sq.). We are not to suppose, however, that either of
these pieces presents us with the primitive form of this humorous
invention. Robert Bikez tells us that he learned his story from an
abbot, and that 'noble ecclesiast' stood but one further back in a
line of tradition which curiosity will never follow to its source."
Here follows a list of "the most remarkable cases of the use of
these and similar talismans in imaginative literature." To these
may be added the garland described in the curious old story of the
_Wright's Wife_, which has been printed since the publication of
Mr. Child's work.
"Haue here thys garlond of roses ryche,
In alle thys lond ys none yt lyche;
For ytt wylle euer be newe.
Wete þou wele withowtyn fable,
Alle the whyle thy wyfe ys stable
The chaplett wolle hold hewe;
And yf thy wyfe vse putry,
Or tolle eny man to lye her by,
Than wolle yt change hewe;
And by the garlond þou may see,
Fekylle or fals yf þat sche be,
Or ellys yf sche be trewe."
_The Wright's Chaste Wife_ (E. E. Text Soc. 1865, 1. 55-66).]
* * * * *
In the third day of may,
To Carleile did come
A kind curteous child,
That cold[3] much of wisdome.
A kirtle and a mantle 5
This child had uppon,
With 'brouches' and ringes[4]
Full richelye bedone.[5]
He had a sute of silke
About his middle drawne; 10
Without he cold of curtesye
He thought itt much shame.
God speed thee, king Arthur,
Sitting at thy meate:
And the goodly queene Guenéver, 15
I cannott her forgett.
I tell you, lords, in this hall;
I hett[6] you all to 'heede';[7]
Except you be the more surer
Is you for to dread. 20
He plucked out of his 'poterner,'[8][9]
And longer wold not dwell,
He pulled forth a pretty mantle,
Betweene two nut-shells.
Have thou here, king Arthur; 25
Have thou heere of mee:
Give itt to thy comely queene
Shapen as itt is alreadye.
Itt shall never become that wiffe,
That hath once done amisse. 30
Then every knight in the kings court
Began to care for 'his.'[10]
Forth came dame Guénever;
To the mantle shee her 'hied';[11]
The ladye shee was newfangle, 35
But yett shee was affrayd.
When shee had taken the mantle;
She stoode as shee had beene madd:
It was from the top to the toe
As sheeres had itt shread. 40
One while was itt 'gule';[12][13]
Another while was itt greene;
Another while was itt wadded:[14]
Ill itt did her beseeme.
Another while was it blacke 45
And bore the worst hue:
By my troth, quoth king Arthur,
I thinke thou be not true.
Shee threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee;[15] 50
Fast with a rudd[16] redd,
To her chamber can[17] shee flee.
She curst the weaver, and the walker,[18]
That clothe that had wrought;
And bade a vengeance on his crowne, 55
That hither hath itt brought.
I had rather be in a wood,
Under a greene tree;
Then in king Arthurs court
Shamed for to bee. 60
Kay called forth his ladye,
And bade her come neere;
Saies, Madam, and thou be guiltye,
I pray thee hold thee there.
Forth came his ladye 65
Shortlye and anon;
Boldlye to the mantle
Then is shee gone.
When she had tane the mantle,
And cast it her about; 70
Then was shee bare
'Before all the rout.'[19]
Then every knight,
That was in the kings court,
Talked, laughed, and showted[20] 75
Full oft att that sport.
Shee threw downe the mantle,
That bright was of blee;
Fast, with a red rudd,
To her chamber can[1] shee flee. 80
Forth came an old knight
Pattering ore a creede,
And he proferred to this litle boy
Twenty markes to his meede;
And all the time of the Christmasse 85
Willinglye to ffeede;
For why this mantle might
Doe his wiffe some need.
When she had tane the mantle,
Of cloth that was made, 90
Shee had no more left on her,
But a tassell and a threed:
Then every knight in the kings court
Bade evill might shee speed.
Shee threw downe the mantle, 95
That bright was of blee;
And fast, with a redd rudd,
To her chamber can[21] shee flee.
Craddocke called forth his ladye,
And bade her come in; 100
Saith, Winne this mantle, ladye,
With a litle dinne.
Winne this mantle, ladye,
And it shal be thine,
If thou never did amisse 105
Since thou wast mine.
Forth came Craddockes ladye
Shortlye and anon;
But boldlye to the mantle
Then is shee gone. 110
When shee had tane the mantle,
And cast itt her about,
Upp att her great toe
It began to crinkle and crowt:[22]
Shee said, bowe downe, mantle, 115
And shame me not for nought.
Once I did amisse,
I tell you certainlye,
When I kist Craddockes mouth
Under a greene tree; 120
When I kist Craddockes mouth
Before he marryed mee.
When shee had her shreeven,
And her sines shee had tolde;
The mantle stoode about her 125
Right as shee wold:
Seemelye of coulour
Glittering like gold:
Then every knight in Arthurs court
Did her behold. 130
Then spake dame Guénever
To Arthur our king;
She hath tane yonder mantle
Not with right, but with wronge.[23]
See you not yonder woman, 135
That maketh her self soe 'cleane'?[24]
I have seene tane out of her bedd
Of men fiveteene;
Priests, clarkes, and wedded men
From her bedeene:[25][26] 140
Yett shee taketh the mantle,
And maketh her self cleane.
Then spake the litle boy,
That kept the mantle in hold;
Sayes, king, chasten thy wiffe, 145
Of her words shee is to bold:
Shee is a bitch and a witch,
And a whore bold:
King, in thine owne hall
Thou art a cuckold. 150
The litle boy stoode[27]
Looking out a dore;[28]
[And there as he was lookinge
He was ware of a wyld bore.]
He was ware of a wyld bore,[29] 155
Wold have werryed a man:[29]
He pulld forth a wood kniffe,
Fast thither that he ran:
He brought in the bores head,
And quitted him like a man. 160
He brought in the bores head,
And was wonderous bold:
He said there was never a cuckolds kniffe
Carve itt that cold.
Some rubbed their knives 165
Uppon a whetstone:
Some threw them under the table,
And said they had none.
King Arthur, and the child
Stood looking upon them;
All their knives edges
Turned backe againe.[30] 170
Craddocke had a litle knive
Of iron and of steele;
He britled[31] the bores head[32] 175
Wonderous weele;
That every knight in the kings court
Had a morssell.
The litle boy had a horne,
Of red gold that ronge: 180
He said, there was noe cuckolde
Shall drinke of my horne;
But he shold it sheede[33]
Either behind or beforne.
Some shedd on their shoulder, 185
And some on their knee;
He that cold not hitt his mouthe,
Put it in his eye:
And he that was a cuckold
Every man might him see. 190
Craddocke wan the horne,
And the bores head:
His ladie wan the mantle
Unto her meede.
Everye such a lovely ladye 195
God send her well to speede.
FOOTNOTES:
[2] [Percy folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. pp. 301-311.]
[3] [knew.]
[4] Ver. 7. branches, MS.
[5] [ornamented.]
[6] [bid.]
[7] V. 18. heate, MS.
[8] [probably a pouch or bag, but there is no authority for the word.]
[9] Ver. 21. potewer, MS.
[10] V. 32. his wiffe, MS.
[11] V. 34. biled, MS.
[12] [red.]
[13] V. 41. gaule, MS.
[14] [light blue or woad coloured.]
[15] [colour.]
[16] [ruddy.]
[17] [began.]
[18] [fuller.]
[19] [Ver. 72. all above the buttockes, MS.]
[20] V. 75. lauged, MS.
[21] [began.]
[22] [draw close together, another form of _crowd_.]
[23] Ver. 134. wright, MS.
[24] V. 136. cleare, MS.
[25] [forthwith.]
[26] Ver. 140. by deene, MS.
[27] [V. 151. a little boy, MS.]
[28] [V. 152. looking over.]
[29] [V. 155-6. these two lines belong to the former stanza.]
[30] Ver. 170. them upon, MS.
[31] [carved.]
[32] V. 175. _or_ birtled, MS.
[33] [shed.]
II.
THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE
Is chiefly taken from the fragment of an old ballad in the Editor's
MS., which he has reason to believe more ancient than the time of
_Chaucer_, and what furnished that bard with his _Wife of Bath's Tale_.
The original was so extremely mutilated, half of every leaf being torn
away, that without large supplements, &c. it was deemed improper for
this collection: these it has therefore received, such as they are.
They are not here particularly pointed out, because the _Fragment_
itself will now be found printed at the end of this volume.
* * * * *
[Sir Frederic Madden supposed this ballad to be founded upon the
_Weddynge of Syr Gawen and Dame Ragnell_, which he printed from the
Rawlinson MS. c. 86, fol. 128 b, in his _Syr Gawaine_.
Mr. Hales writes as follows respecting the various forms in which
the story appears in literature. "The wonderful 'metamorphosis' on
which this story turns is narrated in Gower's _Confessio Amantis_,
as the story of Florent and the King of Sicily's Daughter, taken
by him, as Tyrwhitt conjectures, from the _Gesta Romanorum_,
or some such collection. It appears again, as the reader will
remember, in Chaucer's _Wyf of Bathes Tale_. 'Worked over,' says
Prof. Child, 'by some ballad-monger of the sixteenth century, and
of course reduced to ditch-water, this tale has found its way
into the _Crown Garland of Golden Roses_, part i. p. 68 (_Percy
Society_, vol. vi.), 'Of a Knight and a Faire Virgin.' On a similar
transformation depends the story of 'King Henrie' in Scott's
_Minstrelsy_, edited from Mrs. Brown's MS., with corrections from
a recited fragment, and modernized as 'Courteous King Jamie' in
Lewis's _Tales of Wonder_. 'The prime original,' says Scott, 'is to
be found in an Icelandic Saga.'"[34]
Mr. Child prints (_English and Scottish Ballads_, vol. viii. p.
139) two versions of a Scotch ballad entitled _Kempy Kaye_, which
he supposes to be an extravagant parody of _The Marriage of Sir_
_Gawaine_.]
* * * * *
PART THE FIRST.
King Arthur lives in merry Carleile,
And seemely is to see;
And there with him queene Guenever,
That bride soe bright of blee.[35]
And there with him queene Guenever, 5
That bride so bright in bowre:
And all his barons about him stoode,
That were both stiffe and stowre.[36]
The king a royale Christmasse kept,
With mirth and princelye cheare; 10
To him repaired many a knighte,
That came both farre and neare.
And when they were to dinner sette,
And cups went freely round;
Before them came a faire damsèlle, 15
And knelt upon the ground.
A boone, a boone, O kinge Arthùre,
I beg a boone of thee;
Avenge me of a carlish knighte,
Who hath shent[37] my love and mee. 20
At Tearne-Wadling[38] his castle stands,
Near to that lake so fair,
And proudlye rise the battlements,
And streamers deck the air.
Noe gentle knighte, nor ladye gay, 25
May pass that castle-walle:
But from that foule discurteous knighte,
Mishappe will them befalle.
Hee's twyce the size of common men,
Wi' thewes, and sinewes stronge, 30
And on his backe he bears a clubbe,
That is both thicke and longe.
This grimme baròne 'twas our harde happe,
But yester morne to see;
When to his bowre he bare my love, 35
And sore misused mee.
And when I told him, king Arthùre
As lyttle shold him spare;
Goe tell, sayd hee, that cuckold kinge,
To meete mee if he dare. 40
Upp then sterted king Arthùre,
And sware by hille and dale,
He ne'er wolde quitt that grimme baròne,
Till he had made him quail.
Goe fetch my sword Excalibar: 45
Goe saddle mee my steede;
Nowe, by my faye, that grimme baròne
Shall rue this ruthfulle deede.
And when he came to Tearne Wadlinge
Benethe the castle walle: 50
"Come forth; come forth; thou proude baròne,
Or yielde thyself my thralle."
On magicke grounde that castle stoode,
And fenc'd with many a spelle:
Noe valiant knighte could tread thereon, 55
But straite his courage felle.
Forth then rush'd that carlish[39] knight,
King Arthur felte the charme:
His sturdy sinewes lost their strengthe,
Downe sunke his feeble arme. 60
Nowe yield thee, yield thee, kinge Arthùre,
Now yield thee, unto mee:
Or fighte with mee, or lose thy lande,
Noe better termes maye bee,
Unlesse thou sweare upon the rood, 65
And promise on thy faye,
Here to returne to Tearne-Wadling,
Upon the new-yeare's daye;
And bringe me worde what thing it is
All women moste desyre; 70
This is thy ransome, Arthur, he sayes,
He have noe other hyre.
King Arthur then helde up his hande,
And sware upon his faye,[40]
Then tooke his leave of the grimme barone 75
And faste hee rode awaye.
And he rode east, and he rode west,
And did of all inquyre,
What thing it is all women crave,
And what they most desyre. 80
Some told him riches, pompe, or state;
Some rayment fine and brighte;
Some told him mirthe; some flatterye;
And some a jollye knighte.
In letters all king Arthur wrote, 85
And seal'd them with his ringe:
But still his minde was helde in doubte,
Each tolde a different thinge.
As ruthfulle he rode over a more,
He saw a ladye sette 90
Betweene an oke, and a greene holléye,
All clad in red[41] scarlette.
Her nose was crookt and turnd outwàrde,
Her chin stoode all awrye;
And where as sholde have been her mouthe, 95
Lo! there was set her eye:
Her haires, like serpents, clung aboute
Her cheekes of deadlye hewe:
A worse-form'd ladye than she was,
No man mote ever viewe. 100
To hail the king in seemelye sorte
This ladye was fulle faine;
But king Arthùre all sore amaz'd,
No aunswere made againe.
What wight art thou, the ladye sayd, 105
That wilt not speake to mee;
Sir, I may chance to ease thy paine,
Though I be foule to see.
If thou wilt ease my paine, he sayd,
And helpe me in my neede; 110
Ask what thou wilt, thou grimme ladyè,
And it shall bee thy meede.
O sweare mee this upon the roode,
And promise on thy faye;
And here the secrette I will telle, 115
That shall thy ransome paye.
King Arthur promis'd on his faye,
And sware upon the roode;
The secrette then the ladye told,
As lightlye well shee cou'de. 120
Now this shall be my paye, sir king,
And this my guerdon bee,
That some yong fair and courtlye knight,
Thou bringe to marrye mee.
Fast then pricked king Arthùre 125
Ore hille, and dale, and downe:
And soone he founde the barone's bowre:
And soone the grimme baroùne.
He bare his clubbe upon his backe,
Hee stoode bothe stiffe and stronge; 130
And, when he had the letters reade,
Awaye the lettres flunge.
Nowe yielde thee, Arthur, and thy lands,
All forfeit unto mee;
For this is not thy paye, sir king, 135
Nor may thy ransome bee.
Yet hold thy hand, thou proud baròne,
I praye thee hold thy hand;
And give mee leave to speake once more
In reskewe of my land. 140
This morne, as I came over a more,
I saw a ladye sette
Betwene an oke, and a greene hollèye,
All clad in red scarlètte.
Shee sayes, all women will have their wille, 145
This is their chief desyre;
Now yield, as thou art a barone true,
That I have payd mine hyre.
An earlye vengeaunce light on her!
The carlish baron swore: 150
Shee was my sister tolde thee this,
And shee's a mishapen whore.
But here I will make mine avowe,
To do her as ill a turne:
For an ever I may that foule theefe gette, 155
In a fyre I will her burne.
* * * * *
PART THE SECONDE.
Homewarde pricked king Arthùre,
And a wearye man was hee;
And soone he mette queene Guenever,
That bride so bright of blee.
What newes! what newes! thou noble king, 5
Howe, Arthur, hast thou sped?
Where hast thou hung the carlish knighte?
And where bestow'd his head?
The carlish knight is safe for mee,
And free fro mortal harme: 10
On magicke grounde his castle stands,
And fenc'd with many a charme.
To bowe to him I was fulle faine,
And yielde mee to his hand:
And but for a lothly ladye, there 15
I sholde have lost my land.
And nowe this fills my hearte with woe,
And sorrowe of my life;
I swore a yonge and courtlye knight,
Sholde marry her to his wife. 20
Then bespake him sir Gawàine,
That was ever a gentle knighte:
That lothly ladye I will wed;
Therefore be merrye and lighte.
Nowe naye, nowe naye, good sir Gawàine; 25
My sister's sonne yee bee;
This lothlye ladye's all too grimme,
And all too foule for yee.
Her nose is crookt and turn'd outwàrde;
Her chin stands all awrye; 30
A worse form'd ladye than shee is
Was never seen with eye.
What though her chin stand all awrye.
And shee be foule to see:
I'll marry her, unkle, for thy sake, 35
And I'll thy ransome bee.
Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good sir Gawàine;
And a blessing thee betyde!
To-morrow wee'll have knights and squires,
And wee'll goe fetch thy bride. 40
And wee'll have hawkes and wee'll have houndes,
To cover our intent;
And wee'll away to the greene forèst,
As wee a hunting went.
Sir Lancelot, sir Stephen[42] bolde, 45
They rode with them that daye;
And foremoste of the companye
There rode the stewarde Kaye:
Soe did sir Banier[43] and sir Bore,[44]
And eke sir Garratte[45] keene; 50
Sir Tristram too, that gentle knight,
To the forest freshe and greene.
And when they came to the greene forrèst,
Beneathe a faire holley tree
There sate that ladye in red scarlètte 55
That unseemelye was to see.
Sir Kay beheld that lady's face,
And looked upon her sweere;[46]
Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,
Of his kisse he stands in feare. 60
Sir Kay beheld that ladye againe,
And looked upon her snout;
Whoever kisses that ladye, he sayes,
Of his kisse he stands in doubt.
Peace, brother Kay, sayde sir Gawàine, 65
And amend thee of thy life:
For there is a knight amongst us all,
Must marry her to his wife.
What marry this foule queane, quoth Kay,
I' the devil's name anone; 70
Gett mee a wife wherever I maye,
In sooth shee shall be none.
Then some tooke up their hawkes in haste,
And some took up their houndes;
And sayd they wolde not marry her, 75
For cities, nor for townes.
Then bespake him king Arthùre,
And sware there by this daye;
For a little foule sighte and mislikìnge,
Yee shall not say her naye. 80
Peace, lordings, peace; sir Gawaine sayd;
Nor make debate and strife;
This lothlye ladye I will take,
And marry her to my wife.
Nowe thankes, nowe thankes, good sir Gawaine, 85
And a blessinge be thy meede!
For as I am thine owne ladyè,
Thou never shalt rue this deede.
Then up they took that lothly dame,
And home anone they bringe: 90
And there sir Gawaine he her wed,
And married her with a ringe.
And when they were in wed-bed laid,
And all were done awaye:
"Come turne to mee, mine owne wed-lord 95
Come turne to mee I praye."
Sir Gawaine scant could lift his head,
For sorrowe and for care;
When, lo! instead of that lothelye dame,
Hee sawe a young ladye faire. 100
Sweet blushes stayn'd her rud-red cheeke,
Her eyen were blacke as sloe:
The ripening cherrye swellde her lippe,
And all her necke was snowe.
Sir Gawaine kiss'd that lady faire, 105
Lying upon the sheete:
And swore, as he was a true knighte,
The spice was never soe sweete.
Sir Gawaine kiss'd that lady brighte,
Lying there by his side: 110
"The fairest flower is not soe faire:
Thou never can'st bee my bride."
I am thy bride, mine owne deare lorde,
The same whiche thou didst knowe,
That was soe lothlye, and was wont 115
Upon the wild more to goe.
Nowe, gentle Gawaine, chuse, quoth shee,
And make thy choice with care;
Whether by night, or else by daye,
Shall I be foule or faire? 120
"To have thee foule still in the night,
When I with thee should playe!
I had rather farre, my lady deare,
To have thee foule by daye."
What when gaye ladyes goe with their lordes 125
To drinke the ale and wine;
Alas! then I must hide myself,
I must not goe with mine?
"My faire ladyè, sir Gawaine sayd,
I yield me to thy skille; 130
Because thou art mine owne ladyè
Thou shalt have all thy wille."
Nowe blessed be thou, sweete Gawàine,
And the daye that I thee see;
For as thou seest mee at this time, 135
Soe shall I ever bee.
My father was an aged knighte,
And yet it chanced soe,
He tooke to wife a false ladyè,
Whiche broughte me to this woe. 140
Shee witch'd mee, being a faire yonge maide,
In the greene forèst to dwelle;
And there to abide in lothlye shape,
Most like a fiend of helle.
Midst mores and mosses; woods, and wilds; 145
To lead a lonesome life:
Till some yong faire and courtlye knighte
Wolde marrye me to his wife:
Nor fully to gaine mine owne trewe shape,
Such was her devilish skille; 150
Until he wolde yielde to be rul'd by mee,
And let mee have all my wille.
She witchd my brother to a carlish boore,
And made him stiffe and stronge;
And built him a bowre on magicke grounde, 155
To live by rapine and wronge.
But now the spelle is broken throughe,
And wronge is turnde to righte;
Henceforth I shall bee a faire ladyè,
And hee be a gentle knighte. 160
[***]
FOOTNOTES:
[34] [Percy folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i. p. 104.]
[35] [complexion.]
[36] [strong.]
[37] [abused.]
[38] _Tearne-Wadling_ is the name of a small lake [in Inglewood Forest]
near Hesketh in Cumberland, on the road from Penrith to Carlisle.
There is a tradition, that an old castle once stood near the lake,
the remains of which were not long since visible. _Tarn_, in the
dialect of that country, signifies a small lake, and is still in use.
["Tarn-Wadling ... has been for the last ten years a wide meadow grazed
by hundreds of sheep."--J. S. GLENNIE, in _Macmillan's Mag._ Dec.
1867, p. 167, col. 2.]
[39] churlish.
[40] faith.
[41] This was a common phrase in our old writers; so Chaucer, in his
prologue to the _Cant. Tales_, says of the wife of Bath:--
"Her hosen were of fyne scarlet red."
[42] Sir F. Madden remarks that Sir Stephen does not appear in the
Round Table Romances.
[43] [Perhaps intended for Bedver, the King's Constable, Tennyson's
Bedivere, but more probably Ban of Benoyk, the brother of Bors.]
[44] [Bors de Gauves, or Gaunes.]
[45] [Gareth, or Gaheret, Sir Gawain's younger brother.]
[46] [neck.]
III.
KING RYENCE'S CHALLENGE.
This song is more modern than many of those which follow it, but is
placed here for the sake of the subject. It was sung before queene
Elizabeth at the grand entertainment at Kenelworth-castle in 1575, and
was probably composed for that occasion. In a letter describing those
festivities, it is thus mentioned: "A Minstral came forth with a sollem
song, warranted for story out of K. Arthur's acts, whereof I gat a
copy, and is this:
"So it fell out on a Pentecost, &c."
After the song the narrative proceeds: "At this the Minstrell made a
pause and a curtezy for Primus Passus. More of the song is thear, but I
gatt it not."
The story in Morte Arthur, whence it is taken, runs as follows: "Came
a messenger hastely from king Ryence of North-Wales,--saying, that
king Ryence had discomfited and overcomen eleaven kings, and everiche
of them did him homage, and that was this: they gave him their beards
cleane flayne off.--wherefore the messenger came for king Arthur's
beard, for king Ryence had purfeled a mantell with kings beards, and
there lacked for one a place of the mantell, wherefore he sent for
his beard, or else he would enter into his lands, and brenn and slay,
and never leave till he have thy head and thy beard. Well, said king
Arthur, thou hast said thy message, which is the most villainous and
lewdest message that ever man heard sent to a king. Also thou mayest
see my beard is full young yet for to make a purfell of, but tell thou
the king that--or it be long he shall do to me homage on both his
knees, or else he shall leese his head." [B. i. c. 24. See also the
same Romance, b. i. c. 92.]
The thought seems to be originally taken from Jeff. Monmouth's _Hist._
b. x. c. 3. which is alluded to by Drayton in his _Poly-Olb. Song._
4 and by Spenser in _Faer. Qu._ 6. 1. 13. 15. See the Observations on
Spenser, vol. ii. p. 223.
The following text is composed of the best readings selected from three
different copies. The first in Enderbie's _Cambria Triumphans_, p.
197. The second in the Letter abovementioned. And the third inserted in
MS. in a copy of _Morte Arthur_, 1632, in the Bodleian Library.
Stow tells us, that king Arthur kept his round table at "diverse
places, but especially at Carlion, Winchester, and Camalet in
Somersetshire." This _Camalet_, sometimes a famous towne or castle, is
situate on a very high tor or hill, &c. (See an exact description in
Stowe's _Annals_, ed. 1631, p. 55.)
* * * * *
As it fell out on a Pentecost day,
King Arthur at Camelot kept his court royall,
With his faire queene dame Guenever the gay;
And many bold barons sitting in hall;
With ladies attired in purple and pall; 5
And heraults in hewkes,[47] hooting on high,
Cryed, _Largesse, Largesse, Chevaliers tres-hardie_.[48]
A doughty dwarfe to the uppermost deas[49]
Right pertlye gan pricke, kneeling on knee;
With steven[50] fulle stoute amids all the preas,[51] 10
Sayd, Nowe sir king Arthur, God save thee, and see!
Sir Ryence of North-gales[52] greeteth well thee,
And bids thee thy beard anon to him send,
Or else from thy jaws he will it off rend.
For his robe of state is a rich scarlet mantle, 15
With eleven kings beards bordered[53] about,
And there is room lefte yet in a kantle,[54]
For thine to stande, to make the twelfth out:
This must be done, be thou never so stout;
This must be done, I tell thee no fable, 20
Maugre[55] the teethe of all thy round table.
When this mortal message from his mouthe past,
Great was the noyse bothe in hall and in bower:
The king fum'd; the queene screecht; ladies were aghast;
Princes puffd; barons blustred; lords began lower;
Knights stormed; squires startled, like steeds in a stower; 26
Pages and yeomen yell'd out in the hall,
Then in came sir Kay, the 'king's' seneschal.
Silence, my soveraignes, quoth this courteous knight,
And in that stound the stowre[56] began still: 30
'Then' the dwarfe's dinner full deerely was dight;[57]
Of wine and wassel he had his wille:
And, when he had eaten and drunken his fill,
An hundred pieces of fine coyned gold
Were given this dwarf for his message bold. 35
But say to sir Ryence, thou dwarf, quoth the king,
That for his bold message I do him defye;
And shortlye with basins and pans will him ring
Out of North-gales; where he and I
With swords, and not razors, quickly shall trye, 40
Whether he, or king Arthur will prove the best barbor:
And therewith he shook his good sword Excalàbor.
* * * * *
* * * * *
[+±+] Strada, in his _Prolusions_, has ridiculed the story of the
Giant's Mantle, made of the Beards of Kings.
FOOTNOTES:
[47] [party-coloured coats.]
[48] _Largesse, Largesse._ The heralds resounded these words as oft
as they received of the bounty of the knights. See _Memoires de la_
_Chevalerie_, tom. i. p. 99.--The expression is still used in the form
of installing knights of the garter.
[49] [dais or upper table.]
[50] [voice.]
[51] [press.]
[52] [North Wales.]
[53] _i.e._ set round the border, as furs are now round the gowns of
Magistrates.
[54] [corner.]
[55] [in spite of.]
[56] [that moment the tumult.]
[57] [decked.]
IV.
KING ARTHUR'S DEATH.
A FRAGMENT.
The subject of this ballad is evidently taken from the old romance
_Morte Arthur_, but with some variations, especially in the concluding
stanzas; in which the author seems rather to follow the traditions of
the old Welsh Bards, who believed that King Arthur was not dead, "but
conveied awaie by the Fairies into some pleasant place, where he should
remaine for a time, and then returne againe and reign in as great
authority as ever." Holinshed, b. 5, c. 14, or as it is expressed
in an old Chronicle printed at Antwerp 1493, by Ger. de Leew, "The
Bretons supposen, that he [K. Arthur]--shall come yet and conquere all
Bretaigne, for certes this is the prophicye of Merlyn: He sayd, that
his deth shall be doubteous; and sayd soth, for men thereof yet have
doubte, and shullen for ever more,--for men wyt not whether that he
lyveth or is dede." See more ancient testimonies in Selden's _Notes on
Polyolbion, Song III._
This fragment being very incorrect and imperfect in the original MS.
hath received some conjectural emendations, and even a supplement of
three or four stanzas composed from the romance of _Morte Arthur_.
* * * * *
[The two ballads here entitled _King Arthur's Death_ and _The_
_Legend of King Arthur_ are united in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and
Furnivall, vol. i. p. 497), but they are evidently two distinct
songs. The first ballad forms part ii. of the MS. copy, which
has fourteen verses at the end not printed here. The last four
verses are printed at the end of the next ballad. Percy has taken
great liberties with his original, and has not left a single line
unaltered, as will be seen by comparing it with the original
printed at the end. Additional lines are also interpolated which
are now enclosed within brackets, and it will be seen that these
unnecessary amplifications do not improve the effect of the poem.
It will also be seen that in vv. 41-44 the father and son of the
original are changed into uncle and nephew.
This last scene in the life of King Arthur is the most beautiful
and touching portion of his history, and the romancers and
minstrels were never tired of telling it in every form.
According to one tradition Arthur still sleeps under St. Michael's
Mount ("the guarded Mount" of Milton's _Lycidas_), and according to
another beneath Richmond Castle, Yorkshire.
Mr. Willmott, in his edition of the _Reliques_, writes, "according
to popular superstition in Sicily, Arthur is preserved alive by his
sister la Fata Morgana, whose fairy palace is occasionally seen
from Reggio in the opposite sea of Messina."]
* * * * *
* * * * *
On Trinitye Mondaye in the morne,
This sore battayle was doom'd to bee;
Where manye a knighte cry'd, Well-awaye!
Alacke, it was the more pittìe.
Ere the first crowinge of the cocke, 5
When as the kinge in his bed laye,
He thoughte sir Gawaine to him came,[58]
And there to him these wordes did saye.
Nowe, as you are mine unkle deare,
And as you prize your life, this daye 10
O meet not with your foe in fighte;
Putt off the battayle, if yee maye.
For sir Launcelot is now in Fraunce,
And with him many an hardye knighte:
Who will within this moneth be backe, 15
And will assiste yee in the fighte.
The kinge then call'd his nobles all,
Before the breakinge of the daye;
And tolde them howe sir Gawaine came,
And there to him these wordes did saye. 20
His nobles all this counsayle gave,
That earlye in the morning, hee
Shold send awaye an herauld at armes,
To aske a parley faire and free.
Then twelve good knightes king Arthure chose, 25
The best of all that with him were:
To parley with the foe in field,
And make with him agreement faire.
The king he charged all his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee: 30
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
Unlesse a sword drawne they shold see
And Mordred on the other parte,
Twelve of his knights did likewise bringe;
The beste of all his companye, 35
To hold the parley with the kinge.
Sir Mordred alsoe charged his hoste,
In readinesse there for to bee;
But noe man sholde noe weapon sturre,
But if a sworde drawne they shold see. 40
For he durste not his unkle truste,[59]
Nor he his nephewe, sothe to tell:[59]
Alacke! it was a woefulle case,
As ere in Christentye befelle.
But when they were together mette, 45
And both to faire accordance broughte;
And a month's league betweene them sette,
Before the battayle sholde be foughte;
An addere crept forth of a bushe,
Stunge one o' th' king's knightes on the knee: 50
Alacke! it was a woefulle chance,
As ever was in Christentìe.
When the knighte found him wounded sore,
And sawe the wild-worme[60] hanginge there;
His sworde he from his scabberde drewe; 55
A piteous case as ye shall heare.
For when the two hostes sawe the sworde,
They joyned battayle instantlye;
Till of soe manye noble knightes,
On one side there were left but three. 60
For all were slain that durst abide,
And but some fewe that fled awaye:
Ay mee! it was a bloodye fielde,
As ere was foughte on summer's daye.
Upon king Arthur's own partyè, 65
Onlye himselfe escaped there,
And Lukyn duke of Gloster free,
And the king's butler Bedevere.
And when the king beheld his knightes,
All dead and scattered on the molde; 70
[The teares fast trickled downe his face;
That manlye face in fight so bolde.
Nowe reste yee all, brave knights, he said,
Soe true and faithful to your trust:
And must yee then, ye valiant hearts, 75
Be lefte to moulder into dust!
Most loyal have yee been to mee,
Most true and faithful unto deathe:
And, oh! to rayse yee up againe,
How freelye could I yield my breathe!] 80
But see the traitor's yet alive,
Lo where hee stalkes among the deade!
Nowe bitterlye he shall abye:[61]
And vengeance fall upon his head.
O staye, my liege, then sayd the duke; 85
O staye for love and charitìe;
[Remember what the vision spake,
Nor meete your foe, if it may bee.
O, staye mee not, thou worthye wight,
This debt my loyal knights I owe: 90
Betide me life, betide me death,
I will avenge them of their foe.]
Then straite he grasp'd his trustye speare,
And on his horse then mounted hee:
As his butler holpe him to his horse, 95
His bowels gushed to his knee.
Alas! then sayd the noble king,
That I should live this sight to see!
To see this good knight here be slaine,
All for his love in helping mee! 100
He put his speare into his reste,
And to sir Mordred loud gan crye;
[Nowe sette thyself upon thy guarde,
For, traitor, nowe thy death is nye.
Sir Mordred lifted up his sworde, 105
And fierce to meet the king ran hee:]
The king his speare he through him thrust;
A fathom thorow his bodìe.
When Mordered felt the stroke of death,
And found that he was wounded soe; 110
He thruste himselfe upon the speare,
And strucke the king a deadlye blowe.
Then grimmlye dyed sir Mordered,
Presentlye upon that tree:
And bloody streames ranne from the kinge 115
Ere to the duke returned hee.
Sir Lukyn then he thus bespake,
Sir knighte, thou hast beene faithfulle tryde,
Nowe take my sword Excalibar,[62]
That hangs so freelye by my syde: 120
O take my sword Excalibar,
And there into the river throwe:
For here, henceforth, benethe this tree,
All use of weapons I foregoe.
[And fare thee well, thou trustye sword, 125
A better neer had valiant knighte,
With thee full ofte, and manye a daye,
Have I withstood my foe in fighte.
With this good fauchion in my hande,
Oft have I reapd the bloody feelde: 130
But nowe the fatalle houre is come,
That never more I may thee weelde.]
The duke to the river side he went,
And there his owne sword in threwe he:
But he kept back Excalibar, 135
He kept it back in privitie.
[For all of coleyne[63] was the blade;
And all the hilte of precious stone:
And ever alacke! then sayd the knighte,
Must such a sword awaye be throwne?] 140
Then backe he came unto the kinge,
Who sayd, Sir Lukyn, what did yee see?
Nothing, my liege, save that the winde
Blewe oer the waters faire and free.
O goe againe, then said the kinge, 145
O good sir Lukyn, goe againe:
Into the rivere throwe my sword,
Nor keepe me lingering here in paine.
The duke then to the river went,
And the kings scabberd in threwe hee; 150
But hee kept backe Excalibar,
And hid it undernethe a tree.
Then backe he came to tell the kinge,
Who sayde, Sir Lukyn sawe ye oughte?
Nothinge, my liege, save that the winde 155
Nowe with the angrye waters fought.
O Lukyn, Lukyn, said the kinge,
[Twice haste thou dealt deceytfullye:
Alacke, whom may wee ever truste,
When suche a knighte soe false can bee? 160
Saye, wouldst thou have thy master dead;
All for a sword, that wins thine eye:
Nowe goe againe, and throwe it in,
Or here the one of us shall dye.]
The duke, all shent with this rebuke, 165
No aunswere made unto the kinge:
But to the rivere tooke the sworde,
And threwe it far as he coulde flinge.
A hande and an arme did meete the sworde,
And flourishd three times in the air; 170
[Then sunke benethe the renninge streme,
And of the duke was seene noe mair.
All sore astonied stood the duke;
He stood as still, as still mote bee:]
Then hastend backe to telle the kinge; 175
But he was gone from under the tree.
But to what place he cold not tell,
For never after hee did him spye:[64]
But hee sawe a barge goe from the land,
And hee heard ladyes howle and crye[65]. 180
And whether the kinge were there, or not,
Hee never knewe, nor ever colde:
[For from that sad and direfulle daye,
Hee never more was scene on molde.]
[***]
[Illustration]
* * * * *
[The following forms Part II. of a ballad entitled _King Arthur's
Death_, in the folio MS. ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i. p. 501.
but vpon a Monday after Trinity Sonday
this battaile foughten cold bee,
where many a Knight cryed well-away!
alacke, the more pittye!
but vpon Sunday in the euening then, 5
when the King in his bedd did Lye,
he thought Sir Gawaine to him came,
& thus to him did say:
"Now as you are my vnckle deere,
I pray you be ruled by mee, 10
doe not fight as to-morrow day,
but put the battelle of if you may;
"for Sir Lancelott is now in france,
& many Knights with him full hardye,
& with-in this Month here hee wilbe, 15
great aide wilbe to thee."
hee wakened forth of his dreames;
to his Nobles that told hee,
how he thought Sir Gawaine to him came,
& these words sayd Certainly. 20
& then thé gaue the King councell all,
vpon Munday Earlye
that hee shold send one of his heralds of armes
to parle with his sonne, if itt might bee.
& 12 knights King Arthur chose, 25
the best in his companye,
that they shold goe to meete his sonne,
to agree if itt cold bee.
& the King charged all his host
in readynesse for to bee, 30
that Noe man shold noe weapons stur
with-out a sword drawne amongst his Knights thé see.
& Mordred vpon the other part,
12 of his Knights chose hee
that they shold goe to meete his father 35
betweene those 2 hosts fayre & free.
& Mordred charged his ost
in like mannor most certaínely,
that noe man shold noe weapons sturr
with-out a sword drawne amongst them thé see; 40
for he durst not his father trust,
nor the father the sonne certainley.
Alacke! this was a woefull case
as euer was in christentye!
but when they were mett together there, 45
& agreed of all things as itt shold bee,
& a monthes League then there was
before the battele foughten shold bee,
an Adder came forth of Bush,
stunge one of king Arthirs Knights below his knee; 50
alacke! this was a woefull chance
as euer was in christentye!
the Knight he found him wounded there,
& see the wild worme there to bee;
his sword out of his scabberd he drew; 55
alas! itt was the more pittye!
& when these 2 osts saw they sword drawen,
thé Ioyned battell certainlye,
Till of a 100: 1000: men
of one side was left but 3. 60
but all were slaine that durst abyde,
but some awaye that did flee.
King Arthur upon his owne partye
himselfe aliue cold be,
& Lukin the Duke of Gloster, 65
& Bedever his Butler certainlye
the King looked about him there
& saw his Knights all slaine to bee;
"Alas!" then sayd noble King Arthur
"that ever this sight I see! 70
to see all my good Knights lye slaine,
& the traitor yett aliue to bee!
loe where he leanes vpon his sword hillts
amongst his dead men certainlye!
I will goe slay him att this time; 75
neuer att better advantage I shall him see."
"Nay! stay here, my Leege!" then said the Duke,
"for loue and charitye!
for wee haue the battell woone,
for yett aliue we are but 3:" 80
the king wold not be perswaded then,
but his horsse then mounted hee;
his Butler [that] helped him to horsse,
his bowells gushed to his knee.
"Alas!" then said noble king Arthur, 85
"that this sight I euer see,
to see this good knight for to be slaine
for loue for to helpe mee!"
he put his speare into his rest,
& att his sonne he ryd feirclye, 90
& through him there his speare he thrust
a fatham thorrow his body.
the sonne he felld him wounded there,
& knew his death then to bee;
he thrust himselfe vpon his speare, 95
& gaue his father a wound certainlye.
but there dyed Sir Mordred
presently vpon that tree.
but or ere the King returned againe,
his butler was dead certainlye. 100
then bespake him Noble King Arthur,
these were the words sayd hee,
sayes "take my sword Escalberd
from my side fayre & free,
& throw itt into this riuer heere; 105
for all the vse of weapons Ile deliuer vppe,
heere vnderneath this tree."
the Duke to the riuer side he went,
& his sword in threw hee;
& then he kept Escalberd, 110
I tell you certainlye;
& then he came to tell the King,
the king said, "Lukin what did thou see?"
noe thing, my leege," the[n] sayd the duke,
"I tell you certainlye." 115
"O goe againe," said the king
"for loue & charitye,
& throw my sword into that riuer,
that neuer I doe itt see."
the Duke to the riuer side he went, 120
& the kings scaberd in threw hee;
& still he kept Escalberd
for vertue sake faire & free.
he came againe to tell the King;
the King sayd, "Lukin what did thou see?" 125
"nothing my leege," then sayd the Duke,
"I tell you certainlye."
"O goe againe Lukin," said the King,
"or the one of vs shall dye."
then the Duke to the riuer sid went, 130
& then Kings sword then threw hee:
A hand & an arme did meete that sword,
& flourished 3 times certainlye
he came againe to tell the King,
but the king was gone from vnder the tree 135
but to what place, he cold not tell,
for neuer after hee did him see,
but he see a barge from the land goe,
& hearde Ladyes houle & cry certainlye;
but whether the king was there or noe 140
he knew not certainlye.
the Duke walked by that Riuers side
till a chappell there found hee,
& a preist by the aulter side there stood.
the Duke kneeled downe there on his knee 145
& prayed the preists, "for Christs sake
the rights of the church bestow on mee!"
for many dangerous wounds he had vpon him
& liklye he was to dye.
& there the Duke liued in prayer 150
till the time that hee did dye.
King Arthur liued King 22 yeere
in honor and great fame,
& thus by death suddenlye
was depriued from the same. 155
ffins.]
FOOTNOTES:
[58] Sir Gawaine had been killed at Arthur's landing on his return from
abroad. See the next ballad, ver. 73.
[59] [Ver. 41, 42, the folio MS. reads father ... sonne.]
[60] [serpent.]
[61] [pay for or expiate.]
[62] More commonly called, _Caliburn_. In the folio MS. _Escallberd_.
[Percy notes in the MS. that "Caliburn was presented A.D. 1191 to
Tancred, King of Sicily, by our King Richard I. See Rapin, vol. i."]
[63] [Cologne steel.]
[64] Ver. 178, see MS.
[65] Not unlike that passage in Virgil.
"Summoque ulularunt vertice nymphæ."
_Ladies_ was the word our old English writers used for _Nymphs_: As in
the following lines of an old song in the Editor's folio MS.
"When scorching Ph[oe]bus he did mount,
Then Lady Venus went to hunt;
To whom Diana did resort,
With all the Ladyes of hills, and valleys
Of springs, and floodes, &c."
V.
THE LEGEND OF KING ARTHUR.
We have here a short summary of K. Arthur's History as given by
Jeff. of Monmouth and the old chronicles, with the addition of a few
circumstances from the romance Morte Arthur.--The ancient chronicle
of Ger. de Leew (quoted above in p. 28), seems to have been chiefly
followed: upon the authority of which we have restored some of the
names which were corrupted in the MS. and have transposed one stanza,
which appeared to be misplaced, (_viz._ that beginning at ver. 49,
which in the MS. followed ver. 36.)
Printed from the Editor's ancient folio Manuscript.
* * * * *
[This ballad as previously stated is the first part of the poem in
the MS. and precedes the one here printed before it. Percy made
comparatively few alterations in this part and all of them are now
noted at the foot of the page.]
* * * * *
Of Brutus' blood, in Brittaine borne,[66]
King Arthur I am to name;
Through Christendome, and Heathynesse,[67]
Well knowne is my worthy fame.
In Jesus Christ I doe beleeve; 5
I am a christyan bore:[68][69]
The Father, Sone, and Holy Gost
One God, I doe adore.
In the four hundred ninetieth yeere,[70]
Over Brittaine I did rayne, 10
After my savior Christ his byrth:
What time I did maintaine
The fellowshipp of the table round,
Soe famous in those dayes;
Whereatt a hundred noble knights, 15
And thirty sat alwayes:[71]
Who for their deeds and martiall feates,
As bookes done yett record,
Amongst all other nations[72]
Wer feared throwgh the world. 20
And in the castle off Tyntagill[73]
King Uther mee begate
Of Agyana a bewtyous ladye,[74]
And come of "hie" estate.[75]
And when I was fifteen yeere old, 25
Then was I crowned kinge:
All Brittaine that was att an upròre,
I did to quiett bringe.
And drove the Saxons from the realme,
Who had opprest this land; 30
All Scotland then throughe manly feats[76]
I conquered with my hand.[76]
Ireland, Denmarke, Norway,
These countryes wan I all;
Iseland, Gotheland, and Swethland; 35
And made their kings my thrall.
I conquered all Gallya,
That now is called France;
And slew the hardye Froll in feild[77]
My honor to advance. 40
And the ugly gyant Dynabus[78]
Soe terrible to vewe,
That in Saint Barnards mount did lye,
By force of armes I slew:
And Lucyus the emperour of Rome 45
I brought to deadly wracke;
And a thousand more of noble knightes
For feare did turne their backe:
Five kinges of "paynims"[79] I did kill[80][81]
Amidst that bloody strife;[81] 50
Besides the Grecian emperour[81]
Who alsoe lost his liffe.[81]
Whose carcasse I did send to Rome
Cladd poorlye on a beere;
And afterward I past Mount-Joye 55
The next approaching yeere.
Then I came to Rome, where I was mett
Right as a conquerour,
And by all the cardinalls solempnelye
I was crowned an emperour. 60
One winter there I made abode:
Then word to mee was brought
How Mordred had oppressd the crowne:
What treason he had wrought
Att home in Brittaine with my queene; 65
Therfore I came with speede
To Brittaine backe, with all my power,
To quitt that traiterous deede:
And soone at Sandwiche I arrivde,[82]
Where Mordred me withstoode: 70
But yett at last I landed there,
With effusion of much blood.
For there my nephew sir Gawaine dyed,
Being wounded in that sore,[83]
The whiche sir Lancelot in fight[84] 75
Had given him before.
Thence chased I Mordered away,
Who fledd to London right,
From London to Winchester, and
To Cornewalle tooke his flyght.[85] 80
And still I him pursued with speed
Till at the last we mett:
Whereby an appointed day of fight[86]
Was there agreed and sett.[87]
Where we did fight, of mortal life[88] 85
Eche other to deprive,[88]
Till of a hundred thousand men
Scarce one was left a live.
There all the noble chivalrye
Of Brittaine tooke their end. 90
O see how fickle is their state
That doe on feates depend![89][90]
There all the traiterous men were slaine
Not one escapte away;
And there dyed all my vallyant knightes. 95
Alas! that woefull day![91]
Two and twenty yeere I ware the crowne
In honor and great fame;
And thus by death was suddenlye
Deprived of the same. 100
FOOTNOTES:
[66] Ver. 1. Bruite his, MS.
[67] [heathendom.]
[68] [born.]
[69] [V. 6. borne, MS.]
[70] V. 9. He began his reign A.D. 515, according to the Chronicles.
[71] [V. 16. sit, MS.]
[72] [V. 19. all nations, MS.]
[73] [pronounced "Tintadgell;" the remains of the castle still exist on
the north coast of Cornwall.]
[74] V. 23. She is named Igerna in the old Chronicles.
[75] V. 24. his, MS.
[76] [Ver. 31-2.
And then I conquered througe manly feats,
All Scottlande with my hands, MS.]
[77] V. 39. Froland feild, MS. Froll, according to the Chronicles, was
a Roman knight governor of Gaul.
[78] V. 41. Danibus, MS.
[79] [Pagans.]
[80] V. 49. of Pavye, MS.
[81] [V. 49-52. this stanza occurs after v. 36 in the MS.]
[82] [Ver. 69. and when at Sandwich I did land.]
[83] [V. 74. on that.]
[84] [V. 75. that Sir Lancelott.]
[85] [V. 80. he tooke. MS.]
[86] [Ver. 83. Wherby appointed.]
[87] [V. 84. was agreed.]
[88] [V. 85-6.
Where wee did fight soe mortallye
Of live eche other to deprive.]
[89] [V. 92. upon.]
[90] V. 92. perhaps fates.
[91] [V. 96 is the end of the first part in the MS., the stanza
King Arthur lived King 22 yeere
in honor and great fame
and thus by death suddenlye
was deprived from the same
ends the second part, which is printed by Percy as _King Arthur's_
_death_, see previous ballad.]
VI.
A DYTTIE TO HEY DOWNE.
Copied from an old MS. in the Cotton Library [British Museum] (Vesp. A.
xxv. fol. 170), intitled, "Divers things of Hen. viij's time."
* * * * *
Who sekes to tame the blustering winde,
Or causse the floods bend to his wyll,
Or els against dame nature's kinde
To "change" things frame by cunning skyll:[92]
That man I thinke bestoweth paine, 5
Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine.
Who strives to breake the sturdye steele,
Or goeth about to staye the sunne;
Who thinks to causse an oke to reele,
Which never can by force be done: 10
That man likewise bestoweth paine,
Thoughe that his laboure be in vaine.
Who thinks to stryve against the streame,
And for to sayle without a maste;
Unlesse he thinks perhapps to faine, 15
His travell ys forelorne and waste;
And so in cure of all his paine,
His travell ys his cheffest gaine.
So he lykewise, that goes about
To please eche eye and every eare,
Had nede to have withouten doubt
A golden gyft with hym to beare;
For evyll report shall be his gaine,
Though he bestowe both toyle and paine.
God grant eche man one to amend; 25
God send us all a happy place;
And let us pray unto the end,
That we may have our princes grace:
Amen, Amen! so shall we gaine
A dewe reward for all our paine. 30
FOOTNOTES:
[92] Ver. 4. causse, MS.
VII.
GLASGERION.
An ingenious Friend thinks that the following old Ditty (which is
printed from the Editor's folio MS.) may possibly have given birth to
the Tragedy of the _Orphan_, in which Polidore intercepts Monimia's
intended favours to Castalio.
See what is said concerning the hero of this song, (who is celebrated
by _Chaucer_ under the name of _Glaskyrion_) in the Essay affixed to
vol. i. note H. pt. iv. (2).
* * * * *
[The hero of this ballad is the same as "gret Glascurion," placed
by Chaucer in the _House of Fame_ by the side of Orpheus, and
also associated with Orpheus by Gawain Douglas in the _Palice of
Honour_. Percy's note in the Folio MS. is "It was not necessary to
correct this much for the press;" (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. i.
p. 246). It will be seen, however, by the collations at the foot
of the page that several corrections were made, not always for the
better. Thus ver. 96, "who did his ladye grieve," is certainly
weaker than the original,--
"And asked noe man noe leave."
Jamieson (_Popular Ballads_, 1806, vol. i. p. 91) prints an
inferior version under the name of _Glenkindie_. Mr. Hale points
out, however, that "the Scotch version is more perfect in one
point--in the test question put to the page before the assignation
is disclosed to him:--
'O mith I tell you, Gib my man,
Gin I a man had slain?'
Some such question perhaps would give more force to vv. 85-88 of
our version." He also very justly observes, "perhaps there is no
ballad that represents more keenly the great gulf fixed between
churl and noble--a profounder horror at the crossing over it."]
* * * * *
Glasgerion was a kings owne sonne,
And a harper he was goode:
He harped in the kinges chambere,
Where cuppe and candle stoode.[93]
And soe did hee in the queens chamber, 5
Till ladies waxed "glad."[94]
And then bespake the kinges daughter;
And these wordes thus shee sayd.[95]
Strike on, strike on, Glasgèrion,[96]
Of thy striking doe not blinne:[97] 10
Theres never a stroke comes oer thy harpe,[98]
But it glads my hart withinne.
Faire might he fall,[99] ladye, quoth hee,[100]
Who taught you nowe to speake!
I have loved you, ladye, seven longe yeere[101] 15
My minde I neere durst breake.[102]
But come to my bower, my Glasgèrion,
When all men are att rest:
As I am a ladie true of my promise,
Thou shalt bee a welcome guest. 20
Home then came Glasgèrion,[103]
A glad man, lord! was hee.
And, come thou hither, Jacke my boy;
Come hither unto mee.[104]
For the kinges daughter of Normandye 25
Hath granted mee my boone:
And att her chambere must I bee
Beffore the cocke have crowen.
O master, master, then quoth hee,[105]
Lay your head downe on this stone: 30
For I will waken you, master deere,
Afore it be time to gone.
But up then rose that lither[106] ladd,
And hose and shoone did on:[107]
A coller he cast upon his necke, 35
Hee seemed a gentleman.
And when he came to the ladies chamber,
He thrild upon a pinn.[108]
The lady was true of her promise,
Rose up and lett him in. 40
He did not take the lady gaye
To boulster nor to bed:[109]
"Nor thoughe hee had his wicked wille,[110]
"A single word he sed."[110]
He did not kisse that ladyes mouthe,[111] 45
Nor when he came, nor youd:[112][113]
And sore mistrusted that ladye gay,
He was of some churls bloud.
But home then came that lither ladd,
And did off his hose and shoone; 50
And cast the coller from off his necke:[114]
He was but a churlès sonne.
Awake, awake, my deere master,[115]
[The cock hath well-nigh crowen.[116]
Awake, awake, my master deere,][116] 55
I hold it time to be gone.
For I have saddled your horsse, mastèr,
Well bridled I have your steede:
And I have served you a good breakfast:[117]
For thereof ye have need.[118] 60
Up then rose, good Glasgeriòn,[119]
And did on hose and shoone;
And cast a coller about his necke:
For he was a kinge his sonne.[120]
And when he came to the ladyes chamber,[121] 65
He thrild upon the pinne:[122]
The ladye was more than true of promise,
And rose and let him in.[123]
Saies, whether have you left with me
Your bracelett or your glove? 70
Or are you returned backe againe[124]
To know more of my love?
Glasgèrion swore a full great othe
By oake, and ashe, and thorne;
Lady, I was never in your chambèr. 75
Sith the time that I was borne.
O then it was your lither foot-page,[125]
He hath beguiled mee.[126]
Then shee pulled forth a little pen-kniffe,[127]
That hanged by her knee: 80
Sayes, there shall never noe churlès blood
Within my bodye spring:[128]
[No churlès blood shall ever defile[129]
The daughter of a kinge.][129]
Home then went Glasgèrion,[130] 85
And woe, good lord, was hee.[131]
Sayes, come thou hither, Jacke my boy,[132]
Come hither unto mee.[133]
If I had killed a man to night,[134]
Jacke, I would tell it thee: 90
But if I have not killed a man to night
Jacke, thou hast killed three.
And he puld out his bright browne sword,
And dryed it on his sleeve,
And he smote off that lither ladds head, 95
Who did his ladye grieve.[135]
He sett the swords poynt till his brest,
The pummil untill a stone:[136]
Throw the falsenesse of that lither ladd,
These three lives werne all gone. 100
FOOTNOTES:
[93] [Ver. 4. where cappe and candle yoode, MS.]
[94] V. 6. wood, MS.
[95] [V. 8. sayd shee, MS.]
[96] [V. 9. saide, strike.]
[97] [cease.]
[98] [V. 11. over this.]
[99] [well may be thine.]
[100] [V. 13. you fall.]
[101] [V. 15. 7 yeere.]
[102] [V. 16. my hart I durst neere breake.]
[103] [V. 21. but whom then.]
[104] [V. 24. her love is granted mee.]
[105] [Ver. 29. but come you hither Master, quoth he.]
[106] [wicked.]
[107] [V. 34. and did on hose and shoone.]
[108] This is elsewhere expressed "_twirled the pin_," or "_tirled at_
_the pin_" (see b. ii. s. vi. v. 3.) and seems to refer to the turning
round the button on the outside of a door, by which the latch rises,
still used in cottages.
[The explanation given by Percy in this note is an unfounded guess.
The Risp or tirling pin was very generally used in the north to do the
duty afterwards performed by the knocker. There are several of these
curious contrivances in the Antiquarian Museum at Edinburgh, and they
are described by D. Wilson in his _Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden
Time_, as follows,--"These antique precursors of the knocker and bell
are still frequently to be met with in the steep turnpikes of the Old
Town, notwithstanding the cupidity of the Antiquarian collectors. The
ring is drawn up and down the notched iron rod and makes a very audible
noise within." (1848, vol. i. p. 97).]
[109] [V. 42. nor noe bed.]
[110] [V. 43-4.
but downe upon her chamber flore
full soone he hath her layd.]
[111] [Ver. 45. that lady gay.]
[112] [went.]
[113] [Ver. 46. when he came nor when he youd.]
[114] [V. 51. that coller from about.]
[115] [V. 53. awaken quoth hee my master deere.]
[116] [V. 54-5. not in MS.]
[117] [V. 59. have not I served a.]
[118] [V. 60. when times comes I have need.]
[119] [V. 61. but up.]
[120] [V. 64. he was a kinges sonne.]
[121] [V. 65. that ladies.]
[122] [V. 66. upon a.]
[123] [V. 68. rose up and.]
[124] [V. 71. you are. MS]
[125] Ver. 77. litle, MS.
[126] [V. 78. falsly hath.]
[127] [V. 79. and then.]
[128] [V. 82. spring within my body.]
[129] [V. 83-4. not in MS.]
[130] [V. 85. but home then.]
[131] [V. 86. a woe man good was hee.]
[132] [V. 87. come hither thou.]
[133] [V. 88. come thou.]
[134] [V. 89. ffor if.]
[135] [V. 96. and asked noe man noe leave.]
[136] [V. 98. till a. MS.]
VIII.
OLD ROBIN OF PORTINGALE.
From an ancient copy in the Editor's folio MS. which was judged to
require considerable corrections.
In the former edition the hero of this piece had been called Sir Robin,
but that title not being in the MS. is now omitted.
_Giles_, steward to a rich old merchant trading to _Portugal_, is
qualified with the title of _Sir_, not as being a knight, but rather, I
conceive, as having received an inferior order of priesthood.
* * * * *
[Percy's note in the MS. is as follows, "When I first set to
examine this I had not yet learnt to hold this old MS. in much
regard." Every line is altered, so that it has been necessary to
add a copy of the original, although the interest of the ballad
itself is not very great. Percy's most notable correction is the
introduction of 20 good knights to help Robin against his wife's
twenty-four traitors.]
* * * * *
Let never again soe old a man
Marrye soe yonge a wife,
As did old Robin of Portingale;
Who may rue all the dayes of his life.
For the mayors daughter of Lin, god wott, 5
He chose her to his wife,
And thought with her to have lived in love,
By they fell to hate and strife.
They scarce were in their wed-bed laid,
And scarce was hee asleepe, 10
But upp shee rose, and forth shee goes,
To the steward, and gan to weepe.
Sleepe you, wake you, faire sir Gyles?
Or be you not within?
Sleepe you, wake you, faire sir Gyles, 15
Arise and let me inn.
O, I am waking, sweete, he said,
Sweete ladye, what is your will?
I have unbethought me of a wile[137]
How my wed-lord weell spill.[138] 20
Twenty-four good knights, shee sayes.
That dwell about this towne,
Even twenty-four of my next cozèns,
Will helpe to dinge[139] him downe.
All that beheard his litle footepage, 25
As he watered his masters steed;
And for his masters sad perille
His verry heart did bleed.
He mourned still, and wept full sore;
I sweare by the holy roode 30
The teares he for his master wept
Were blent water and bloude.[140]
And that beheard his deare mastèr
As he stood at his garden pale:
Sayes, Ever alacke, my litle foot-page, 35
What causes thee to wail?
Hath any one done to thee wronge
Any of thy fellowes here?
Or is any of thy good friends dead,
That thou shedst manye a teare? 40
Or, if it be my head bookes-man,[141]
Aggrieved he shal bee:
For no man here within my howse,
Shall doe wrong unto thee.
O, it is not your head bookes-man, 45
Nor none of his degree:
But, on to-morrow ere it be noone[142]
All deemed[143] to die are yee.
And of that bethank your head stewàrd,
And thank your gay ladie. 50
If this be true, my litle foot-page,
The heyre of my land thoust bee.
If it be not true, my dear mastèr,
No good death let me die.
If it be not true, thou litle foot-page, 55
A dead corse shalt thou lie.[144]
O call now downe my faire ladye,
O call her downe to mee:
And tell my ladye gay how sicke,
And like to die I bee. 60
Downe then came his ladye faire,
All clad in purple and pall:
The rings that were on her fingèrs,
Cast light thorrow the hall.
What is your will, my owne wed-lord? 65
What is your will with mee?
O see, my ladye deere, how sicke,
And like to die I bee.
And thou be sicke, my own wed-lord,
Soe sore it grieveth me: 70
But my five maydens and myselfe
Will "watch thy" bedde for thee:[145]
And at the waking of your first sleepe,
We will a hott drinke make:
And at the waking of your "next" sleepe,[146] 75
Your sorrowes we will slake.
He put a silk cote on his backe,
And mail of manye a fold:
And hee putt a steele cap on his head,
Was gilt with good red gold. 80
He layd a bright browne sword by his side,
And another att his feete:
"And twentye good knights he placed at hand,
To watch him in his sleepe."
And about the middle time of the night, 85
Came twentye-four traitours inn:
Sir Giles he was the foremost man,
The leader of that ginn.[147]
Old Robin with his bright browne sword,
Sir Gyles head soon did winn: 90
And scant of all those twenty-four,
Went out one quick[148] agenn.
None save only a litle foot page,
Crept forth at a window of stone:
And he had two armes when he came in, 95
And he went back with one.
Upp then came that ladie gaye
With torches burning bright:
She thought to have brought sir Gyles a drinke,
Butt she found her owne wedd knight. 100
The first thinge that she stumbled on
It was sir Gyles his foote:
Sayes, Ever alacke, and woe is mee!
Here lyes my sweete hart-roote.
The next thinge that she stumbled on 105
It was sir Gyles his heade;
Sayes, Ever, alacke, and woe is me!
Heere lyes my true love deade.
Hee cutt the pappes beside her brest,
And did her body spille;[149] 110
He cutt the eares beside her heade,
And bade her love her fille.
He called then up his litle foot-page,
And made him there his heyre;
And sayd henceforth my worldlye goodes 115
And countrye I forsweare.
He shope[150] the crosse on his right shouldèr,
Of the white "clothe" and the redde,[151]
And went him into the holy land,
Wheras Christ was quicke and dead. 120
* * * * *
[The following is the original ballad from the Folio MS. ed. Hales and
Furnivall, vol. i. p. 235.
God! let neuer soe old a man
marry so yonge a wiffe
as did old Robin of portingale!
he may rue all the dayes of his liffe. 4
ffor the Maiors daughter of Lin, god wott,
he chose her to his wife,
& thought to haue liued in quiettnesse
with her all the dayes of his liffe. 8
they had not in their wed bed laid,
scarcly were both on sleepe,
but vpp shee rose, & forth shee goes
to Sir Gyles, & fast can weepe, 12
Saies, "sleepe you, wake you, faire Sir Gyles,
or be not you within?"
"but I am waking, sweete," he said,
"Lady, what is your will?" 16
"I haue vnbethought me of a will,
how my wed Lord we shall spill.
"24 knights, she sayes,
that dwells about this towne, 20
eene 24 of my Next Cozens,
will helpe to dinge him downe."
with that beheard his litle foote page
as he was watering his Masters steed, 24
Soe s * * * *
his verry heart did bleed;
he mourned, sist, and wept full sore;
I sweare by the holy roode, 28
the teares he for his Master wept
were blend water & bloude.
with that beheard his deare Master
as in his garden sate, 32
says, "euer alacke my litle page!
what causes thee to weepe?
"hath any one done to thee wronge,
any of thy fellowes here, 36
or is any of thy good friends dead
which makes thee shed such teares?
"or if it be my head bookes man,
grieued againe he shalbe, 40
nor noe man within my howse
shall doe wrong vnto thee."
"but it is not your head bookes man,
nor none of his degree, 44
but or to morrow, ere it be Noone,
you are deemed to die;
"& of that thanke your head Steward,
& after your gay Ladie." 48
"If it be true, my little foote page,
Ile make thee heyre of all my land."
"if it be not true, my deare Master,
god let me neuer dye." 52
"if it be not true, thou little foot page,
a dead corse shalt thou be."
he called downe his head kookes man,
cooke in kitchen super to dresse: 56
"all & anon, my deare Master,
anon at your request."
"& call you downe my faire Lady,
this night to supp with mee." 60
& downe then came that fayre Lady,
was cladd all in purple & palle,
the rings that were vpon her fingers
cast light thorrow the hall. 64
"What is your will, my owne wed Lord,
what is your will with mee?"
"I am sicke, fayre Lady,
sore sicke, & like to dye." 68
"but & you be sicke, my owne wed Lord,
soe sore it greiueth mee,
but my 5 maydens & my selfe
will goe & make your bedd, 72
"& at the wakening of your first sleepe,
you shall haue a hott drinke Made,
& at the wakening of your first sleepe
your sorrowes will haue a slake." 76
he put a silke cote on his backe,
was 13 inches folde,
& put a steele cap vpon his head,
was gilded with good red gold; 80
& he layd a bright browne sword by his side,
& another att his ffeete,
& full well knew old Robin then
whether he shold wake or sleepe. 84
& about the Middle time of the Night
came 24 good knights in,
Syr Gyles he was the formost man,
soe well he knew that ginne. 88
Old Robin with a bright browne sword
Sir Gyles head he did winne,
soe did he all those 24,
neuer a one went quicke out [agen;] 92
none but one litle foot page
crept forth at a window of stone,
& he had 2 armes when he came in
And [when he went out he had none]. 96
Vpp then came that Ladie bright
with torches burning light;
shee thought to haue brought Sir Gyles a drinke,
but shee found her owne wedd Knight, 100
& the first thinge that this Ladye stumbled vpon,
was of Sir Gyles his ffoote,
sayes, "euer alacke, and woe is me,
heere lyes my sweete hart roote!" 104
& the 2^d thing that this Ladie stumbled on,
was of Sir Gyles his head,
sayes, "euer alacke, and woe is me,
heere lyes my true loue deade!" 108
hee cutt the papps beside he[r] brest,
& bad her wish her will,
& he cutt the eares beside her heade,
& bade her wish on still. 112
"Mickle is the mans blood I haue spent
to doe thee & me some good,"
sayes, "euer alacke, my fayre Lady,
I thinke that I was woode?" 116
he calld then vp his litle foote page,
& made him heyre of all his land,
& he shope the crosse in his right sholder
of the white flesh & the redd. 120
& he sent him into the holy land
wheras Christ was quicke & dead.
ffins.]
FOOTNOTES:
[137] Ver. 19. _unbethought_, (properly _onbethought_) this word is
still used in the Midland counties in the same sense as _bethought_.
[138] [spoil or kill.]
[139] [knock.]
[140] V. 32. blend, MS.
[141] [clerk.]
[142] Ver. 47. or to-morrow, MS.
[143] [doomed.]
[144] V. 56. bee, MS.
[145] Ver. 72. make the, MS.
[146] V. 75. first, MS.
[147] [snare.]
[148] [alive.]
[149] Ver. 118. fleshe, MS.
[150] [shaped.]
[151] Every person who went on a _Croisade_ to the Holy Land, usually
wore a cross on his upper garment, on the right shoulder, as a badge
of his profession. Different nations were distinguished by crosses
of different colours: The English wore white; the French red; &c.
This circumstance seems to be confounded in the ballad. (V. Spelman,
_Gloss_.)
IX.
CHILD WATERS.
_Child_ is frequently used by our old writers, as a Title. It is
repeatedly given to Prince Arthur in the Fairie Queen: and the son
of a king is in the same poem called "Child Tristram." (B. 5. c. 11.
st. 8. 13.--B. 6. c. 2. st. 36.--_Ibid._ c. 8. st. 15.) In an old
ballad quoted in Shakespeare's _K. Lear_, the hero of Ariosto is
called _Child Roland_. Mr. Theobald supposes this use of the word
was received along with their romances from the Spaniards, with whom
_Infante_ signifies a "Prince." A more eminent critic tells us, that
"in the old times of chivalry, the noble youth, who were candidates for
knighthood, during the time of their probation were called _Infans_,
_Varlets_, _Damoysels_, _Bacheliers_. The most noble of the youth were
particularly called _Infans_." (Vid. Warb. Shakesp.) A late commentator
on Spenser observes, that the Saxon word cniht, knight, signifies also
a "child." (See Upton's gloss to the F. Q.)
The Editor's folio MS. whence the following piece is taken (with some
corrections), affords several other ballads, wherein the word _Child_
occurs as a title: but in none of these it signifies "Prince." See the
song intitled _Gil Morrice_, in this volume.
It ought to be observed, that the Word _Child_ or _Chield_ is still
used in North Britain to denominate a Man, commonly with some
contemptuous character affixed to him, but sometimes to denote Man in
general.
* * * * *
[This ballad gives us a curious insight into ancient manners, and
shows what were our forefathers' notions of the perfection of
female character. They would have agreed with the propounder of
the question--What is woman's mission? answer, sub-mission. Like
patient Grissel, Ellen bears worse sufferings than the Nut-Brown
Maid has to hear of, and in spite of the worst usage she never
swerves from her devotion. This English version was the first
published, but the story is the same as _Lai le Frêne_, preserved
in English in the Auchinleck MS. and in Norman in the _Lais_ of
Marie, which were written about the year 1250.
Jamieson (_Popular Ballads and Songs_, 1806, vol. i. p. 113)
published his Scottish version under the more appropriate name
of _Burd Ellen_, who is the real heroine rather than the ruffian
Waters is the hero. Adopting the idea of Mrs. Hampden Pye, who
wrote a ballad on the same subject, he changes the character of the
catastrophe by adding three concluding stanzas to wind up the story
in an unhappy manner. Another version of the ballad, which ends
happily, is given in Kinloch's _Ancient Scottish Ballads_ under the
title of Lady Margaret. A German version of this ballad was made by
the poet Bürger.]
* * * * *
Childe Waters in his stable stoode
And stroakt his milke white steede
To him a fayre yonge ladye came[152]
As ever ware womans weede.[153]
Sayes, Christ you save, good Childe Waters; 5
Sayes, Christ you save, and see:
My girdle of gold that was too longe,[154]
Is now too short for mee.
And all is with one chyld of yours,
I feele sturre att my side; 10
My gowne of greene it is too straighte;
Before, it was too wide.
If the child be mine, faire Ellen, he sayd,
Be mine as you tell mee;
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,[155] 15
Take them your owne to bee.
If the childe be mine, faire Ellen, he sayd,
Be mine, as you doe sweare:
Then take you Cheshire and Lancashire both,
And make that child your heyre. 20
Shee saies, I had rather have one kisse,
Child Waters, of thy mouth;
Than I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both,
That lye by north and south.[156]
And I had rather have one twinkling,[157] 25
Childe Waters, of thine ee:[158]
Then I wolde have Cheshire and Lancashire both
To take them mine owne to bee.
To morrow, Ellen, I must forth ryde
Farr into the north countrie;[159] 30
The fairest lady that I can find,
Ellen, must goe with mee.
[Thoughe I am not that lady fayre,
Yet let me go with thee.]
And ever I pray you, Child Watèrs, 35
Your foot-page let me bee.
If you will my foot-page be, Ellèn,
As you doe tell to mee;[160]
Then you must cut your gowne of greene,
An inch above your knee: 40
Soe must you doe your yellowe lockes,
An inch above your ee:[161]
You must tell no man what is my name;
My foot-page then you shall bee.
Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode,[162] 45
Ran barefoote by his side;[163]
Yett was he never so courteous a knighte,
To say, Ellen, will you ryde?
Shee, all the long day Child Waters rode,[164]
Ran barefoote thorow the broome;[165] 50
Yett hee was never soe curteous a knighte,
To say, put on your shoone.[166]
Ride softlye, shee sayd, O Childe Waters,[167]
Why doe you ryde soe fast?
The childe, which is no mans but thine,[168] 55
My bodye itt will brast.[169]
Hee sayth, seest thou yonder water, Ellen,[170]
That flows from banke to brimme.--
I trust to God, O Child Waters,[171]
You never will see[172] mee swimme. 60
But when shee came to the waters side,
Shee sayled to the chinne:
Except the Lord of heaven be my speed,
Now must I learne to swimme.
The salt waters bare up her clothes;[173] 65
Our Ladye bare upp her chinne:
Childe Waters was a woe man, good Lord,[174]
To see faire Ellen swimme.
And when shee over the water was,
Shee then came to his knee: 70
He said, Come hither, thou faire Ellèn,[175]
Loe yonder what I see.
Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn?
Of redd gold shines the yate:[176]
Of twenty foure faire ladyes there,[177] 75
The fairest is my mate.[178]
Seest thou not yonder hall, Ellèn?
Of redd gold shines the towre:[179]
There are twenty four faire ladyes there,[180]
The fairest is my paramoure. 80
I see the hall now, Child Waters,[181]
Of redd gold shines the yate:[182]
God give you good now of yourselfe,[183]
And of your worthye mate.[184]
I see the hall now, Child Waters,[181] 85
Of redd golde shines the towre:[182]
God give you good now of yourselfe,[183]
And of your paramoure.
There twenty four fayre ladyes were[185]
A playing att the ball:[186] 90
And Ellen the fairest ladye there,[187]
Must bring his steed to the stall.
There twenty four fayre ladyes were[188]
A playinge at the chesse;[189]
And Ellen the fayrest ladye there,[190] 95
Must bring his horse to gresse.[191]
And then bespake Childe Waters sister,
These were the wordes said shee:[192]
You have the prettyest foot-page, brother,
That ever I saw with mine ee.[193] 100
But that his bellye it is soe bigg,
His girdle goes wonderous hie:
And let him, I pray you, Childe Watèrs,[194]
Goe into the chamber with mee.[195]
[It is not fit for a little foot-page, 105
That has run throughe mosse and myre,
To go into the chamber with any ladye.
That weares soe riche attyre.]
It is more meete for a litle foot-page,
That has run throughe mosse and myre. 110
To take his supper upon his knee,
And sitt downe by the kitchen fyer.[196]
But when they had supped every one,
To bedd they tooke theyr waye:[197]
He sayd, come hither, my little foot-page, 115
And hearken what I saye.[198]
Goe thee downe into yonder towne,[199]
And low into the street;
The fayrest ladye that thou can finde,
Hyer her in mine armes to sleepe, 120
And take her up in thine armes twaine,[200]
For filinge[201] of her feete.
Ellen is gone into the towne,
And low into the streete:
The fairest ladye that shee cold find, 125
Shee hyred in his armes to sleepe;
And tooke her up in her armes twayne,[202]
For filing of her feete.
I praye you nowe, good Childe Watèrs,
Let mee lye at your bedds feete:[203] 130
For there is noe place about this house,
Where I may 'saye a slepe[204].
[He gave her leave, and faire Ellèn
Down at his beds feet laye:]
This done the nighte drove on apace,[205] 135
And when it was neare the daye,[205]
Hee sayd, Rise up, my litle foot-page,
Give my steede corne and haye;[206]
And soe doe thou the good black oats,
To carry mee better awaye.[207] 140
Up then rose the faire Ellèn[208]
And gave his steede corne and hay:
And soe shee did the good blacke oates,[209]
To carry him the better away.[210]
Shee leaned her backe to the manger side,[211] 145
And grievouslye did groane:
[Shee leaned her back to the manger side,
And there shee made her moane.]
And that beheard his mother deere,
Shee heard her there monand.[212] 150
Shee sayd, Rise up, thou Child Watèrs,
I think thee a cursed man.[213]
For in thy stable is a ghost,[214]
That grievouslye doth grone.
Or else some woman laboures of childe, 155
She is soe woe-begone.
Up then rose Childe Waters soon,[215]
And did on his shirte of silke;
And then he put on his other clothes,[216]
On his body as white as milke. 160
And when he came to the stable dore,
Full still there hee did stand,[217]
That hee mighte heare his fayre Ellèn,[218]
Howe shee made her monànd[219].
She sayd, Lullabye, mine owne deere child,[220] 165
Lullabye, dere child, dere:
I wold thy father were a king,
Thy mother layd on a biere.
Peace now, hee said, good faire Ellèn.
Be of good cheere, I praye;[221] 170
And the bridal and the churching both
Shall bee upon one day.[222]
FOOTNOTES:
[152] [Ver. 3. to him came, MS.]
[153] [V. 4. as ere did weare, MS.]
[154] [V. 7. which was. MS.]
[155] V. 15. then not in MS.
[156] [V. 24. that lyes.]
[157] [V. 25. have a.]
[158] [V. 26. of your eye.]
[159] [V. 30. soe ffarr.]
[160] [V. 38. tell itt mee.]
[161] [V. 42. another inch above your eye. MS.]
[162] [Ver. 45. all this long. _Shee_ not in MS.]
[163] [V. 46. shee ran.]
[164] [V. 49. but all this day.]
[165] [V. 50. shee ran.]
[166] [V. 52. as to say.]
[167] [V. 53. _O_ not in MS.]
[168] [V. 55. but yours.]
[169] [V. 56. burst.]
[170] [V. 57. he sayes, sees.]
[171] [V. 59. Child Waters, shee said.]
[172] _i.e._ permit, suffer, &c.
[173] [V. 65. Ellen's clothes.]
[174] [V. 67. and Child Waters.]
[175] [V. 71. _thou_ not in MS.]
[176] [Ver. 74. shine the yates. MS.]
[177] [V. 75. theres 24 ffayre ladyes.]
[178] [V. 76. the ffairest is my worldlye make.]
[179] [V. 78. Shineth.]
[180] [V. 79. there is 24 ffaire ladyes.]
[181] [V. 81, 85. I doe see.]
[182] [V. 82, 86. that of redd gold shineth the yates.]
[183] [V. 83, 87. God give good then.]
[184] [V. 84. worldlye make.]
[185] [V. 89. there were 24 ladyes.]
[186] [V. 90. were playing.]
[187] [V. 91. Ellen was the fairest ladye.]
[188] [V. 93. there were.]
[189] [V. 94. was playing.]
[190] [V. 95. shee was the ffairest ladye.]
[191] [V. 96. grasse.]
[192] [V. 98. and these.]
[193] [V. 100. eye. MS.]
[194] [Ver. 103. and ever I pray. MS.]
[195] [V. 104. let him goe.]
[196] [After V. 112 the two lines
then goe into the chamber with any ladye
that weares soe ... attyre
occur in the MS.]
[197] [V. 114. they waye.]
[198] [V. 116. hearken what I doe say.]
[199] [V. 117. and goe thy.]
[200] [V. 121. armes 2. MS.]
[201] _i.e._ defiling. See Warton's _Observ._ vol. ii. p. 158.
[202] [V. 127. and tooke her in her armes 2.]
[203] [V. 130. that I may creape in att.]
[204] Ver. 132. _i.e._ essay, attempt
[205] [V. 135-6.
this and itt drove now afterward
till itt was neere the day.]
[206] [V. 138. and give.]
[207] [V. 140. that he may carry me the better away.]
[208] [V. 141. and up then rose the.]
[209] [V. 143. did on.]
[210] [V. 144. that he might carry him.]
[211] [V. 145. she layned.]
[212] [V. 150. and heard her make her moane.]
[213] [V. 152. I think thou art a. MS.]
[214] [Ver. 153. for yonder is a ghost in thy stable.]
[215] [V. 157. but up then rose Childe Waters.]
[216] [V. 159. _and_ not in MS.]
[217] [V. 162. full still that.]
[218] [V. 163. heare now faire.]
[219] _sic_ in MS., _i.e._ moaning, bemoaning, &c.
[220] [V. 165. my owne.]
[221] [V. 170. and be of good cheere I thee pray.]
[222] [V. 172. they shall, MS.]
X.
PHILLIDA AND CORYDON.
This Sonnet is given from a small quarto MS. in the Editor's
possession, written in the time of Q. Elizabeth. Another Copy of it
containing some variations, is reprinted in the _Muses' Library_,
p. 295, from an ancient miscellany, intitled _England's Helicon_,
1600, 4to. The author was _Nicholas Breton_, a writer of some fame
in the reign of Elizabeth; who also published an interlude intitled
_An old man's lesson and a young man's love_, 4to., and many other
little pieces in prose and verse, the titles of which may be seen in
Winstanley, Ames' _Typog._ and Osborne's _Harl. Catalog._ &c.--He
is mentioned with great respect by _Meres_, in his 2d pt. of _Wit's
Common-wealth_, 1598, f. 283, and is alluded to in Beaumont and
Fletcher's _Scornful Lady_, act ii., and again in _Wit without Money_,
act iii.--See Whalley's _Ben Jonson_, vol. iii. p. 103.
The present Edition is improved by a copy in _England's Helicon_, edit.
1614, 8vo.
This little Pastoral is one of the Songs in "The Honourable
Entertainment gieven to the Queenes Majestie in Progresse at Elvetham
in Hampshire, by the R. H. the Earle of Hertford, 1591, 4to." (Printed
by Wolfe. No name of author.) See in that pamphlet,
"The thirde daies Entertainment.
"On Wednesday morning about 9 o'clock, as her Majestie opened a
casement of her gallerie window, ther were 3 excellent musitians,
who being disguised in auncient country attire, did greet her with a
pleasant song of _Corydon and Phillida_, made in 3 parts of purpose.
The song, as well for the worth of the dittie as the aptnesse of the
note thereto applied, it pleased her Highnesse after it had been once
sung to command it againe, and highly to grace it with her cheerefull
acceptance and commendation.
THE PLOWMAN'S SONG.
_In the merrie month of May, &c."_
The splendour and magnificence of Elizabeth's reign is nowhere more
strongly painted than in these little diaries of some of her summer
excursions to the houses of her nobility; nor could a more acceptable
present be given to the world, than a republication of a select number
of such details as this of the entertainment at _Elvetham_, that at
_Killingworth_, &c., &c., which so strongly mark the spirit of the
times, and present us with scenes so very remote from modern manners.
Since the above was written, the public hath been gratified with a most
compleat work on the foregoing subject, intitled, _The Progresses and
Public Processions of Queen Elizabeth, &c. By John Nichols, F.A.S.,
Edinb. and Perth_, 1788, 2 vols. 4to.
* * * * *
[The author of this elegant little poem was a most voluminous
author, and "is supposed to be the same Capt. Nicholas Breton,
who was of Norton in Northamptonshire, and dying there June 22,
1624, has a monument in that church."[223] Dr. Rimbault (_Musical_
_Illustrations of Percy's Reliques_) writes as follows of the
music:--"We have here two settings of this beautiful pastoral,
the first as it was sung by the 'three excellent musitians'
before Queen Elizabeth in 1591; the second as it was reset in the
following century. The first is extracted from _Madrigals to 3,
4, and 5 parts, apt for viols and voices_, newly composed by
Michael Este, 1604; the second from _Cheerfull Ayres or Ballads,
set for three voyces_, by Dr. John Wilson, Oxford, 1660. The latter
became extremely popular, and is included in D'Urfey's _Pills to
Purge Melancholy_, 1719, and several other musical miscellanies of
subsequent date."]
* * * * *
In the merrie moneth of Maye,
In a morne by break of daye,
With a troope of damselles playing
Forthe "I yode" forsooth a maying:[224]
When anon by a wood side, 5
Where as Maye was in his pride,
I espied all alone
Phillida and Corydon.
Much adoe there was, god wot;
He wold love, and she wold not. 10
She sayde, never man was trewe;
He sayes, none was false to you.
He sayde, hee had lovde her longe:
She sayes, love should have no wronge.
Corydon wold kisse her then: 15
She sayes, maydes must kisse no men,
Tyll they doe for good and all.
When she made the shepperde call
All the heavens to wytnes truthe,
Never loved a truer youthe. 20
Then with manie a prettie othe,
Yea and nay, and, faith and trothe;
Suche as seelie shepperdes use
When they will not love abuse;
Love, that had bene long deluded, 25
Was with kisses sweete concluded;
And Phillida with garlands gaye
Was made the lady of the Maye.
FOOTNOTES:
[223] [England's _Helicon_ (Brydges' _British Bibliographer_, vol.
iii.)]
[224] Ver. 4. the wode, MS.
XI.
LITTLE MUSGRAVE AND LADY BARNARD.
This ballad is ancient, and has been popular; we find it quoted in many
old plays. See Beaum. and Fletcher's _Knight of the Burning Pestle_,
4to. 1613, act v. sc. iii. _The Varietie, a comedy_, 12mo. 1649, act
iv. &c. In Sir William Davenant's play, _The Witts_, a. iii. a gallant
thus boasts of himself:
"Limber and sound! besides I sing Musgrave,
And for Chevy-chace no lark comes near me."
In the Pepys _Collection_, vol. iii. p. 314, is an imitation of this
old song, in 33 stanzas, by a more modern pen, with many alterations,
but evidently for the worse.
This is given from an old printed copy in the British Museum, with
corrections; some of which are from a fragment in the Editor's folio
MS. It is also printed in Dryden's _Collection of Miscellaneous_
_Poems_.
* * * * *
[The copy of this ballad in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall,
vol. i. p. 119) is a mutilated fragment consisting of only ten
complete stanzas and three half ones. The oldest entire copy is
to be found in _Wit Restor'd_, 1658, where it is called _the_ old
_ballad of little Musgrave_, which is given by Professor Child
(_English and Scottish Ballads_, vol. ii. p. 15) in preference
to Percy's. This version, not very exactly transcribed, is printed
in Dryden's _Miscellany Poems_ (1716, vol. iii. 312), and Ritson
(_Ancient Songs and Ballads_, vol. ii. p. 116) copied it from
thence. Ritson writes of one of Percy's statements above: "Dr.
Percy indeed, by some mistake, gives it as from an old printed copy
in the British Museum; observing that 'In the Pepys collection is
an imitation of this old song in a different measure, by a more
modern pen, with many alterations, but evidently for the worse.' It
is very true, and not less so that the only copies in the museum
(for there are two) are more recent impressions of this identical
_imitation_."
It is the 14th stanza slightly altered which is quoted in the
_Knight of the Burning Pestle_.
"And some they whistled, and some they sung,
Hey down down!
And some did loudly say
Ever as Lord Barnet's horn blew,
Away Musgrave, away."
There are several Scottish versions, in which the reciters have
altered the locality. Jamieson has printed one which he calls _Lord
Barnaby_ (_Popular Ballads and Songs_, i. 170). He states that
he had heard it repeated both in Morayshire and in the southern
counties.
Motherwell gives the air in his _Minstrelsy_ which he noted down
from oral communication, and this verse--
"It fell upon a Martinmas time
When the nobles were a drinking wine,
That little Mushiegrove to the kirk he did go
For to see the ladies come in."
Mr. J. H. Dixon includes a version entitled _Lord Burnett and_
_Little Munsgrove_ in his Scottish Traditional Versions of Ancient
Ballads (Percy Society, vol. xvii.)
Home adopted the name of Lady Barnard in his _Douglas_ before he
took that of Lady Randolph, see No. 18, Gil Morrice.
There is another ballad called _The Bonny Birdy_, with a similar
story. Jamieson (i. 162) prints it and alters the title to _Lord_
_Randal_.]
* * * * *
As it fell out on a highe holye daye,
As many bee in the yeare,
When yong men and maides together do goe
Their masses and mattins to heare,
Little Musgràve came to the church door, 5
The priest was at the mass;
But he had more mind of the fine womèn,
Then he had of our Ladyes grace.
And some of them were clad in greene,
And others were clad in pall; 10
And then came in my lord Barnardes wife,
The fairest among them all.
Shee cast an eye on little Musgràve
As bright as the summer sunne:
O then bethought him little Musgràve, 15
This ladyes heart I have wonne.
Quoth she, I have loved thee, little Musgràve,
Fulle long and manye a daye.
So have I loved you, ladye faire,
Yet word I never durst saye. 20
I have a bower at Bucklesford-Bury,[225]
Full daintilye bedight,
If thoult wend thither, my little Musgràve,
Thoust lig in mine armes all night.
Quoth hee, I thanke yee, ladye faire, 25
This kindness yee shew to mee;
And whether it be to my weale or woe,
This night will I lig with thee.
All this beheard a litle foot-page,
By his ladyes coach as he ranne: 30
Quoth he, thoughe I am my ladyes page,
Yet Ime my lord Barnardes manne.
My lord Barnàrd shall knowe of this,
Although I lose a limbe.
And ever whereas the bridges were broke, 35
He layd him downe to swimme.
Asleep or awake, thou lord Barnàrd,
As thou art a man of life,
Lo! this same night at Bucklesford-Bury
Litle Musgrave's in bed with thy wife. 40
If it be trew, thou litle foote-page,
This tale thou hast told to mee,
Then all my lands in Bucklesford-Bury
I freelye will give to thee.
But and it be a lye, thou litle foot-page, 45
This tale thou hast told to mee,
On the highest tree in Bucklesford-Bury
All hanged shalt thou bee.
Rise up, rise up, my merry men all,
And saddle me my good steede; 50
This night must I to Bucklesford-bury;
God wott, I had never more neede.
Then some they whistled, and some they sang,
And some did loudlye saye,
Whenever lord Barnardes horne it blewe, 55
Awaye, Musgràve, away.
Methinkes I heare the throstle cocke,
Methinkes I heare the jay,
Methinkes I heare lord Barnards home;
I would I were awaye. 60
Lye still, lye still, thou little Musgràve,
And huggle me from the cold;
For it is but some shephardes boye
A whistling his sheepe to the fold.[226]
Is not thy hawke upon the pearche, 65
Thy horse eating corne and haye?
And thou a gay lady within thine armes:
And wouldst thou be awaye?
By this lord Barnard was come to the dore,
And lighted upon a stone: 70
And he pulled out three silver keyes,
And opened the dores eche one.
He lifted up the coverlett,
He lifted up the sheete;
How now, how now, thou little Musgràve, 75
Dost find my gaye ladye sweete?
I find her sweete, quoth little Musgràve,
The more is my griefe and paine;
Ide gladlye give three hundred poundes
That I were on yonder plaine. 80
Arise, arise, thou little Musgràve,
And put thy cloathes nowe on,
It shall never be said in my countree,
That I killed a naked man.
I have two swordes in one scabbàrde, 85
Full deare they cost my purse;
And thou shalt have the best of them,
And I will have the worse.
The first stroke that little Musgrave strucke,
He hurt lord Barnard sore; 90
The next stroke that lord Barnard strucke,
Little Musgrave never strucke more.
With that bespake the ladye faire,
In bed whereas she laye,
Althoughe thou art dead, my little Musgràve, 95
Yet for thee I will praye:
And wishe well to thy soule will I,
So long as I have life;
So will I not do for thee, Barnàrd,
Thoughe I am thy wedded wife. 100
He cut her pappes from off her brest;
Great pitye it was to see
The drops of this fair ladyes bloode
Run trickling downe her knee.
Wo worth, wo worth ye, my merrye men all, 105
You never were borne for my goode:
Why did you not offer to stay my hande,
When you sawe me wax so woode?[227]
For I have slaine the fairest sir knighte,
That ever rode on a steede; 110
So have I done the fairest lady,
That ever ware womans weede.[228]
A grave, a grave, Lord Barnard cryde,
To putt these lovers in;
But lay my ladye o' the upper hande, 115
For she comes o' the better kin.
* * * * *
[+±+] That the more modern copy is to be dated about the middle of
the last century, will be readily conceived from the tenor of the
concluding stanza, viz.
"This sad Mischief by Lust was wrought;
Then let us call for Grace,
That we may shun the wicked vice,
And fly from Sin a-pace."
FOOTNOTES:
[225] Bucklefield-berry, fol. MS.
[226] Ver. 64. Is whistling sheepe ore the mold, fol. MS.
[227] [wildly angry.]
[228] [See the last stanza of _Childe Maurice_ from Folio MS., book i.
No. 18, which is almost identical with this.]
XII.
THE EW-BUGHTS, MARION.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
This sonnet appears to be ancient: that and its simplicity of sentiment
have recommended it to a place here.
* * * * *
[This is marked in Ramsay's _Tea Table Miscellany_ as an old song
with additions. It is not known who wrote the song or who composed
the air belonging to it. They are both old.]
* * * * *
Will ye gae to the ew-bughts,[229] Marion,
And wear in[230] the sheip wi' mee?
The sun shines sweit, my Marion,
But nae half sae sweit as thee.
O Marion's a bonnie lass; 5
And the blyth blinks[231] in her ee:
And fain wad I marrie Marion,
Gin Marion wad marrie mee.
Theire's gowd in your garters, Marion;
And siller on your white hauss-bane[232]: 10
Fou faine wad I kisse my Marion
At eene quhan I cum hame.
Theire's braw lads in Earnslaw, Marion,
Quha gape and glowr wi' their ee
At kirk, quhan they see my Marion; 15
Bot nane of them lues[233] like mee.
Ive nine milk-ews, my Marion,
A cow and a brawney quay;[234]
Ise gie tham au to my Marion,
Just on her bridal day. 20
And yees get a grein sey[235] apron,
And waistcote o' London broun;
And wow bot ye will be vaporing
Quhaneir ye gang to the toun.
Ime yong and stout, my Marion, 25
None dance lik mee on the greine;
And gin ye forsak me, Marion,
Ise een gae draw up wi' Jeane.
Sae put on your pearlins,[236] Marion,
And kirtle oth' cramasie;[237] 30
And sune as my chin has nae haire on,
I sall cum west, and see yee.
FOOTNOTES:
[229] [the pens in which the ewes are milked.]
[230] [gather in.]
[231] [joy sparkles.]
[232] _Hauss bane, i.e._ The neck-bone. Marion had probably a silver
locket on, tied close to her neck with a ribband, an usual ornament
in Scotland; where a sore throat is called "_a sair hause_," properly
_halse_.
[233] [loves.]
[234] [young heifer.]
[235] [woollen cloth.]
[236] [a kind of lace made of thread or silk.]
[237] [crimson.]
XIII.
THE KNIGHT, AND SHEPHERD'S DAUGHTER.
This ballad (given from an old black-letter copy, with some
corrections) was popular in the time of Q. Elizabeth, being usually
printed with her picture before it, as Hearne informs us in his preface
to _Gul. Neubrig. Hist. Oxon._ 1719, 8vo. vol. i. p. lxx. It is
quoted in Fletcher's comedy of the _Pilgrim_, act iv. sc. 2.
* * * * *
[It is also quoted in _The Knight of the Burning Pestle_:
"He set her on a milk white steed." (l. 85.)
There are several Scottish versions given by Buchan, Kinloch,
and Motherwell. The latter claims greater antiquity for his over
Percy's. It appears, however, to be a southern ballad adapted
by the Scotch and improved in its humour. The heroine practices
various artifices to maintain the character of a "beggar's brat"
when riding back with _Earl Richard_.]
* * * * *
There was a shepherd's daughter
Came tripping on the waye;
And there by chance a knighte shee mett,
Which caused her to staye.
Good morrowe to you, beauteous maide, 5
These words pronounced hee:
O I shall dye this daye, he sayd,
If Ive not my wille of thee.
The Lord forbid, the maide replyde,
That you shold waxe so wode! 10
"But for all that shee could do or saye,
He wold not be withstood."
Sith you have had your wille of mee,
And put me to open shame,
Now, if you are a courteous knighte, 15
Tell me what is your name?
Some do call mee Jacke, sweet heart,
And some do call mee Jille;[238]
But when I come to the kings faire courte
They call me Wilfulle Wille. 20
He sett his foot into the stirrup,
And awaye then he did ride;
She tuckt her girdle about her middle,
And ranne close by his side.
But when she came to the brode watèr, 25
She sett her brest and swamme;
And when she was got out againe,
She tooke to her heels and ranne.
He never was the courteous knighte,
To saye, faire maide, will ye ride? 30
"And she was ever too loving a maide"
To saye, sir knighte abide.
When she came to the kings faire courte,
She knocked at the ring;
So readye was the king himself 35
To let this faire maide in.
Now Christ you save, my gracious liege,
Now Christ you save and see,
You have a knighte within your courte
This daye hath robbed mee. 40
What hath he robbed thee of, sweet heart?
Of purple or of pall?
Or hath he took thy gaye gold ring
From off thy finger small?
He hath not robbed mee, my leige, 45
Of purple nor of pall:
But he hath gotten my maiden head,
Which grieves mee worst of all.
Now if he be a batchelor,
His bodye Ile give to thee;[239] 50
But if he be a married man,
High hanged he shall bee.
He called downe his merrye men all,
By one, by two, by three;
Sir William used to bee the first, 55
But nowe the last came hee.
He brought her downe full fortye pounde,
Tyed up withinne a glove:
Faire maid, Ile give the same to thee;
Go, seeke thee another love. 60
O Ile have none of your gold, she sayde,
Nor Ile have none of your fee;
But your faire bodye I must have,
The king hath granted mee.
Sir William ranne and fetchd her then 65
Five hundred pound in golde,
Saying, faire maide, take this to thee,
Thy fault will never be tolde.
Tis not the gold that shall mee tempt,
These words then answered shee, 70
But your own bodye I must have,
The king hath granted mee.
Would I had dranke the water cleare,
When I did drinke the wine,
Rather than any shepherds brat 75
Shold bee a ladye of mine!
Would I had drank the puddle foule,
When I did drink the ale,
Rather than ever a shepherds brat
Shold tell me such a tale! 80
A shepherds brat even as I was,
You mote have let me bee,
I never had come othe kings faire courte,
To crave any love of thee.
He sett her on a milk-white steede, 85
And himself upon a graye;
He hung a bugle about his necke,
And soe they rode awaye.
But when they came unto the place,
Where marriage-rites were done, 90
She proved herself a dukes daughtèr,
And he but a squires sonne.
Now marrye me, or not, sir knight.
Your pleasure shall be free:
If you make me ladye of one good towne, 95
Ile make you lord of three.
Ah! cursed bee the gold, he sayd.
If thou hadst not been trewe.
I shold have forsaken my sweet love,
And have changed her for a newe. 100
And now their hearts being linked fast,
They joyned hand in hande:
Thus he had both purse, and person too,
And all at his commande.
*
FOOTNOTES:
[238] [Jill is sometimes used as a woman's name and at other times as a
man's.]
[239] [Ver. 50. _His bodye Ile give to thee._] This was agreeable to
the feudal customs: The Lord had a right to give a wife to his vassals.
See Shakespeare's _All's well that ends well_.
XIV.
THE SHEPHERD'S ADDRESS TO HIS MUSE.
This poem, originally printed from the small MS. volume, mentioned
above in No. X., has been improved by a more perfect copy in _England's
Helicon_, where the author is discovered to be _N. Breton_.
* * * * *
Good Muse, rocke me aslepe
With some sweete harmony:
This wearie eyes is not to kepe
Thy wary company.
Sweete Love, begon a while,
Thou seest my heavines: 5
Beautie is borne but to beguyle
My harte of happines.
See howe my little flocke,
That lovde to feede on highe, 10
Doe headlonge tumble downe the rocke,
And in the valley dye.
The bushes and the trees,
That were so freshe and greene,
Doe all their deintie colors leese, 15
And not a leafe is seene.
The blacke birde and the thrushe,
That made the woodes to ringe,
With all the rest, are now at hushe,
And not a note they singe. 20
Swete Philomele, the birde
That hath the heavenly throte,
Doth nowe, alas! not once afforde
Recordinge of a note.
The flowers have had a frost, 25
The herbs have loste their savoure;
And Phillida the faire hath lost
"For me her wonted" favour.
Thus all these careful sights,
So kill me in conceit; 30
That now to hope upon delights,
It is but meere deceite.
And therefore, my sweete Muse,
That knowest what helpe is best,
Doe nowe thy heavenlie conninge use 35
To sett my harte at rest:
And in a dreame bewraie
What fate shal be my frende;
Whether my life shall still decaye,
Or when my sorrowes ende. 40
[Illustration]
XV.
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ELLINOR
Is given (with corrections) from an ancient copy in black letter, in
the Pepys collection, intitled, _A tragical ballad on the unfortunate
love of lord Thomas and fair Ellinor, together with the downfall of
the browne girl_.--In the same collection may be seen an attempt to
modernize this old song, and reduce it to a different measure: A proof
of its popularity.
The reader will find a Scottish song on a similar subject to this,
towards the end of this volume, intitled, _Lord Thomas and Lady
Annet_.
* * * * *
[This is one of the ballads still kept in print in Seven Dials, and
Ritson describes it as having "every appearance of being originally
a minstrel song."
There is a series of ballads on the same subject--
1. _Lord Thomas and Fair Annet_, (see book iii. No. 4.)
2. _Fair Margaret and Sweet William_, (see book ii. No. 4.)
3. _Sweet Willie and Fair Annie_, (Jamieson's _Popular Ballads_, l.
22.)
The last named ballad is a combination of the first two, the first
part being similar to _Lord Thomas_, and the second part to _Fair_
_Margaret_.]
* * * * *
Lord Thomas he was a bold forrestèr,
And a chaser of the kings deere;
Faire Ellinor was a fine womàn,
And lord Thomas he loved her deare.
Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, he sayd, 5
And riddle us both as one;
Whether I shall marrye with faire Ellinòr,
And let the browne girl alone?
The browne girl she has got houses and lands,
Faire Ellinor she has got none, 10
And therefore I charge thee on my blessìng,
To bring me the browne girl home.
And as it befelle on a high holidaye,
As many there are beside,
Lord Thomas he went to faire Ellinòr, 15
That should have been his bride.
And when he came to faire Ellinors bower,
He knocked there at the ring,
And who was so readye as faire Ellinòr,
To lett lord Thomas withinn. 20
What newes, what newes, lord Thomas, she sayd?
What newes dost thou bring to mee?
I am come to bid thee to my weddìng,
And that is bad newes for thee.
O God forbid, lord Thomas, she sayd, 25
That such a thing should be done;
I thought to have been the bride my selfe,
And thou to have been the bridegrome.
Come riddle my riddle, dear mother, she sayd,[240]
And riddle it all in one; 30
Whether I shall goe to lord Thomas his wedding,
Or whether shall tarry at home?
There are manye that are your friendes, daughtèr,
And manye a one your foe,
Therefore I charge you on my blessing, 35
To lord Thomas his wedding don't goe.
There are manye that are my friendes, mothèr;
But were every one my foe,
Betide me life, betide me death,
To lord Thomas his wedding I'ld goe. 40
She cloathed herself in gallant attire,
And her merrye men all in greene;
And as they rid through every towne,
They took her to be some queene.
But when she came to lord Thomas his gate, 45
She knocked there at the ring;
And who was so readye as lord Thomàs,
To lett faire Ellinor in.
Is this your bride, fair Ellinor sayd?
Methinks she looks wonderous browne; 50
Thou mightest have had as faire a womàn,
As ever trod on the grounde.
Despise her not, fair Ellin, he sayd,
Despise her not unto mee;
For better I love thy little fingèr, 55
Than all her whole bodèe.
This browne bride had a little penknife,
That was both long and sharpe,
And betwixt the short ribs and the long,
She prickd faire Ellinor's harte. 60
O Christ thee save, lord Thomas, hee sayd,
Methinks thou lookst wonderous wan;
Thou usedst to look with as fresh a colòur,
As ever the sun shone on.
Oh, art thou blind, lord Thomas? she sayd, 65
Or canst thou not very well see?
Oh! dost thou not see my owne hearts bloode
Run trickling down my knee.
Lord Thomas he had a sword by his side;
As he walked about the halle, 70
He cut off his brides head from her shouldèrs,
And threw it against the walle.
He set the hilte against the grounde,
And the point against his harte.
There never three lovers together did meete, 75
That sooner againe did parte.
FOOTNOTES:
[240] Ver. 29. It should probably be, _Read me, read, &c., i.e._ Advise
me, advise.
XVI.
CUPID AND CAMPASPE.
This elegant little sonnet is found in the third act of an old play
intitled _Alexander and Campaspe_, written by John Lilye, a celebrated
writer in the time of queen Elizabeth. That play was first printed in
1591; but this copy is given from a later edition.
* * * * *
[These pretty epigrammatic verses occur in act iii. sc. 5. of
Lilly's play as a song by Apelles. The first edition of _Campaspe_
was printed in 1584, and that of 1591, mentioned above, is the
second edition. This song, however, was omitted in all the editions
printed before that of E. Blount (_Six Court Comedies, 1632._)]
* * * * *
Cupid and my Campaspe playd
At cardes for kisses; Cupid payd:
He stakes his quiver, bow and arrows,
His mothers doves, and teame of sparrows;
Loses them too; then down he throws 5
The coral of his lippe, the rose
Growing on's cheek (but none knows how)
With these, the crystal of his browe,
And then the dimple of his chinne;
All these did my Campaspe winne. 10
At last he set her both his eyes,
She won, and Cupid blind did rise.
O Love! has she done this to thee?
What shall, alas! become of mee?
XVII.
THE LADY TURNED SERVING-MAN
Is given from a written copy, containing some improvements (perhaps
modern ones), upon the popular ballad, intitled, _The famous flower of
Serving-men_: or the _Lady turned Serving-man_.
* * * * *
[It is printed in the _Collection of Old Ballads_ (i. 216) without
the _improvements_. After verse 56 the first person is changed
to the third in the original, but Percy altered this and made
the first person run on throughout. Kinloch (_Ancient Scottish
Ballads_, p. 95) gives a very mutilated and varied version of this
ballad in the Scottish dress under the title of _Sweet Willie_,
which was taken down from the recitation of an old woman in Lanark.
There is a similar story in Swedish and Danish.]
* * * * *
You beauteous ladyes, great and small,
I write unto you one and all,
Whereby that you may understand
What I have suffered in the land.
I was by birth a lady faire, 5
An ancient barons only heire,
And when my good old father dyed,
Then I became a young knightes bride.
And there my love built me a bower,
Bedeck'd with many a fragrant flower; 10
A braver bower you ne'er did see
Then my true-love did build for mee.
And there I livde a ladye gay,
Till fortune wrought our loves decay;
For there came foes so fierce a band, 15
That soon they over-run the land.
They came upon us in the night,
And brent my bower, and slew my knight;
And trembling hid in mans array,
I scant with life escap'd away. 20
In the midst of this extremitìe,
My servants all did from me flee:
Thus was I left myself alone,
With heart more cold than any stone.
Yet though my heart was full of care, 25
Heaven would not suffer me to dispaire,
Wherefore in haste I chang'd my name
From faire Elise, to sweet Williame:
And therewithall I cut my haire,
Resolv'd my man's attire to weare; 30
And in my beaver, hose and band,
I travell'd far through many a land.
At length all wearied with my toil,
I sate me downe to rest awhile;
My heart it was so fill'd with woe, 35
That downe my cheeke the teares did flow.
It chanc'd the king of that same place
With all his lords a hunting was,
And seeing me weepe, upon the same
Askt who I was, and whence I came. 40
Then to his grace I did replye,
I am a poore and friendlesse boye,
Though nobly borne, nowe forc'd to bee
A serving-man of lowe degree.
Stand up, faire youth, the king reply'd, 45
For thee a service I'll provyde:
But tell me first what thou canst do;
Thou shalt be fitted thereunto.
Wilt thou be usher of my hall,
To wait upon my nobles all? 50
Or wilt be taster of my wine,
To 'tend on me when I shall dine?
Or wilt thou be my chamberlaine,
About my person to remaine?
Or wilt thou be one of my guard, 55
And I will give thee great reward?
Chuse, gentle youth, said he, thy place.
Then I reply'd, If it please your grace
To shew such favour unto mee,
Your chamberlaine I faine would bee. 60
The king then smiling gave consent,
And straitwaye to his court I went;
Where I behavde so faithfullìe,
That hee great favour showd to mee.
Now marke what fortune did provide; 65
The king he would a hunting ride
With all his lords and noble traine,
Sweet William must at home remaine.
Thus being left alone behind,
My former state came in my mind: 70
I wept to see my mans array;
No longer now a ladye gay.
And meeting with a ladyes vest,
Within the same myself I drest;
With silken robes, and jewels rare, 75
I deckt me, as a ladye faire:
And taking up a lute straitwaye,
Upon the same I strove to play;
And sweetly to the same did sing,
As made both hall and chamber ring. 80
"My father was as brave a lord,
As ever Europe might afford;
My mother was a lady bright;
My husband was a valiant knight:
"And I myself a ladye gay, 85
Bedeckt with gorgeous rich array;
The happiest lady in the land,
Had not more pleasure at command.
"I had my musicke every day
Harmonious lessons for to play; 90
I had my virgins fair and free,
Continually to wait on mee.
"But now, alas! my husband's dead,
And all my friends are from me fled,
My former days are past and gone, 95
And I am now a serving-man."
And fetching many a tender sigh,
As thinking no one then was nigh,
In pensive mood I laid me lowe,
My heart was full, the tears did flowe. 100
The king, who had a huntinge gone,
Grewe weary of his sport anone,
And leaving all his gallant traine,
Turn'd on the sudden home againe:
And when he reach'd his statelye tower, 105
Hearing one sing within his bower,
He stopt to listen, and to see
Who sung there so melodiouslìe.
Thus heard he everye word I sed,
And saw the pearlye teares I shed, 110
And found to his amazement there,
Sweete William was a ladye faire.
Then stepping in, Faire ladye, rise,
And dry, said he, those lovelye eyes,
For I have heard thy mournful tale, 115
The which shall turne to thy availe.
A crimson dye my face orespred,
I blusht for shame, and hung my head,
To find my sex and story knowne,
When as I thought I was alone. 120
But to be briefe, his royall grace
Grewe so enamour'd of my face,
The richest gifts he proffered mee,
His mistress if that I would bee.
Ah! no, my liege, I firmlye sayd, 125
I'll rather in my grave be layd,
And though your grace hath won my heart,
I ne'er will act soe base a part.
Faire ladye, pardon me, sayd hee,
Thy virtue shall rewarded bee, 130
And since it is soe fairly tryde
Thou shalt become my royal bride.
Then strait to end his amorous strife,
He tooke sweet William to his wife.
The like before was never seene, 135
A serving-man became a queene.
[***]
XVIII.
GIL MORRICE.
A SCOTTISH BALLAD.
The following piece hath run thro' two editions in Scotland: the
second was printed at Glasgow in 1755, 8vo. Prefixed to them both is
an advertisement, setting forth that the preservation of this poem
was owing "to a lady, who favoured the printers with a copy, as it
was carefully collected from the mouths of old women and nurses;" and
"any reader that can render it more correct or complete," is desired
to oblige the public with such improvements. In consequence of this
advertisement sixteen additional verses have been produced and handed
about in manuscript, which are here inserted in their proper places:
(these are from ver. 109, to ver. 121, and from ver. 124, to ver. 129,
but are perhaps, after all, only an ingenious interpolation.)
As this poem lays claim to a pretty high antiquity, we have assigned it
a place among our early pieces: though, after all, there is reason to
believe it has received very considerable modern improvements: for in
the Editor's ancient MS. collection is a very old imperfect copy of the
same ballad: wherein though the leading features of the story are the
same, yet the colouring here is so much improved and heightened, and so
many additional strokes are thrown in, that it is evident the whole has
undergone a revisal.
This little pathetic tale suggested the plot of the tragedy of
_Douglas_.
Since it was first printed, the Editor has been assured that the
foregoing ballad is still current in many parts of Scotland, where the
hero is universally known by the name of _Child Maurice_, pronounced by
the common people _Cheild_ or _Cheeld_; which occasioned the mistake.
It may be proper to mention that other copies read ver. 110, thus:
"Shot frae the golden sun"
And ver. 116, as follows:
"His een like azure sheene."
N.B. The Editor's MS. instead of "lord Barnard," has "John Stewart;"
and instead of "Gil Morrice," _Child Maurice_, which last is probably
the original title. See above, p. 58.
* * * * *
[_Gil Maurice_ is one of the most popular of the old ballads and it
is also one of the most corrupt. The present copy is so tinkered
that it is not surprising Burns regarded the ballad as a modern
composition and classed it with _Hardyknute_, a position afterwards
taken up by Robert Chambers in his pamphlet _The Romantic Scottish
Ballads, their epoch and authorship_. The fact however that the
story is preserved in the Folio MS. and also in several other
forms obtained from tradition prove it to be an authentic ballad.
Jamieson thinks it has all the appearance of being a true narrative
of some incident that had really taken place. Motherwell devotes
several pages of his _Minstrelsy_ (pp. 257-286) to an account
of the various versions. He says that tradition points out the
"green wood" of the ballad in the ancient forest of Dundaff in
Stirlingshire.
The request for additions mentioned above by Percy was a tempting
bait eagerly caught at, and the edition of 1755 was a made up
text with additional verses. Besides vv. 109-120, 125-128, which
are known to be interpolations, Professor Child (_English and
Scottish Ballads_, vol. ii. p. 38) also degrades to the foot of the
page the verses from 177 to the end, on the authority of Jamieson,
who says, that "having been attentive to all the proceedings in
most of the trials at the bar of ballad criticism I may venture
to hazard an opinion that the genuine text ends with 'ver. 176.'"
Ritson and Motherwell are of the same opinion. Sir Walter Scott
notes on the interpolated verses, "In the beautiful and simple
ballad of _Gil Morris_ some affected person has stuck in one or two
factitious verses which, like vulgar persons in a drawing room,
betray themselves by their over-finery."
The fine copy in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii.
p. 500), which Jamieson thought debased and totally unworthy of the
subject, which Chambers calls "a poor, bald imperfect composition,"
and Mr. Hales more accurately designates as "a noble specimen
of our ballad poetry in all its strength," was first printed by
Jamieson (_Popular Ballads and Songs_, 1806, vol. i. p. 8), and is
now added to the present version. The last stanza of the Folio MS.
copy is identical with the last stanza but one of _Little Musgrave_
_and Lady Barnard_, with which it seems to have some connection
both in subject and name.
Prof. Aytoun points out that vv. 51-58 of Percy's copy, which are
now placed within brackets, are taken from _Lady Maisry_, a ballad
obtained from recitation and printed by Jamieson (vol. i. p. 73).
"O whan he came to broken briggs
He bent his bow and swam,
And whan he came to the green grass growin'
He slack'd his shoon and ran.
And whan he came to Lord William's yeats
He badena to chap or ca',
But set his bent bow to his breast
And lightly lap the wa'."
It is however only fair to Percy to say that he printed _Gil
Morice_ before _Lady Maisry_ was published.
Gray wrote to a friend, "I have got the old Scotch ballad on which
_Douglas_ was founded; it is divine, and as long as from hence
[Cambridge] to Aston."
Jamieson says, on the authority of Sir Walter Scott, that after the
appearance of Home's _Douglas_ six additional stanzas, beginning--
"She heard him speak, but fell despair
Sat rooted in her heart
She heard him, and she heard nae mair
Though sair she rued the smart,"
were written to complete the ballad, and in accordance with the
final catastrophe of the tragedy Lord Barnard rushes into the
thickest of the fight--
"and meets the death he sought."
When the play was produced in Edinburgh in 1756 the heroine was
named Lady Barnard, and the alteration to Lady Randolph was made on
its appearance in England in the following year.
Jamieson gives three stanzas of a traditional version of the
ballad, the whole of which neither he nor Motherwell could recover,
although Mr. Sharpe told the latter that they were incorporated in
an Annandale version which contained a novel feature in the story.
Motherwell prints a version called _Chield Morice_, which he
took down from the recitation of an old woman of 70 in 1827, and
which she had learned in infancy from her grandmother. She told
Motherwell "that at a later period of her life she also committed
to memory _Gill Morice_, which began with young lasses like her to
be a greater favourite, and more fashionable than the set which
her grandmother and other old folks used to sing under the title
of _Chield Morice_." He also prints _Child Moryce_, taken down
from the singing of widow M'Cormick of Paisley in 1825, and adds
his opinion that Morice and Maurice are evident corruptions of
Norice--a foster child. The story of Langhorne's _Owen of Carron_
is also taken from this ballad.]
* * * * *
Gil Morrice was an erlès son,
His name it waxed wide;
It was nae for his great richès,
Nor yet his mickle pride;
Bot it was for a lady gay, 5
That livd on Carron side.
Quhair sall I get a bonny boy,
That will win hose and shoen;
That will gae to lord Barnards ha',
And bid his lady cum? 10
And ye maun rin my errand, Willie;[241]
And ye may rin wi' pride;
Quhen other boys gae on their foot,
On horse-back ye sall ride.
O no! Oh no! my master dear! 15
I dare nae for my life;
I'll no gae to the bauld baròns,
For to triest furth his wife.
My bird Willie, my boy Willie;
My dear Willie, he sayd: 20
How can ye strive against the stream?
For I sall be obeyd.
Bot, O my master dear! he cryd,
In grene wod ye're your lain;[242]
Gi owre sic thochts, I walde ye rede,[243] 25
For fear ye should be tain.
Haste, haste, I say, gae to the ha',
Bid hir cum here wi speid:
If ye refuse my heigh command,
Ill gar your body bleid. 30
Gae bid hir take this gay mantèl,
'Tis a' gowd bot the hem;[244]
Bid hir cum to the gude grene wode,
And bring nane bot hir lain:
And there it is, a silken sarke, 35
Her ain hand sewd the sleive;
And bid hir cum to Gill Morice,
Speir nae bauld barons leave.
Yes, I will gae your black errand,
Though it be to your cost; 40
Sen ye by me will nae be warn'd,
In it ye sall find frost.
The baron he is a man of might,
He neir could bide to taunt,
As ye will see before its nicht, 45
How sma' ye hae to vaunt.
And sen I maun your errand rin
Sae sair against my will,
I'se mak a vow and keip it trow,
It sall be done for ill. 50
[And quhen he came to broken brigue,
He bent his bow and swam;
And quhen he came to grass growing,
Set down his feet and ran.
And quhen he came to Barnards ha', 55
Would neither chap[245] nor ca':
Bot set his bent bow to his breist,
And lichtly lap the wa'.][246]
He wauld nae tell the man his errand,
Though he stude at the gait; 60
Bot straiht into the ha' he cam,
Quhair they were set at meit.
Hail! hail! my gentle sire and dame!
My message winna waite;
Dame, ye maun to the gude grene wod 65
Before that it be late.
Ye're bidden tak this gay mantèl,
Tis a' gowd bot the hem:[244]
You maun gae to the gude grene wode,
Ev'n by your sel alane. 70
And there it is, a silken sarke,
Your ain hand sewd the sleive;
Ye maun gae speik to Gill Morìce;
Speir nae bauld barons leave.
The lady stamped wi' hir foot, 75
And winked wi' hir ee;
Bot a' that she coud say or do,
Forbidden he wad nae bee.
Its surely to my bow'r-womàn;
It neir could be to me. 80
I brocht it to lord Barnards lady;
I trow that ye be she.
Then up and spack the wylie nurse,
(The bairn upon hir knee)
If it be cum frae Gill Morice, 85
It's deir welcum to mee.
Ye leid, ye leid, ye filthy nurse,
Sae loud I heird ye lee;[247]
I brocht it to lord Barnards lady;
I trow ye be nae shee. 90
Then up and spack the bauld baròn,
An angry man was hee;
He's tain the table wi' his foot,
Sae has he wi' his knee;
Till siller cup and 'mazer'[248] dish 95
In flinders he gard flee.[249]
Gae bring a robe of your clidìng,[250]
That hings upon the pin;
And I'll gae to the gude grene wode,
And speik wi' your lemmàn. 100
O bide at hame, now lord Barnàrd,
I warde ye bide at hame;
Neir wyte[251] a man for violence,
That neir wate[252] ye wi' nane.
Gil Morice sate in gude grene wode, 105
He whistled and he sang':
O what mean a' the folk comìng,
My mother tarries lang.
[His hair was like the threeds of gold,
Drawne frae Minervas loome: 110
His lipps like roses drapping dew,
His breath was a' perfume.
His brow was like the mountain snae
Gilt by the morning beam:
His cheeks like living roses glow: 115
His een like azure stream.
The boy was clad in robes of grene,
Sweete as the infant spring:
And like the mavis on the bush,
He gart the vallies ring.] 120
The baron came to the grene wode,
Wi' mickle dule and care,
And there he first spied Gill Morìce
Kameing his yellow hair:
[That sweetly wavd around his face, 125
That face beyond compare:
He sang sae sweet it might dispel,
A' rage but fell despair.][253]
Nae wonder, nae wonder, Gill Morìce,
My lady loed thee weel, 130
The fairest part of my bodie
Is blacker than thy heel.
Yet neir the less now, Gill Morìce,
For a' thy great beautiè,
Ye's rew the day ye eir was born; 135
That head sall gae wi' me.
Now he has drawn his trusty brand,
And slaited on the strae;[254]
And thro' Gill Morice' fair body
He's gar cauld iron gae. 140
And he has tain Gill Morice' head
And set it on a speir;
The meanest man in a' his train
Has gotten that head to bear.
And he has tain Gill Morice up, 145
Laid him across his steid,
And brocht him to his painted bowr
And laid him on a bed.
The lady sat on castil wa',
Beheld baith dale and doun; 150
And there she saw Gill Morice' head
Cum trailing to the toun.
Far better I loe that bluidy head,
Both and that yellow hair,
Than lord Barnard, and a' his lands, 155
As they lig here and thair.
And she has tain her Gill Morice,
And kissd baith mouth and chin:
I was once as fow of Gill Morice,
As the hip is o' the stean.[255] 160
I got ye in my father's house,
Wi' mickle sin and shame;
I brocht thee up in gude grene wode,
Under the heavy rain.
Oft have I by thy cradle sitten, 165
And fondly seen thee sleip;
But now I gae about thy grave,
The saut tears for to weip.
And syne she kissd his bluidy cheik,
And syne his bluidy chin: 170
O better I loe my Gill Morice
Than a' my kith and kin!
Away, away, ye ill womàn,
And an il deith mait ye dee:
Gin I had kend he'd bin your son, 175
He'd neir bin slain for mee.
[Obraid me not, my lord Barnard!
Obraid me not for shame!
Wi' that saim speir O pierce my heart!
And put me out o' pain. 180
Since nothing bot Gill Morice head
Thy jelous rage could quell,
Let that saim hand now tak hir life,
That neir to thee did ill.
To me nae after days nor nichts 185
Will eir be saft or kind;
I'll fill the air with heavy sighs,
And greet till I am blind.
Enouch of blood by me's bin spilt,
Seek not your death frae mee; 190
I rather lourd it had been my sel
Than eather him or thee.
With waefo wae I hear your plaint;
Sair, sair I rew the deid,
That eir this cursed hand of mine 195
Had gard his body bleid.
Dry up your tears, my winsome dame,
Ye neir can heal the wound;
Ye see his head upon the speir,
His heart's blude on the ground. 200
I curse the hand that did the deid,
The heart that thocht the ill;
The feet that bore me wi' silk speid,
The comely youth to kill.
I'll ay lament for Gill Morice, 205
As gin he were mine ain;
I'll neir forget the dreiry day
On which the youth was slain.]
[Illustration]
* * * * *
[The following is copied from the Folio MS. (ed. H. & F. vol. 2.
pp. 502-506.)
Childe Maurice hunted ithe siluen wood,
he hunted itt round about,
& noebodye that he ffound therin,
nor none there was with-out. 4
& he tooke his siluer combe in his hand,
to kembe his yellow lockes;
he sayes, "come hither, thou litle ffoot page,
that runneth lowlye by my knee; 8
ffor thou shalt goe to Iohn stewards wiffe
& pray her speake with mee.
"& as itt ffalls out many times,
as knotts beene knitt on a kell, 12
or Marchant men gone to Leeue London
either to buy ware or sell,
"I, and greete thou doe that Ladye well,
euer soe well ffroe mee,-- 16
And as itt ffalles out many times
as any hart can thinke,
"as schoole masters are in any schoole house
writting with pen and Iinke,-- 20
ffor if I might, as well as shee may,
this night I wold with her speake.
"& heere I send her a mantle of greene,
as greene as any grasse, 24
& bidd her come to the siluer wood
to hunt with Child Maurice;
"& there I send her a ring of gold,
a ring of precyous stone, 28
& bidd her come to the siluer wood;
let ffor no kind of man."
one while this litle boy he yode,
another while he ran; 32
vntill he came to Iohn Stewards hall,
I-wis he neuer blan.
& of nurture the child had good;
hee ran vp hall & bower ffree, 36
& when he came to this Lady ffaire,
sayes, "god you saue and see!
"I am come ffrom Ch[i]ld Maurice,
a message vnto thee; 40
& Child Maurice, he greetes you well,
& euer soe well ffrom mee.
"& as itt ffalls out oftentimes,
as knotts beene knitt on a kell, 44
or Marchant men gone to leeue London,
either ffor to buy ware or sell,
"& as oftentimes he greetes you well
as any hart can thinke, 48
or schoole masters in any schoole
wryting with pen and inke;
"& heere he sends a Mantle of greene,
as greene as any grasse, 52
& he bidds you come to the siluer wood,
to hunt with Child Maurice.
"& heere he sends you a ring of gold,
a ring of the precyous stone, 56
he prayes you to come to the siluer wood,
let ffor no kind of man."
"now peace, now peace, thou litle ffootpage,
ffor Christes sake, I pray thee! 60
ffor if my lord heare one of these words,
thou must be hanged hye!"
Iohn steward stood vnder the Castle wall,
& he wrote the words euerye one, 64
& he called vnto his horskeeper,
"make readye you my steede!"
I, and soe hee did to his Chamberlaine,
"make readye then my weede!" 68
& he cast a lease[256] vpon his backe,
& he rode to the siluer wood;
& there he sought all about,
about the siluer wood, 72
& there he ffound him Child Maurice
sitting vpon a blocke,
with a siluer combe in his hand
kembing his yellow locke. 76
he sayes, "how now, how now, Child Maurice?
alacke! how may this bee?"
but then stood vp him Child Maurice,
& sayd these words trulye: 80
"I doe not know your Ladye," he said,
"if that I doe her see."
"ffor thou hast sent her loue tokens,
more now then 2 or 3; 84
"ffor thou hast sent her a mantle of greene,
as greene as any grasse,
& bade her come to the siluer woode
to hunt with Child Maurice; 88
"& thou [hast] sent her a ring of gold,
a ring of precyous stone,
& bade her come to the siluer wood,
let ffor noe kind of man. 92
"and by my ffaith, now, Child Maurice,
the tone of vs shall dye!"
"Now be my troth," sayd Child Maurice,
"& that shall not be I." 96
but hee pulled forth a bright browne sword
& dryed itt on the grasse,
& soe ffast he smote att Iohn Steward,
I-wisse he neuer rest. 100
then hee pulled fforth his bright browne sword,
& dryed itt on his sleeue;
& the ffirst good stroke Iohn Stewart stroke,
Child Maurice head he did cleeue; 104
& he pricked itt on his swords poynt,
went singing there beside,
& he rode till he came to that Ladye ffaire
wheras this ladye Lyed; 108
and sayes "dost thou know Child Maurice head
if that thou dost itt see?
& lapp itt soft, & kisse itt offt,
ffor thou louedst him better then mee." 112
but when shee looked on Child Maurice head
shee neuer spake words but 3,
"I neuer beare no Child but one,
& you haue slaine him trulye." 116
sayes, "wicked by my merry men all,
I gaue Meate, drinke, & Clothe!
but cold they not haue holden me
when I was in all that wrath? 120
"ffor I haue slaine one of the curteouse[s]t Knights
that euer bestrode a steed!
soe haue I done one [of] the fairest Ladyes
that euer ware womans weede!" 124
ffins]
FOOTNOTES:
[241] Ver. 11. something seems wanting here.
[242] [alone by yourself.]
[243] [advise.]
[244] Ver. 32, and 68, perhaps, _'bout the hem_.
[245] [knock.]
[246] V. 58. Could this be the wall of the castle?
[247] Ver. 88. Perhaps, _loud say I heire_.
[248] _i.e._ a drinking cup of maple: other edit. read _ezar_.
[249] [in splinters he made fly.]
[250] [clothing.]
[251] [blame.]
[252] [blamed.]
[253] Ver. 128. So Milton,--
"Vernal delight and joy: able to drive
All sadness but despair."--
B. iv. v. 155.
[254] [and wiped it on the grass.]
[255] [as the berry is of the stone.]
[256] leash, thong, cord?--F.
THE END OF THE FIRST BOOK.
[Illustration]
RELIQUES OF ANCIENT POETRY, ETC.
SERIES THE THIRD.
BOOK II.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
I.
THE LEGEND OF SIR GUY
Contains a short summary of the exploits of this famous champion, as
recorded in the old story books; and is commonly intitled, "A pleasant
song of the valiant deeds of chivalry atchieved by that noble knight
sir Guy of Warwick, who, for the love of fair Phelis, became a hermit,
and dyed in a cave of craggy rocke, a mile distant from Warwick."
The history of Sir Guy, tho' now very properly resigned to children,
was once admired by all readers of wit and taste: for taste and wit
had once their childhood. Although of English growth, it was early a
favourite with other nations: it appeared in French in 1525; and is
alluded to in the old Spanish romance _Tirante el Blanco_, which, it is
believed, was written not long after the year 1430. See advertisement
to the French translation, 2 vols. 12mo.
The original whence all these stories are extracted is a very ancient
romance in old English verse, which is quoted by Chaucer as a
celebrated piece even in his time (viz.:--
"Men speken of romances of price,
Of Horne childe and Ippotis,
Of Bevis, and sir Guy," &c.--_R. of Thop._)
and was usually sung to the harp at Christmas dinners and brideales, as
we learn from Puttenham's _Art of Poetry_, 4to. 1589.
This ancient romance is not wholly lost. An imperfect copy in black
letter, "Imprynted at London----for Wylliam Copland," in 34 sheets
4to. without date, is still preserved among Mr. Garrick's collection
of old plays. As a specimen of the poetry of this antique rhymer, take
his description of the dragon mentioned in v. 105 of the following
ballad:--
"----A messenger came to the king.
Syr king, he sayd, lysten me now,
For bad tydinges I bring you,
In Northumberlande there is no man,
But that they be slayne everychone:
For there dare no man route,
By twenty myle rounde aboute,
For doubt of a fowle dragon,
That sleath men and beastes downe.
He is blacke as any cole,
Rugged as a rough fole;
His bodye from the navill upwarde
No man may it pierce it is so harde;
His neck is great as any summere;
He renneth as swifte as any distrere;
Pawes he hath as a lyon:
All that he toucheth he sleath dead downe.
Great winges he hath to flight,
That is no man that bare him might.
There may no man fight him agayne,
But that he sleath him certayne:
For a fowler beast then is he,
Ywis of none never heard ye."
Sir William Dugdale is of opinion that the story of Guy is not wholly
apocryphal, tho' he acknowledges the monks have sounded out his praises
too hyperbolically. In particular, he gives the duel fought with the
Danish champion as a real historical truth, and fixes the date of it in
the year 926, Ætat. Guy, 67. See his _Warwickshire_.
The following is written upon the same plan as ballad v. book i., but
which is the original and which the copy cannot be decided. This song
is ancient, as may be inferred from the idiom preserved in the margin,
v. 94, 102: and was once popular, as appears from Fletcher's _Knight of
the Burning Pestle_, act 2, sc. ult.
It is here published from an ancient MS. copy in the editor's old folio
volume, collated with two printed ones, one of which is in black letter
in the Pepys collection.
* * * * *
[Guy was one of the most popular of the heroes of romance, and the
Folio MS. contains three pieces upon his history, viz., the two
printed here and _Guy and Colbrand_.
The original of the present ballad in the Folio MS., entitled _Guy
and Phillis_ (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 201), is a mere
fragment beginning with verse 89. Percy tore out certain leaves
to send to the printer, and in consequence the whole of _King
Estmere_ and the beginning of this ballad are lost. Alterations
have been made in nearly every verse by the help of the printed
copies. _Guy and Phillis_ was entered on the Stationers' books, 5th
January, 1591-2.
We are told by Dugdale that an English traveller, about the
year 1410, was hospitably received at Jerusalem by the Soldan's
lieutenant, who, hearing that Lord Beauchamp "was descended from
the famous Guy of Warwick, whose story they had in books of their
own language, invited him to his palace; and royally feasting him,
presented him with three precious stones of great value, besides
divers cloaths of silk and gold given to his servants." Dugdale's
authority for this story was John Rous, a priest of the chapel at
Guy's Cliff, near Warwick, who compiled a biography of the hero, in
which all the incidents of the romance are narrated as sober fact.
The constant praises of the hero bored some people, and Corbet, in
his _Iter Boreale_, expressed the hope that he should hear no more
of him--
"May all the ballads be call'd in and dye
Which sing the warrs of Colebrand and Sir Guy."
Much valuable information on this subject will be found in Mr.
Hale's interesting introduction to the Guy poems in the Folio MS.]
* * * * *
Was ever knight for ladyes sake
Soe tost in love, as I sir Guy
For Phelis fayre, that lady bright
As ever man beheld with eye?
She gave me leave myself to try,
The valiant knight with sheeld and speare,
Ere that her love shee wold grant me;
Which made mee venture far and neare.
Then proved I a baron bold,[257]
In deeds of armes the doughtyest knight
That in those dayes in England was,
With sworde and speare in feild to fight.
An English man I was by birthe:
In faith of Christ a christyan true:
The wicked lawes of infidells 15
I sought by prowesse to subdue.
'Nine' hundred twenty yeere and odde[258]
After our Saviour Christ his birth,
When king Athèlstone wore the crowne,
I lived heere upon the earth. 20
Sometime I was of Warwicke erle,
And, as I sayd, of very truth
A ladyes love did me constraine
To seeke strange ventures in my youth.
To win me fame by feates of armes 25
In strange and sundry heathen lands;
Where I atchieved for her sake
Right dangerous conquests with my hands.
For first I sayled to Normandye,
And there I stoutlye wan in fight 30
The emperours daughter of Almaine,
From manye a vallyant worthye knight.
Then passed I the seas to Greece
To helpe the emperour in his right;
Against the mightye souldans hoaste 35
Of puissant Persians for to fight.
Where I did slay of Sarazens,
And heathen pagans, manye a man;
And slew the souldans cozen deere,
Who had to name doughtye Coldràn. 40
Eskeldered a famous knight
To death likewise I did pursue:
And Elmayne king of Tyre alsoe,
Most terrible in fight to viewe.
I went into the souldans hoast, 45
Being thither on embassage sent,
And brought his head awaye with mee;
I having slaine him in his tent.
There was a dragon in that land
Most fiercelye mett me by the waye 50
As hee a lyon did pursue,
Which I myself did alsoe slay.
Then soon I past the seas from Greece,
And came to Pavye land aright:
Where I the duke of Pavye killed, 55
His hainous treason to requite.
To England then I came with speede,
To wedd faire Phelis lady bright:
For love of whome I travelled farr
To try my manhood and my might. 60
But when I had espoused her,
I stayd with her but fortye dayes,
Ere that I left this ladye faire,
And went from her beyond the seas.
All cladd in gray, in pilgrim sort, 65
My voyage from her I did take
Unto the blessed Holy-land,
For Jesus Christ my Saviours sake.
Where I erle Jonas did redeeme,
And all his sonnes which were fifteene, 70
Who with the cruell Sarazens
In prison for long time had beene.
I slew the gyant Amarant
In battel fiercelye hand to hand:
And doughty Barknard killed I, 75
A treacherous knight of Pavye land.
Then I to England came againe,
And here with Colbronde fell I fought:
An ugly gyant, which the Danes
Had for their champion hither brought. 80
I overcame him in the feild,
And slewe him soone right valliantlye;
Wherebye this land I did redeeme
From Danish tribute utterlye.
And afterwards I offered upp 85
The use of weapons solemnlye
At Winchester, whereas I fought,
In sight of manye farr and nye.
'But first,' neare Winsor, I did slaye
A bore of passing might and strength; 90
Whose like in England never was
For hugenesse both in bredth, and length.
Some of his bones in Warwicke yett,
Within the castle there doe lye:[259]
One of his sheeld-bones to this day 95
Hangs in the citye of Coventrye.
On Dunsmore heath I alsoe slewe
A monstrous wyld and cruell beast,
Calld the Dun-cow of Dunsmore heath;
Which manye people had opprest. 100
Some of her bones in Warwicke yett
Still for a monument doe lye;[259]
And there exposed to lookers viewe
As wonderous strange, they may espye.
A dragon in Northumberland, 105
I alsoe did in fight destroye,
Which did bothe man and beast oppresse,
And all the countrye sore annoye.
At length to Warwicke I did come,
Like pilgrim poore and was not knowne; 110
And there I lived a hermitts life
A mile and more out of the towne.
Where with my hands I hewed a house
Out of a craggy rocke of stone;
And lived like a palmer poore 115
Within that cave myself alone:
And daylye came to begg my bread
Of Phelis att my castle gate;
Not knowne unto my loved wiffe
Who dailye mourned for her mate. 120
Till att the last I fell sore sicke,
Yea sicke soe sore that I must dye;
I sent to her a ring of golde,
By which shee knew me presentlye.
Then shee repairing to the cave 125
Before that I gave up the ghost;
Herself closd up my dying eyes:
My Phelis faire, whom I lovd most.
Thus dreadful death did me arrest,
To bring my corpes unto the grave; 130
And like a palmer dyed I,
Wherby I sought my soule to save.
My body that endured this toyle,
Though now it be consumed to mold;
My statue faire engraven in stone, 135
In Warwicke still you may behold.
FOOTNOTES:
[257] Ver. 9. The proud Sir Guy, _PC._
[258] Ver. 17. Two hundred, MS. and P.
[259] Ver. 94, 102, doth lye, MS.
II.
GUY AND AMARANT.
The Editor found this Poem in his ancient folio manuscript among the
old ballads; he was desirous therefore that it should still accompany
them; and as it is not altogether devoid of merit, its insertion here
will be pardoned.
Although this piece seems not imperfect, there is reason to believe
that it is only part of a much larger poem, which contained the whole
history of sir Guy: for upon comparing it with the common story book
12mo. we find the latter to be nothing more than this poem reduced to
prose: which is only effected by now and then altering the rhyme, and
throwing out some few of the poetical ornaments. The disguise is so
slight, that it is an easy matter to pick complete stanzas in any page
of that book.
The author of this poem has shown some invention. Though he took the
subject from the old romance quoted before, he has adorned it afresh,
and made the story intirely his own.
This poem has been discovered to be a fragment of, "The famous historie
of Guy earl of Warwicke, by _Samuel Rowlands_, London, printed by J.
Bell, 1649, 4to." in xii cantos, beginning thus:
"When dreadful Mars in armour every day."
Whether the edition in 1649, was the first, is not known, but the
author _Sam. Rowlands_ was one of the minor poets who lived in the
reigns of Q. Elizabeth and James I. and perhaps later. His other poems
are chiefly of the religious kind, which makes it probable that the
hist. of Guy was one of his earliest performances.--There are extant
of his (1.) "_The betraying of Christ, Judas in dispaire, the seven
words of our Saviour on the crosse, with other poems on the passion,
&c._ 1598, 4to. (Ames Typ. p. 428.)--(2.) _A Theatre of delightful
Recreation._ Lond. printed for A. Johnson, 1605," 4to. (Penes editor.)
This is a book of poems on subjects chiefly taken from the old
Testament. (3.) "_Memory of Christ's miracles, in verse._ Lond. 1618,
4to." (4.) "_Heaven's glory, earth's vanity, and hell's horror._
Lond. 1638, 8vo." (These two in Bod. Cat.)
In the present edition the following poem has been much improved from
the printed copy.
* * * * *
[This poem is a very poor thing and looks very like a joke in some
parts. In the Folio MS. Percy has written "By the elegance of
language and easy flow of the versification this poem should be
more modern than the rest."
Mr. Furnivall adds to this expression of opinion the following
note, "the first bombastic rhodomontade affair in the book.
Certainly modern and certainly bad" (Folio MS. ed. Hales and
Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 136.) Collations from the MS. are added at
the foot of the page.]
* * * * *
Guy journeyes towards that sanctifyed ground,[260]
Whereas the Jewes fayre citye sometime stood,
Wherin our Saviour's sacred head was crowned,
And where for sinfull man he shed his blood:
To see the sepulcher was his intent, 5
The tombe that Joseph unto Jesus lent.
With tedious miles he tyred his wearye feet,
And passed desart places full of danger,
At last with a most woefull wight[261] did meet,
A man that unto sorrow was noe stranger: 10
For he had fifteen sonnes, made captives all
To slavish bondage, in extremest thrall.
A gyant called Amarant detaind them,
Whom noe man durst encounter for his strength:
Who in a castle, which he held, had chaind them: 15
Guy questions, where? and understands at length
The place not farr.--Lend me thy sword, quoth hee,
Ile lend my manhood all thy sonnes to free.
With that he goes, and lays upon the dore,
Like one that sayes, I must, and will come in:[262] 20
The gyant never was soe rowz'd before;[263]
For noe such knocking at his gate had bin:
Soe takes his keyes, and clubb, and cometh out
Staring with ireful countenance about.
Sirra, quoth hee, what busines hast thou heere?[264] 25
Art come to feast the crowes about my walls?[265]
Didst never heare, noe ransome can him cleere,[266]
That in the compasse of my furye falls:
For making me to take a porters paines,
With this same clubb I will dash out thy braines. 30
Gyant, quoth Guy, y'are quarrelsome I see,[267]
Choller and you seem very neere of kin:[268]
Most dangerous at the clubb belike you bee;[269]
I have bin better armed, though nowe goe thin;
But shew thy utmost hate, enlarge thy spight, 35
Keene is my weapon, and shall doe me right.[270]
Soe draws his sword, salutes him with the same[271]
About the head, the shoulders, and the side:[272]
Whilst his erected clubb doth death proclaime,
Standinge with huge Colossus' spacious stride, 40
Putting such vigour to his knotty beame,
That like a furnace he did smoke extreame.
But on the ground he spent his strokes in vaine,
For Guy was nimble to avoyde them still,
And ever ere he heav'd his clubb againe,[273] 45
Did brush his plated coat against his will:[274]
Att such advantage Guy wold never fayle,
To bang him soundlye in his coate of mayle.[275]
Att last through thirst the gyant feeble grewe,[276]
And sayd to Guy, As thou'rt of humane race, 50
Shew itt in this, give natures wants their dewe,[277]
Let me but goe, and drinke in yonder place:
Thou canst not yeeld to "me" a smaller thing,
Than to graunt life, thats given by the spring.[278]
I graunt thee leave, quoth Guye, goe drink thy last,[279] 55
Go pledge the dragon, and the salvage bore[280]:[281]
Succeed the tragedyes that they have past,
But never thinke to taste cold water more:[282]
Drinke deepe to Death and unto him carouse:[283]
Bid him receive thee in his earthen house. 60
Soe to the spring he goes, and slakes his thirst;
Takeing the water in extremely like
Some wracked shipp that on a rocke is burst,[284]
Whose forced hulke against the stones does stryke;[285]
Scooping it in soe fast with both his hands, 65
That Guy admiring to behold it stands.[286]
Come on, quoth Guy, let us to worke againe,[287]
Thou stayest about thy liquor overlong;
The fish, which in the river doe remaine,
Will want thereby; thy drinking doth them wrong:
But I will see their satisfaction made, 71
With gyants blood they must, and shall be payd.
Villaine, quoth Amarant, Ile crush thee streight;
Thy life shall pay thy daring toungs offence:
This clubb, which is about some hundred weight, 75
Is deathes commission to dispatch thee hence:[288]
Dresse thee for ravens dyett I must needes;
And breake thy bones, as they were made of reedes.
Incensed much by these bold pagan bostes,[289]
Which worthye Guy cold ill endure to heare, 80
He hewes upon those bigg supporting postes,
Which like two pillars did his body beare:
Amarant for those wounds in choller growes
And desperatelye att Guy his clubb he throwes:
Which did directly on his body light, 85
Soe violent, and weighty there-withall,[290]
That downe to ground on sudden came the knight;
And, ere he cold recover from the fall,[291]
The gyant gott his clubb againe in fist,[292]
And aimd a stroke that wonderfullye mist.[293] 90
Traytor, quoth Guy, thy falshood Ile repay,
This coward act to intercept my bloode.
Sayes Amarant, Ile murther any way,
With enemyes all vantages are good:
O could I poyson in thy nostrills blowe, 95
Besure of it I wold dispatch thee soe.[294]
Its well, said Guy, thy honest thoughts appeare,
Within that beastlye bulke where devills dwell;
Which are thy tenants while thou livest heare,
But will be landlords when thou comest in hell: 100
Vile miscreant, prepare thee for their den,
Inhumane monster, hatefull unto men.[295]
But breathe thy selfe a time, while I goe drinke,
For flameing Ph[oe]bus with his fyerye eye
Torments me soe with burning heat, I thinke 105
My thirst wold serve to drinke an ocean drye:
Forbear a litle, as I delt with thee.
Quoth Amarant, 'Thou hast noe foole of mee.
Noe, sillye wretch, my father taught more witt,
How I shold use such enemyes as thou; 110
By all my gods I doe rejoice at itt,
To understand that thirst constraines thee now;
For all the treasure, that the world containes,
One drop of water shall not coole thy vaines.
Releeve my foe! why, 'twere a madmans part: 115
Refresh an adversarye to my wrong!
If thou imagine this, a child thou art:
Noe, fellow, I have known the world too long
To be soe simple: now I know thy want,
A minutes space of breathing I'll not grant.[296] 120
And with these words heaving aloft his clubb
Into the ayre, he swings the same about:
Then shakes his lockes, and doth his temples rubb,
And, like the Cyclops, in his pride doth strout:[297]
Sirra, sayes hee, I have you at a lift, 125
Now you are come unto your latest shift.
Perish forever: with this stroke I send thee
A medicine, that will doe thy thirst much good;[298]
Take noe more care for drinke before I end thee,
And then wee'll have carouses of thy blood: 130
Here's at thee with a butchers downright blow,
To please my furye with thine overthrow.
Infernall, false, obdurate feend, said Guy,[299]
That seemst a lumpe of crueltye from hell;[300]
Ungratefull monster, since thou dost deny[301] 135
The thing to mee wherin I used thee well:
With more revenge, than ere my sword did make,
On thy accursed head revenge Ile take.
Thy gyants longitude shall shorter shrinke,
Except thy sun-scorcht skin be weapon proof:[302] 140
Farewell my thirst; I doe disdaine to drinke,
Streames keepe your waters to your owne behoof;[303]
Or let wild beasts be welcome thereunto;
With those pearle drops I will not have to do.
Here, tyrant, take a taste of my good-will,[304] 145
For thus I doe begin my bloodye bout:
You cannot chuse but like the greeting ill;
It is not that same clubb will beare you out;
And take this payment on thy shaggye crowne.--
A blowe that brought him with a vengeance downe. 150
Then Guy sett foot upon the monsters brest,
And from his shoulders did his head divide;
Which with a yawninge mouth did gape, unblest;
Noe dragons jawes were ever scene soe wide
To open and to shut, till life was spent. 155
Then Guy tooke keyes and to the castle went.
Where manye woefull captives he did find,
Which had beene tyred with extremityes;
Whom he in freindly manner did unbind,
And reasoned with them of their miseryes:[305] 160
Eche told a tale with teares, and sighes, and cryes,
All weeping to him with complaining eyes.
There tender ladyes in darke dungeons lay,[306]
That were surprised in the desart wood,
And had noe other dyett everye day, 165
But flesh of humane creatures for their food:[307]
Some with their lovers bodyes had beene fed,
And in their wombes their husbands buryed.
Now he bethinkes him of his being there, 169
To enlarge the wronged brethren from their woes;
And, as he searcheth, doth great clamours heare,
By which sad sound's direction on he goes,
Untill he findes a darksome obscure gate,
Arm'd strongly ouer all with iron plate.
That he unlockes, and enters, where appeares, 175
The strangest object that he ever saw;
Men that with famishment of many yeares,
Were like deathes picture, which the painters draw;[308]
Divers of them were hanged by eche thombe;
Others head-downward: by the middle some. 180
With diligence he takes them from the walle,[309]
With lybertye their thraldome to acquaint:
Then the perplexed knight their father calls,[310]
And sayes, Receive thy sonnes though poore and faint:
I promisd you their lives, accept of that; 185
But did not warrant you they shold be fat.[311]
The castle I doe give thee, heere's the keyes,
Where tyranye for many yeeres did dwell:
Procure the gentle tender ladyes ease,
For pittyes sake, use wronged women well:[312] 190
Men easilye revenge the wrongs men do:[313]
But poore weake women have not strength thereto.[314]
The good old man, even overjoyed with this,
Fell on the ground, and wold have kist Guys feete:
Father, quoth he, refraine soe base a kiss, 195
For age to honor youth I hold unmeete:
Ambitious pryde hath hurt mee all it can,
I goe to mortifie a sinfull man.
FOOTNOTES:
[260] [Ver. 1. journeyed ore the.]
[261] Erle Jonas, mentioned in the foregoing ballad.
[262] [V. 20. he sayes that must. MS.]
[263] [Ver. 21. the gyant, he was neere soe.]
[264] [V. 25. sais hee.]
[265] [V. 26. my crowes about the walls.]
[266] [V. 27. cold him.]
[267] [V. 31. saies Guy your quarrelsome.]
[268] [V. 32. are something neere.]
[269] [V. 33. _most_ not in MS., a club.]
[270] [V. 36. heere is the wepon that must doe.]
[271] [V. 37. Soe takes.]
[272] [V. 38. sides.]
[273] [V. 45. and ere he cold recovers clubb againe.]
[274] [V. 46. did beate.]
[275] [V. 48. to beate.]
[276] [Ver. 49. att last through strength, Amarant feeble grew.]
[277] [V. 51. nature wants her.]
[278] [V. 54. then to grant.]
[279] [V. 55. I give.]
[280] Which Guy had slain before
[281] [V. 56. to pledge, beare.]
[282] [V. 58. to drinke cold.]
[283] [V. 59. and after that carrouse.]
[284] [V. 63. on some rocke.]
[285] [V. 64. bulke doe stryke.]
[286] [V. 66. behold him.]
[287] [V. 67. lets to one.]
[288] [V. 76. has deathes.]
[289] [Ver. 79. att this bold pagans bostes.]
[290] [V. 86. soe heavy and soe weaghtye.]
[291] [V. 88. his fall.]
[292] [V. 89. in his fist.]
[293] [V. 90. and stroke a blow.]
[294] [V. 96. I wold destroy.]
[295] [V. 102. hurtfull.]
[296] [Ver. 120. space to thee I will not.]
[297] [strut.]
[298] [V. 128. _that_ not in MS.]
[299] [V. 133. Guy said.]
[300] [V. 134. seemes.]
[301] [V. 135. ingratefull monster since thou hast denyd.]
[302] [Ver. 140. doe weapon prove.]
[303] [V. 142. behoves.]
[304] [V. 145. Hold, tyrant.]
[305] [V. 160. miserye.]
[306] [V. 163. dungeon.]
[307] [V. 166. then flesh.]
[308] [Ver. 178. Will were.]
[309] [V. 181. walls.]
[310] [V. 183. the father.]
[311] [V. 186. promise you.]
[312] [V. 190. pittye sake.]
[313] [V. 191. men may easilye revenge the deeds men doe.]
[314] [V. 192. no strength. MS.]
III.
THE AULD GOOD-MAN.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
I have not been able to meet with a more ancient copy of this humourous
old song, than that printed in the _Tea-Table miscellany, &c._ which
seems to have admitted some corruptions.
* * * * *
[This song is printed in Ramsay's _Tea-Table Miscellany_ as old,
and it is also given in the _Orpheus Caledonius_, 1725. "Auld
goodman" means a first husband.]
* * * * *
Late in an evening forth I went
A little before the sun gade down,
And there I chanc't, by accident,
To light on a battle new begun:
A man and his wife wer fawn[315] in a strife, 5
I canna weel tell ye how it began;
But aye she wail'd her wretched life,
Cryeng, Evir alake, mine auld goodman!
HE.
Thy auld goodman, that thou tells of,
The country kens where he was born, 10
Was but a silly poor vagabond,
And ilka ane leugh him to scorn:
For he did spend and make an end
Of gear 'his fathers nevir' wan;
He gart the poor stand frae the door; 15
Sae tell nae mair of thy auld goodman.
My heart, alake! is liken to break,
Whan I think on my winsome John,
His blinkan ee, and gait sae free,
Was naithing like thee, thou dosend[316] drone; 20
Wi' his rosie face, and flaxen hair,
And skin as white as ony swan,
He was large and tall, and comely withall;
Thou'lt nevir be like mine auld goodman.
HE.
Why dost thou plein?[317] I thee maintein; 25
For meal and mawt thou disna want:
But thy wild bees I canna please,
Now whan our gear gins to grow scant:
Of houshold stuff thou hast enough;
Thou wants for neither pot nor pan; 30
Of sicklike ware he left thee bare;
Sae tell nae mair of thy auld goodman.
SHE.
Yes I may tell, and fret my sell,
To think on those blyth days I had,
Whan I and he, together ley 35
In armes into a well-made bed:
But now I sigh and may be sad,
Thy courage is cauld, thy colour wan,
Thou falds thy feet and fa's asleep;
Thou'lt nevir be like mine auld goodman. 40
Then coming was the night sae dark,
And gane was a' the light of day?
The carle was fear'd to miss his mark,
And therefore wad nae longer stay:
Then up he gat, and ran his way, 45
I trowe, the wife the day she wan;
And aye the owreword[318] of the fray
Was, Evir alake! mine auld goodman.
FOOTNOTES:
[315] [fallen.]
[316] [dozing or stupid.]
[317] [complain.]
[318] [last word or burden.]
IV.
FAIR MARGARET AND SWEET WILLIAM.
This seems to be the old song quoted in Fletcher's _Knight of the
burning pestle_, acts 2d and 3d; altho' the six lines there preserved
are somewhat different from those in the ballad, as it stands at
present. The reader will not wonder at this, when he is informed that
this is only given from a modern printed copy picked up on a stall.
It's full title is _Fair Margaret's Misfortunes; or Sweet William's
frightful dreams on his wedding night, with the sudden death and
burial of those noble lovers_.--
The lines preserved in the play are this distich,
"You are no love for me, Margaret,
I am no love for you."
And the following stanza,
"When it was grown to dark midnight,
And all were fast asleep,
In came Margarets grimly ghost
And stood at Williams feet."
These lines have acquired an importance by giving birth to one of
the most beautiful ballads in our own or any language. See the song
intitled _Margaret's Ghost_, at the end of this volume.
Since the first edition some improvements have been inserted, which
were communicated by a lady of the first distinction, as she had heard
this song repeated in her infancy.
* * * * *
[The ballads on the two lovers Margaret and William are numerous,
culminating as they do in Mallet's _William and Margaret_. See
_Sweet William's Ghost_ (No. 6 in this book) and Mallet's ballad
(No. 16 of book iii). The present ballad is also in the Douce
Collection and in that of the late Mr. George Daniel. Jamieson
prints (_Popular Ballads and Songs_, 1806, vol. i. p. 22) a ballad
entitled _Sweet Willie and Fair Annie_, which may be divided into
two parts, the first resembling _Lord Thomas and Fair Elinor_,
and the second, _Fair Annie's Ghost_, is still more like the
following ballad.
Mr. Chappell remarks, "Another point deserving notice in the old
ballad is that one part of it has furnished the principal subject
of the modern burlesque ballad _Lord Lovel_, and another that of T.
Hood's song, _Mary's Ghost_."]
* * * * *
As it fell out on a long summer's day
Two lovers they sat on a hill;
They sat together that long summer's day,
And could not talk their fill.
I see no harm by you, Margarèt, 5
And you see none by mee;
Before to-morrow at eight o' the clock
A rich wedding you shall see.
Fair Margaret sat in her bower-windòw,
Combing her yellow hair; 10
There she spyed sweet William and his bride,
As they were a riding near.
Then down she layd her ivory combe,
And braided her hair in twain:
She went alive out of her bower, 15
But ne'er came alive in't again.
When day was gone, and night was come,
And all men fast asleep,
Then came the spirit of fair Marg'ret,
And stood at Williams feet. 20
Are you awake, sweet William? shee said;
Or, sweet William, are you asleep?
God give you joy of your gay bride-bed,
And me of my winding-sheet.
When day was come, and night was gone, 25
And all men wak'd from sleep,
Sweet William to his lady sayd,
My dear, I have cause to weep.
I dreamt a dream, my dear ladyè,
Such dreames are never good: 30
I dreamt my bower was full of red 'wine,'[319]
And my bride-bed full of blood.
Such dreams, such dreams, my honoured Sir,
They never do prove good;
To dream thy bower was full of red 'wine,'[319] 35
And thy bride-bed full of blood.
He called up his merry men all,
By one, by two, and by three;
Saying, I'll away to fair Marg'ret's bower,
By the leave of my ladiè. 40
And when he came to fair Marg'ret's bower,
He knocked at the ring;
And who so ready as her seven brethrèn
To let sweet William in.
Then he turned up the covering-sheet, 45
Pray let me see the dead;
Methinks she looks all pale and wan,
She hath lost her cherry red.
I'll do more for thee, Margarèt,
Than any of thy kin; 50
For I will kiss thy pale wan lips,
Though a smile I cannot win.
With that bespake the seven brethrèn,
Making most piteous mone:
You may go kiss your jolly brown bride, 55
And let our sister alone.
If I do kiss my jolly brown bride,
I do but what is right;
I neer made a vow to yonder poor corpse
By day, nor yet by night. 60
Deal on, deal on, my merry men all,
Deal on your cake and your wine[320]:
For whatever is dealt at her funeral to-day,
Shall be dealt to-morrow at mine.
Fair Margaret dyed to-day, to-day, 65
Sweet William dyed the morrow:
Fair Margaret dyed for pure true love,
Sweet William dyed for sorrow.
Margaret was buryed in the lower chancèl,
And William in the higher: 70
Out of her brest there sprang a rose,
And out of his a briar.
They grew till they grew unto the church-top,
And then they could grow no higher;
And there they tyed in a true lovers knot, 75
Which made all the people admire.
Then came the clerk of the parìsh,
As you the truth shall hear,
And by misfortune cut them down,
Or they had now been there. 80
FOOTNOTES:
[319] Ver. 31, 35. Swine, _PCC._
[320] Alluding to the dole anciently given at funerals.
V.
BARBARA ALLEN'S CRUELTY.
Given, with some corrections, from an old black letter copy, intitled,
_Barbara Allen's cruelty, or the young man's tragedy_.
* * * * *
[It is not clear why Percy separated this English version of
_Barbara Allen_ from the Scottish version entitled _Sir John
Grehme and Barbara Allan_ (No. 7).
Goldsmith in his third Essay says, "the music of the finest singer
is dissonance to what I felt when our dairy maid sung me into tears
with _Johnny Armstrong's Last Good Night_, or the _Cruelty of
Barbara Allen_."
It has been suggested that for "Scarlet towne" in the first verse
should be read Carlisle town, but as some printed copies have
Reading town we may suppose that a pun is intended.]
* * * * *
In Scarlet towne, where I was borne,
There was a faire maid dwellin,
Made every youth crye, Wel-awaye!
Her name was Barbara Allen.
All in the merrye month of may, 5
When greene buds they were swellin,
Yong Jemmye Grove on his death-bed lay,
For love of Barbara Allen.
He sent his man unto her then,
To the town, where shee was dwellin; 10
You must come to my master deare,
Giff your name be Barbara Allen.
For death is printed on his face,
And ore his hart is stealin:
Then haste away to comfort him, 15
O lovelye Barbara Allen.
Though death be printed on his face,
And ore his harte is stealin,
Yet little better shall he bee,
For bonny Barbara Allen. 20
So slowly, slowly, she came up,
And slowly she came nye him;
And all she sayd, when there she came,
Young man, I think y'are dying.
He turnd his face unto her strait, 25
With deadlye sorrow sighing;
O lovely maid, come pity mee,
Ime on my deth-bed lying.
If on your death-bed you doe lye,
What needs the tale you are tellin: 30
I cannot keep you from your death;
Farewell, sayd Barbara Allen.
He turnd his face unto the wall,
As deadlye pangs he fell in:
Adieu! adieu! adieu to you all, 35
Adieu to Barbara Allen.
As she was walking ore the fields,
She heard the bell a knellin;
And every stroke did seem to saye,
Unworthy Barbara Allen. 40
She turnd her bodye round about,
And spied the corps a coming:
Laye down, laye down the corps, she sayd
That I may look upon him.
With scornful eye she looked downe, 45
Her cheeke with laughter swellin;
Whilst all her friends cryd out amaine,
Unworthye Barbara Allen.
When he was dead, and laid in grave,
Her harte was struck with sorrowe, 50
O mother, mother, make my bed,
For I shall dye to-morrowe.
Hard harted creature him to slight,
Who loved me so dearlye:
O that I had beene more kind to him, 55
When he was alive and neare me!
She, on her death-bed as she laye,
Beg'd to be buried by him;
And sore repented of the daye,
That she did ere denye him. 60
Farewell, she sayd, ye virgins all,
And shun the fault I fell in:
Henceforth take warning by the fall
Of cruel Barbara Allen.
VI.
SWEET WILLIAM'S GHOST.
A SCOTTISH BALLAD.
From Allan Ramsay's _Tea-Table Miscellany_. The concluding stanza of
this piece seems modern.
* * * * *
[In the previous ballad (No. 4) and in Mallet's _William and
Margaret_ it is Margaret who appears to William, but in the present
one and in some other versions William is made to die first. In
_Clerk Saunders_ (_Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border_) Scott has
joined two distinct stories, and the second part, in which the
spirit of Clerk Saunders appears to May Margaret, closely resembles
the present ballad. Besides these there are two other versions.
Kinloch's, entitled _Sweet William and May Margaret_, and
Motherwell's _William and Marjorie_. Dr. Rimbault points out that
the chief incidents in Bürger's _Leonora_ resemble those in this
ballad.
The last two stanzas are probably Ramsay's own.]
* * * * *
There came a ghost to Margaret's door,
With many a grievous grone,
And ay he tirled at the pin;[321]
But answer made she none.
Is this my father Philip? 5
Or is't my brother John?
Or is't my true love Willie,
From Scotland new come home?
'Tis not thy father Philip;
Nor yet thy brother John: 10
But tis thy true love Willie
From Scotland new come home,
O sweet Margret! O dear Margret!
I pray thee speak to mee:
Give me my faith and troth, Margret, 15
As I gave it to thee.
Thy faith and troth thou'se nevir get,
'Of me shalt nevir win,'
Till that thou come within my bower,
And kiss my cheek and chin. 20
If I should come within thy bower,
I am no earthly man:
And should I kiss thy rosy lipp,
Thy days will not be lang.
O sweet Margret, O dear Margret, 25
I pray thee speak to mee:
Give me my faith and troth, Margret,
As I gave it to thee.
Thy faith and troth thou'se nevir get,
'Of me shalt nevir win,' 30
Till thou take me to yon kirk yard,
And wed me with a ring.
My bones are buried in a kirk yard
Afar beyond the sea,
And it is but my sprite, Margret, 35
That's speaking now to thee.
She stretched out her lilly-white hand,
As for to do her best:
Hae there your faith and troth, Willie,
God send your soul good rest. 40
Now she has kilted her robes of green,
A piece below her knee:
And a' the live-lang winter night
The dead corps followed shee.
Is there any room at your head, Willie? 45
Or any room at your feet?
Or any room at your side, Willie,
Wherein that I may creep?
There's nae room at my head, Margret,
There's nae room at my feet, 50
There's no room at my side, Margret,
My coffin is made so meet.
Then up and crew the red red cock,
And up then crew the gray:
Tis time, tis time, my dear Margret, 55
That 'I' were gane away.
[No more the ghost to Margret said,
But, with a grievous grone,
Evanish'd in a cloud of mist,
And left her all alone. 60
O stay, my only true love, stay,
The constant Margret cried:
Wan grew her cheeks, she clos'd her een,
Stretch'd her saft limbs, and died.]
FOOTNOTES:
[321] [See note, _ante_, p. 47.]
VII.
SIR JOHN GREHME AND BARBARA ALLAN.
A SCOTTISH BALLAD.
Printed, with a few conjectural emendations, from a written copy.
* * * * *
[Pepys, in Jan. 1665-1666, heard Mrs. Knipp, the actress, sing "her
little Scotch song of _Barbery Allen_" at Lord Brouncker's, and he
was "in perfect pleasure to hear her sing" it. It was first printed
in Ramsay's _Tea-Table Miscellany_ (ii. 171).
"I remember," says Mr. C. Kirkpatrick Sharpe, "that the peasantry
of Annandale sang many more verses of this ballad than have
appeared in print, but they were of no merit, containing numerous
magnificent offers from the lover to his mistress, and amongst
others some ships in sight, which may strengthen the belief that
this song was composed near the shores of the Solway."--_Addit._
_Illustrations to Stenhouse._]
* * * * *
It was in and about the Martinmas time,
When the greene leaves wer a fallan;
That Sir John Grehme o' the west countrye,
Fell in luve wi' Barbara Allan.
He sent his man down throw the towne, 5
To the plaice wher she was dwellan:
O haste and cum to my maister deare,
Gin ye bin Barbara Allan.
O hooly, hooly raise she up,
To the plaice wher he was lyan; 10
And whan she drew the curtain by,
Young man, I think ye're dyan.[322]
O its I'm sick, and very very sick,
And its a' for Barbara Allan.
O the better for me ye'se never be, 15
Though your harts blude wer spillan.
Remember ye nat in the tavern, sir,
Whan ye the cups wer fillan;
How ye made the healths gae round and round,
And slighted Barbara Allan? 20
He turn'd his face unto the wa'
And death was with him dealan;
Adiew! adiew! my dear friends a',
Be kind to Barbara Allan.
Then hooly, hooly raise she up, 25
And hooly, hooly left him;
And sighan said, she could not stay,
Since death of life had reft him.
She had not gane a mile but twa,
Whan she heard the deid-bell knellan; 30
And everye jow the deid-bell geid,
Cried, Wae to Barbara Allan!
O mither, mither, mak my bed,
O make it saft and narrow:
Since my love died for me to-day, 35
Ise die for him to morrowe.
[***]
FOOTNOTES:
[322] An ingenious friend thinks the rhymes _Dyand_ and _Lyand_ ought
to be transposed; as the taunt _Young man, I think ye're yand_, would
be very characteristical.
VIII.
THE BAILIFF'S DAUGHTER OF ISLINGTON.
From an ancient black-letter copy in the Pepys _Collection_, with some
improvements communicated by a lady as she had heard the same recited
in her youth. The full title is, _True love requited: Or, the Bailiff's
daughter of Islington_.
_Islington_ in Norfolk is probably the place here meant.
* * * * *
[Copies of this charming old ballad are found in all the large
collections, and two tunes are associated with it.
Percy's suggestion that Islington in Norfolk is referred to is
not a probable one, and there seems to be no reason for depriving
the better known Islington of the south of the honour of having
given birth to the bailiff's daughter. Islington at the time when
this ballad was written was a country village quite unconnected
with London, and a person who represented "a squier minstrel of
Middlesex" made a speech before Queen Elizabeth at Kenilworth in
1575, in which he declared "how the worshipful village of Islington
[was] well knooen too bee one of the most auncient and best tounz
in England, next to London."]
* * * * *
There was a youthe, and a well-beloved youthe,
And he was a squires son;
He loved the bayliffes daughter deare,
That lived in Islington.
Yet she was coye and would not believe 5
That he did love her soe,
Noe nor at any time would she
Any countenance to him showe.
But when his friendes did understand
His fond and foolish minde, 10
They sent him up to faire London
An apprentice for to binde.
And when he had been seven long yeares,
And never his love could see:
Many a teare have I shed for her sake, 15
When she little thought of mee.
Then all the maids of Islington
Went forth to sport and playe,
All but the bayliffes daughter deare;
She secretly stole awaye. 20
She pulled off her gowne of greene,
And put on ragged attire,
And to faire London she would go
Her true love to enquire.
And as she went along the high road, 25
The weather being hot and drye,
She sat her downe upon a green bank,
And her true love came riding bye.
She started up, with a colour soe redd,
Catching hold of his bridle-reine; 30
One penny, one penny, kind sir, she sayd,
Will ease me of much paine.
Before I give you one penny, sweet-heart,
Praye tell me where you were borne.
At Islington, kind sir, sayd shee, 35
Where I have had many a scorne.
I prythee, sweet-heart, then tell to mee,
O tell me, whether you knowe
The bayliffes daughter of Islington,
She is dead, sir, long agoe. 40
If she be dead, then take my horse,
My saddle and bridle also;
For I will into some farr countrye,
Where noe man shall me knowe.
O staye, O staye, thou goodlye youthe, 45
She standeth by thy side;
She is here alive, she is not dead,
And readye to be thy bride.
O farewell griefe, and welcome joye,
Ten thousand times therefore; 50
For nowe I have founde mine owne true love,
Whom I thought I should never see more.
IX.
THE WILLOW TREE.
A PASTORAL DIALOGUE.
From the small black-letter collection, intitled, _The Golden Garland
of princely delights_; collated with two other copies, and corrected by
conjecture.
* * * * *
[Dr. Rimbault gives the melody of this pretty little pastoral on
the favourite subject of wearing the willow from a MS. dated 1639
in the Advocate's Library, Edinburgh. It is also to be found in
the celebrated Skene MS. in the same library, and again in all the
editions of Forbes's _Cantus_.]
* * * * *
WILLY.
How now, shepherde, what meanes that?
Why that willowe in thy hat?
Why thy scarffes of red and yellowe
Turn'd to branches of greene willowe?
CUDDY.
They are chang'd, and so am I; 5
Sorrowes live, but pleasures die:
Phillis hath forsaken mee,
Which makes me weare the willowe-tree.
WILLY.
Phillis! shee that lov'd thee long?
Is shee the lass hath done thee wrong? 10
Shee that lov'd thee long and best,
Is her love turn'd to a jest?
CUDDY.
Shee that long true love profest,
She hath robb'd my heart of rest:
For she a new love loves, not mee; 15
Which makes me wear the willowe-tree.
WILLY.
Come then, shepherde, let us joine,
Since thy happ is like to mine:
For the maid I thought most true,
Mee hath also bid adieu. 20
CUDDY.
Thy hard happ doth mine appease,
Companye doth sorrowe ease:
Yet, Phillis, still I pine for thee,
And still must weare the willowe-tree.
WILLY.
Shepherde, be advis'd by mee, 25
Cast off grief and willowe-tree:
For thy grief brings her content,
She is pleas'd if thou lament.
CUDDY.
Herdsman, I'll be rul'd by thee,
There lyes grief and willowe-tree: 30
Henceforth I will do as they,
And love a new love every day.
X.
THE LADY'S FALL
Is given (with corrections) from the Editor's ancient folio MS.[323]
collated with two printed copies in black-letter; one in the British
Museum, the other in the Pepys Collection. Its old title is, _A
lamentable ballad of the Lady's fall_. To the tune of, _In Pescod
time, &c._--The ballad here referred to is preserved in the _Muses
Library_, 8vo. p. 281. It is an allegory or vision, intitled, _The
Shepherd's Slumber_, and opens with some pretty rural images, viz.
"In pescod time when hound to horn
Gives eare till buck be kil'd,
And little lads with pipes of corne
Sate keeping beasts a-field."
"I went to gather strawberries
By woods and groves full fair, &c."
* * * * *
[Mr. Hales thinks it possible that this ballad was written by the
same author as _The Children in the Wood_--"the same facility of
language and of rhyme, the same power of pathos, the same extreme
simplicity characterise both ballads."
Mr. Chappell says that _Chevy Chace_ was sometimes sung to the tune
of _In Pescod time_, as were the _Bride's burial_ (No. 12), and
_Lady Isabella's Tragedy_ (No. 14). The various readings from the
original MS. are noted at the foot of the page.]
* * * * *
Marke well my heavy dolefull tale,
You loyall lovers all,
And heedfully beare in your brest,
A gallant ladyes fall.
Long was she wooed, ere shee was wonne, 5
To lead a wedded life,
But folly wrought her overthrowe
Before she was a wife.
Too soone, alas! shee gave consent
And yeelded to his will, 10
Though he protested to be true,
And faithfull to her still.
Shee felt her body altered quite,
Her bright hue waxed pale,
Her lovelye cheeks chang'd color white,[324] 15
Her strength began to fayle.
Soe that with many a sorrowful sigh,[325]
This beauteous ladye milde,
With greeved hart, perceived herselfe
To have conceived with childe.[326] 20
Shee kept it from her parents sight
As close as close might bee,
And soe put on her silken gowne
None might her swelling see.[327]
Unto her lover secretly 25
Her greefe shee did bewray,
And walking with him hand in hand,
These words to him did say;
Behold, quoth shee, a maids distresse[328]
By love brought to thy bowe;[329] 30
Behold I goe with childe by thee,[330]
Tho none thereof doth knowe.
The litle babe springs in my wombe[331]
To heare its fathers voyce,
Lett it not be a bastard called,[332] 35
Sith I made thee my choyce:
[Come, come, my love, perform thy vowe[333]
And wed me out of hand;[333]
O leave me not in this extreme[333]
Of griefe, alas! to stand.][333] 40
Think on thy former promises,
Thy oathes and vowes eche one;[334]
Remember with what bitter teares
To mee thou madest thy moane.
Convay me to some secrett place, 45
And marry me with speede;
Or with thy rapyer end my life,
Ere further shame proceede.[335]
Alacke! my beauteous love, quoth hee,[336]
My joye, and only dear;[337] 50
Which way can I convay thee hence,[338]
When dangers are so near?[339]
Thy friends are all of hye degree,[340]
And I of meane estate;
Full hard it is to gett thee forthe[341] 55
Out of thy fathers gate.[342]
Dread not thy life to save my fame,[343]
For if thou taken bee,[344]
My selfe will step betweene the swords,[345]
And take the harme on mee:[346] 60
Soe shall I scape dishonor quite;[347]
And if I should be slaine[348]
What could they say, but that true love
Had wrought a ladyes bane.[349]
But feare not any further harme; 65
My selfe will soe devise,
That I will ryde away with thee[350]
Unknowen of mortall eyes:
Disguised like some pretty page
Ile meete thee in the darke, 70
And all alone Ile come to thee
Hard by my fathers parke.
And there, quoth hee, Ile meete my deare
If God soe lend me life,
On this day month without all fayle 75
I will make thee my wife.[351]
Then with a sweet and loving kisse,[352]
They parted presentlye,
And att their partinge brinish teares
Stoode in eche others eye, 80
Att length the wished day was come,[353]
On which this beauteous mayd,
With longing eyes, and strange attire,
For her true lover stayd.
When any person shee espyed[354] 85
Come ryding ore the plaine,[355]
She hop'd it was her owne true love:[356]
But all her hopes were vaine.
Then did shee weepe and sore bewayle
Her most unhappy fate; 90
Then did shee speake these woefull words,
As succourless she sate;[357]
O false, forsworne, and faithlesse man,[358]
Disloyall in thy love,
Hast thou forgott thy promise past, 95
And wilt thou perjured prove?
And hast thou now forsaken mee
In this my great distresse,
To end my dayes in open shame,[359]
Which thou mightst well redresse?[360] 100
Woe worth the time I eer believ'd[361]
That flattering tongue of thine:
Wold God that I had never seene
The teares of thy false eyne.
And thus with many a sorrowful sigh,[362] 105
Homewards shee went againe;[363]
Noe rest came in her waterye eyes,
Shee felt such privye paine.[364]
In travail strong shee fell that night,
With many a bitter throwe;[365] 110
What woefull paines shee then did feel,[366]
Doth eche good woman knowe.
Shee called up her waiting mayd,[367]
That lay at her bedds feete,[368]
Who musing at her mistress woe,[369] 115
Began full fast to weepe.
Weepe not, said shee, but shutt the dores,[370]
And windowes round about,[371]
Let none bewray my wretched state,
But keepe all persons out. 120
O mistress, call your mother deare;
Of women you have neede,
And of some skilfull midwifes helpe,[372]
That better may you speed.[373]
Call not my mother for thy life, 125
Nor fetch no woman here;
The midwives helpe comes all too late,
My death I doe not feare.
With that the babe sprang from her wombe
No creature being nye,[374] 130
And with one sighe, which brake her hart,
This gentle dame did dye.[375]
The lovely litle infant younge,[376]
[The mother being dead,][377]
Resigned its new received breath, 135
To him that had it made.
Next morning came her own true love,
Affrighted at the newes,[378]
And he for sorrow slew himselfe,
Whom eche one did accuse. 140
The mother with her new borne babe,
Were laide both in one grave:
Their parents overworne with woe,
No joy thenceforth cold have.[379]
Take heed, you dayntye damsells all, 145
Of flattering words beware,
And to the honour of your name
Have an especial care.[380]
[Too true, alas! this story is,[381]
As many one can tell:[381] 150
By others harmes learne to be wise,[381]
And you shall do full well.][381]
FOOTNOTES:
[323] [Ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 246.]
[324] [Ver. 15. her faire red cheekes changed color quite.]
[325] [V. 17. and soe with.]
[326] [V. 20. to be conceived.]
[327] [V. 24. none shold. MS.]
[328] [Ver. 29. a ladyes distress.]
[329] [V. 30. your bowe.]
[330] [V. 31. See how I goe with chyld with thee.]
[331] [V. 33. my litle.]
[332] [V. 35. O lett.]
[333] [V. 37-40. not in MS.]
[334] [V. 42. thy wordes.]
[335] [V. 48. lest further.]
[336] [V. 49. my derest.]
[337] [V. 50. my greatest joy on earthe.]
[338] [V. 51. shold I convay you.]
[339] [V. 52. to scape a sudden death.]
[340] [Ver. 53. your friends.]
[341] [V. 55. gett you.]
[342] [V. 56. your ffathers.]
[343] [V. 57. your liffe ... your fame.]
[344] [V. 58. you.]
[345] [V. 59. sword.]
[346] [V. 60. to take ... of thee.]
[347] [V. 61. soe may you.]
[348] [V. 62. if soe you.]
[349] [V. 64. ladyes paine.]
[350] [V. 67. I will safely ryd with thee.]
[351] [V. 76. Ile make the then.]
[352] [V. 77. and with.]
[353] [Ver. 81. wherin this lovely maid.]
[354] [V. 85. if any person shee had spyed.]
[355] [V. 86. came.]
[356] [V. 87. shee thought.]
[357] [V. 92. when succourles.]
[358] [V. 93. _and_ not in MS.]
[359] [V. 99. in heavinesse.]
[360] [V. 100. which well thou might.]
[361] [V. 101. I did beleeve.]
[362] [V. 105. soe that with many a grievous groane.]
[363] [V. 106. amaine.]
[364] [V. 108. shee found.]
[365] [Ver. 110. thraw.]
[366] [V. 111. shee felt that night.]
[367] [V. 113. mayd.]
[368] [V. 114. who lay.]
[369] [V. 115. and musing at her great woe.]
[370] [V. 117. shee sayth.]
[371] [V. 118. all about.]
[372] [V. 123. and to some.]
[373] [V. 124. the better.]
[374] [V. 130. being by.]
[375] [V. 132. gallant dame.]
[376] [V. 133. litle lovely.]
[377] [V. 134. the pretty smiling babe.]
[378] [Ver. 138. with this newes.]
[379] [V. 144. no joy that they.]
[380] [V. 148. have you a specyall care.]
[381] [V. 149-152. not in MS.]
XI.
WALY WALY, LOVE BE BONNY.
A SCOTTISH SONG.
This is a very ancient song, but we could only give it from a modern
copy. Some editions instead of the four last lines in the second stanza
have these, which have too much merit to be wholly suppressed:
"Whan cockle shells turn siller bells,
And muscles grow on every tree,
When frost and snaw sall warm us aw',
Than sall my love prove true to me."
See the _Orpheus Caledonius, &c._
Arthur's-seat mentioned in ver. 17, is a hill near Edinborough; near
the bottom of which is St. Anthony's well.
* * * * *
[There has been considerable difference of opinion among ballad
collectors relative to this beautiful song. Some suppose it to
be a portion of the ballad entitled _Lord Jamie Douglas_, which
relates to James Douglas, second Marquis of Douglas, who married
Lady Barbara Erskine, eldest daughter of John, ninth Earl of Mar,
on the seventh of September, 1670, and afterwards repudiated her
on account of a false accusation of adultery made against her by
Lowrie, laird of Blackwood. Prof. Aytoun, however, believes that
certain verses of _Waly Waly_ have wrongly been mixed up with
_Lord Jamie Douglas_. There is very little doubt that the song
was in existence long before 1670, and it also appears to be the
lamentation of a forsaken girl rather than of a wife. Mr. Stenhouse
and others considered it to belong to the age of Queen Mary and
to refer to some affair at Court. Aytoun writes, "there is also
evidence that it was composed before 1566, for there is extant
a MS. of that year in which some of the lines are transcribed,"
but Mr. Maidment gives the following opinion--"that the ballad is
of ancient date is undoubted, but we are not quite prepared to
admit that it goes back as far as 1566, the date of the manuscript
transcribed by Thomas Wode from an ancient church music book
compiled by Dean John Angus, Andrew Blackhall, and others, in which
it said the first [second] stanza is thus parodied:--
Hey trollie lollie, love is jollie,
A quhile, quhil itt is new
Quhen it is old, it grows full cold,
Wae worth the love untrue.
Never having had access to the MS., we may be permitted to remark
that the phraseology of the burlesque is not exactly that of the
reign of Queen Mary" (_Scottish Ballads and Songs_, 1868, vol. ii.
p. 49.)
Allan Ramsay was the first to publish the song, and he marked it as
ancient.
"When cockle shells turn silver bells,
When wine drieps red frae ilka tree,
When frost and snaw will warm us a'
Then I'll cum down and dine wi' thee,"
is the fourth stanza of _Jamie Douglas_, printed by John Finlay, in
his _Scottish Historical and Romantic Ballads_ (vol. ii.)]
* * * * *
O waly[382] waly up the bank,
And waly waly down the brae,
And waly waly yon burn side,
Where I and my love wer wont to gae.
I leant my back unto an aik, 5
I thought it was a trusty tree;
But first it bow'd, and syne it brak,
Sae my true love did lichtly me.
O waly, waly, gin love be bonny,
A little time while it is new; 10
But when its auld, it waxeth cauld,
And fades awa' like morning dew.
O wherfore shuld I busk my head?
Or wherfore shuld I kame my hair?
For my true love has me forsook, 15
And says he'll never loe me mair.
Now Arthur-seat sall be my bed,
The sheets shall neir be fyl'd[383] by me:
Saint Anton's well sall be my drink,
Since my true love has forsaken me. 20
Marti'mas wind, when wilt thou blaw,
And shake the green leaves aff the tree?
O gentle death, whan wilt thou cum?
For of my life I am wearìe.
Tis not the frost, that freezes fell, 25
Nor blawing snaws inclemencìe;
'Tis not sic cauld, that makes me cry,
But my loves heart grown cauld to me.
When we came in by Glasgowe town,
We were a comely sight to see, 30
My love was cled in black velvet,
And I my-sell in cramasie.[384]
But had I wist, before I kisst,
That love had been sae ill to win;
I had lockt my heart in a case of gowd, 35
And pinnd it with a siller pin.
And, oh! if my young babe were born,
And set upon the nurses knee,
And I my sell were dead and gane!
For a maid again Ise never be. 40
FOOTNOTES:
[382] [interjection of lamentation.]
[383] [defiled.]
[384] [crimson.]
XII.
THE BRIDE'S BURIAL.
From two ancient copies in black-letter: one in the Pepys Collection;
the other in the British Museum.
To the tune of _The Lady's Fall_.
* * * * *
Come mourne, come mourne with mee,
You loyall lovers all;
Lament my loss in weeds of woe,
Whom griping grief doth thrall.
Like to the drooping vine, 5
Cut by the gardener's knife,
Even so my heart, with sorrow slaine,
Doth bleed for my sweet wife.
By death, that grislye ghost,
My turtle dove is slaine, 10
And I am left, unhappy man,
To spend my dayes in paine.
Her beauty late so bright,
Like roses in their prime,
Is wasted like the mountain snowe, 15
Before warme Phebus' shine.
Her faire red colour'd cheeks
Now pale and wan; her eyes,
That late did shine like crystal stars;
Alas, their light it dies: 20
Her prettye lilly hands,
With fingers long and small,
In colour like the earthly claye,
Yea, cold and stiff withall.
When as the morning star 25
Her golden gates had spred,
And that the glittering sun arose
Forth from fair Thetis' bed;
Then did my love awake,
Most like a lilly-flower, 30
And as the lovely queene of heaven,
So shone shee in her bower.
Attired was shee then,
Like Flora in her pride,
Like one of bright Diana's nymphs, 35
So look'd my loving bride.
And as fair Helen's face,
Did Grecian dames besmirche,
So did my dear exceed in sight,
All virgins in the church. 40
When we had knitt the knott
Of holy wedlock-band,
Like alabaster joyn'd to jett,
So stood we hand in hand;
Then lo! a chilling cold 45
Strucke every vital part,
And griping grief, like pangs of death,
Seiz'd on my true love's heart.
Down in a swoon she fell,
As cold as any stone; 50
Like Venus picture lacking life,
So was my love brought home.
At length her rosye red,
Throughout her comely face,
As Ph[oe]bus beames with watry cloudes 55
Was cover'd for a space.
When with a grievous groane,
And voice both hoarse and drye,
Farewell, quoth she, my loving friend,
For I this daye must dye; 60
The messenger of God,
With golden trumpe I see,
With manye other angels more,
Which sound and call for mee.
Instead of musicke sweet, 65
Go toll my passing-bell;
And with sweet flowers strow my grave,
That in my chamber smell.
Strip off my bride's arraye,
My cork shoes from my feet; 70
And, gentle mother, be not coye
To bring my winding-sheet.
My wedding dinner drest,
Bestowe upon the poor,
And on the hungry, needy, maimde, 75
Now craving at the door.
Instead of virgins yong,
My bride-bed for to see,
Go cause some cunning carpenter,
To make a chest for mee. 80
My bride laces of silk
Bestowd, for maidens meet,
May fitly serve, when I am dead,
To tye my hands and feet.
And thou, my lover true, 85
My husband and my friend,
Let me intreat thee here to staye,
Until my life doth end.
Now leave to talk of love,
And humblye on your knee, 90
Direct your prayers unto God:
But mourn no more for mee.
In love as we have livde,
In love let us depart;
And I, in token of my love, 95
Do kiss thee with my heart.
O staunch those bootless teares,
Thy weeping tis in vaine;
I am not lost, for wee in heaven
Shall one daye meet againe. 100
With that shee turn'd aside,
As one dispos'd to sleep,
And like a lamb departed life;
Whose friends did sorely weep.
Her true love seeing this, 105
Did fetch a grievous groane,
As tho' his heart would burst in twaine,
And thus he made his moane.
O darke and dismal daye,
A daye of grief and care, 110
That hath bereft the sun so bright,
Whose beams refresht the air.
Now woe unto the world,
And all that therein dwell,
O that I were with thee in heaven, 115
For here I live in hell.
And now this lover lives
A discontented life,
Whose bride was brought unto the grave
A maiden and a wife. 120
A garland fresh and faire
Of lillies there was made,
In sign of her virginitye,
And on her coffin laid.[385]
Six maidens, all in white, 125
Did beare her to the ground:
The bells did ring in solemn sort,
And made a dolefull sound.
In earth they laid her then,
For hungry wormes a preye; 130
So shall the fairest face alive
At length be brought to claye.
FOOTNOTES:
[385] ["It was an ancient and pleasing custom to place a garland made
of white flowers and white riband upon the coffin of a maiden; it was
afterwards hung up over her customary seat in church. Sometimes a
pair of white gloves, or paper cut to the shape of gloves, was hung
beneath the garland. Chaplets of the kind still hang in some of the
Derbyshire churches, and at Hathersage in that county the custom is
still retained."--(_Transactions of the Essex Archælogical Society_,
vol. i. 1858, p. 118.) See _Corydon's Doleful Knell_, vol. ii.
book ii. No. 27, p. 275. Ophelia is "allowed her virgin crants" (or
garland)--_Hamlet_, act v. sc. 1. See also an interesting article on
_Funeral Garlands_ by Llewellyn Jewitt in the _Reliquary_, vol. i.
(1860), p. 5.]
XIII.
DULCINA.
Given from two ancient copies, one in black-print, in the Pepys
Collection: the other in the Editor's folio MS. Each of these contained
a stanza not found in the other. What seemed the best readings were
selected from both.
This song is quoted as very popular in Walton's _Compleat Angler_,
chap. ii. It is more ancient than the ballad of _Robin Good-Fellow_
printed below, which yet is supposed to have been written by Ben.
Jonson.
* * * * *
[The Milk-woman in Walton's _Angler_ says, "What song was it, I
pray you? Was it _Come shepherds deck your heads_, or _As at noon
Dulcina rested_?"
In the Registers of the Stationers' Company, under date of May 22,
1615, there is an entry transferring the right of publication from
one printer to another of _A Ballett of Dulcina to the tune of_
_Forgoe me nowe, come to me sone_. Mr. Chappell also tells us that
_Dulcina_ was one of the tunes to the "Psalms and Songs of Sion,
turned into the language and set to the tunes of a strange land,"
1642.
The editors of the Folio MS., more scrupulous than the bishop, have
not printed this song in its proper place, but have turned it into
the Supplement of _Loose and Humourous Songs_ (p. 32). The third
stanza of the MS. beginning
"Words whose hopes might have enjoyned"
is not printed in the present copy. The third stanza here is the
fourth of the MS., and the fourth stanza is not in the MS. at all.
Cayley and Ellis attribute this song to Raleigh, but without
sufficient authority.]
* * * * *
As at noone Dulcina rested
In her sweete and shady bower;
Came a shepherd, and requested
In her lapp to sleepe an hour.
But from her looke 5
A wounde he tooke
Soe deepe, that for a further boone
The nymph he prayes.
Wherto shee sayes,
Forgoe me now, come to me soone. 10
But in vayne shee did conjure him
To depart her presence soe;
Having a thousand tongues to allure him,
And but one to bid him goe:
Where lipps invite, 15
And eyes delight,
And cheekes, as fresh as rose in june,
Persuade delay;
What boots, she say,
Forgoe me now, come to me soone? 20
He demands what time for pleasure
Can there be more fit than now:
She sayes, night gives love that leysure,
Which the day can not allow.
He sayes, the sight 25
'Improves delight.
'Which she denies: Nights mirkie noone
In Venus' playes
Makes bold, shee sayes;
Forgoe me now, come to mee soone. 30
But what promise or profession
From his hands could purchase scope?
Who would sell the sweet possession
Of suche beautye for a hope?
Or for the sight 35
Of lingering night
Foregoe the present joyes of noone?
Though ne'er soe faire
Her speeches were,
Forgoe me now, come to me soone. 40
How, at last, agreed these lovers?
Shee was fayre, and he was young:
The tongue may tell what th'eye discovers;
Joyes unseene are never sung.
Did shee consent, 45
Or he relent;
Accepts he night, or grants shee noone;
Left he her a mayd,
Or not; she sayd
Forgoe me now, come to me soone. 50
XIV.
THE LADY ISABELLA'S TRAGEDY.
This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys
Collection, collated with another in the British Museum, H. 263,
folio. It is there intitled, "_The Lady Isabella's Tragedy, or the
Step-Mother's Cruelty_: being a relation of a lamentable and cruel
murther, committed on the body of the lady Isabella, the only daughter
of a noble duke, &c. To the tune of, _The Lady's Fall_." To some copies
are annexed eight more modern stanzas, intitled, _The Dutchess's and
Cook's Lamentation_.
* * * * *
There was a lord of worthy fame,
And a hunting he would ride,
Attended by a noble traine
Of gentrye by his side.
And while he did in chase remaine, 5
To see both sport and playe;
His ladye went, as she did feigne,
Unto the church to praye.
This lord he had a daughter deare,
Whose beauty shone so bright, 10
She was belov'd, both far and neare,
Of many a lord and knight.
Fair Isabella was she call'd,
A creature faire was shee;
She was her father's only joye; 15
As you shall after see.
Therefore her cruel step-mothèr
Did envye her so much;
That daye by daye she sought her life,
Her malice it was such. 20
She bargain'd with the master-cook,
To take her life awaye:
And taking of her daughters book,
She thus to her did saye.
Go home, sweet daughter, I thee praye, 25
Go hasten presentlie;
And tell unto the master-cook
These wordes that I tell thee.
And bid him dresse to dinner streight
That faire and milk-white doe, 30
That in the parke doth shine so bright,
There's none so faire to showe.
This ladye fearing of no harme,
Obey'd her mothers will;
And presentlye she hasted home, 35
Her pleasure to fulfill.
She streight into the kitchen went,
Her message for to tell;
And there she spied the master-cook,
Who did with malice swell. 40
Nowe, master-cook, it must be soe,
Do that which I thee tell:
You needes must dresse the milk-white doe,
Which you do knowe full well.
Then streight his cruell bloodye hands, 45
He on the ladye layd;
Who quivering and shaking stands,
While thus to her he sayd:
Thou art the doe, that I must dresse;
See here, behold my knife; 50
For it is pointed presently
To rid thee of thy life.
O then, cried out the scullion-boye,
As loud as loud might bee;
O save her life, good master-cook, 55
And make your pyes of mee!
For pityes sake do not destroye
My ladye with your knife;
You know shee is her father's joye,
For Christes sake save her life. 60
I will not save her life, he sayd,
Nor make my pyes of thee;
Yet if thou dost this deed bewraye,
Thy butcher I will bee.
Now when this lord he did come home 65
For to sit downe and eat;
He called for his daughter deare,
To come and carve his meat.
Now sit you downe, his ladye sayd,
O sit you downe to meat: 70
Into some nunnery she is gone;
Your daughter deare forget.
Then solemnlye he made a vowe,
Before the companìe:
That he would neither eat nor drinke, 75
Until he did her see.
O then bespake the scullion-boye,
With a loud voice so hye:
If now you will your daughter see,
My lord, cut up that pye: 80
Wherein her fleshe is minced small,
And parched with the fire:
All caused by her step-mothèr,
Who did her death desire.
And cursed bee the master-cook, 85
O cursed may he bee!
I proffered him my own hearts blood,
From death to set her free.
Then all in blacke this lord did mourne;
And for his daughters sake, 90
He judged her cruell step-mothèr
To be burnt at a stake.
Likewise he judg'd the master-cook
In boiling lead to stand;
And made the simple scullion-boye 95
The heire of all his land.
XV.
A HUE AND CRY AFTER CUPID.
This song is a kind of translation of a pretty poem of Tasso's, called
_Amore fuggitivo_, generally printed with his _Aminta_, and originally
imitated from the first Idyllium of Moschus.
It is extracted from Ben Jonson's Masque at the marriage of lord
viscount Hadington, on Shrove-Tuesday, 1608. One stanza full of dry
mythology is here omitted, as it had been dropped in a copy of this
song printed in a small volume called _Le Prince d'Amour_. Lond.
1660, 8vo.
* * * * *
[The stanza of the first Grace which Percy left out is as follows:--
"At his sight the sun hath turn'd,
Neptune in the waters burn'd;
Hell hath felt a greater heat;
Jove himself forsook his seat:
From the centre to the sky
Are his trophies reared high."]
* * * * *
[_1 Grace._] Beauties have yee seen a toy,
Called Love, a little boy,
Almost naked, wanton, blinde;
Cruel now; and then as kinde?
If he be amongst yee, say; 5
He is Venus' run away.
[_2 Grace._] Shee, that will but now discover
Where the winged wag doth hover,
Shall to-night receive a kisse,
How and where herselfe would wish: 10
But who brings him to his mother
Shall have that kisse, and another.
[_3 Grace._] Markes he hath about him plentie;
You may know him among twentie:
All his body is a fire, 15
And his breath a flame entire:
Which, being shot, like lightning, in,
Wounds the heart, but not the skin.
* * * * *
[_2 Grace._] Wings he hath, which though yee clip,
He will leape from lip to lip, 20
Over liver, lights, and heart;
Yet not stay in any part.
And, if chance his arrow misses,
He will shoot himselfe in kisses.
[_3 Grace._] He doth beare a golden bow, 25
And a quiver hanging low,
Full of arrowes, which outbrave
Dian's shafts; where, if he have
Any head more sharpe than other,
With that first he strikes his mother. 30
[_1 Grace._] Still the fairest are his fuell,
When his daies are to be cruell;
Lovers hearts are all his food,
And his baths their warmest bloud:
Nought but wounds his hand doth season, 35
And he hates none like to Reason.
[_2 Grace._] Trust him not: his words, though sweet,
Seldome with his heart doe meet:
All his practice is deceit;
Everie gift is but a bait; 40
Not a kisse but poyson beares;
And most treason's in his teares.
[_3 Grace._] Idle minutes are his raigne;
Then the straggler makes his gaine,
By presenting maids with toyes 45
And would have yee thinke hem joyes;
'Tis the ambition of the elfe
To have all childish as himselfe.
[_1 Grace._] If by these yee please to know him,
Beauties, be not nice, but show him. 50
[_2 Grace._] Though ye had a will to hide him,
Now, we hope, yee'le not abide him.
[_3 Grace._] Since yee heare this falser's play,
And that he is Venus' run-away.
XVI.
THE KING OF FRANCE'S DAUGHTER.
The story of this ballad seems to be taken from an incident in the
domestic history of Charles the Bald, king of France. His daughter
Judith was betrothed to Ethelwulph king of England: but before the
marriage was consummated, Ethelwulph died, and she returned to France:
whence she was carried off by Baldwyn, Forester of Flanders; who, after
many crosses and difficulties, at length obtained the king's consent to
their marriage, and was made Earl of Flanders. This happened about A.D.
863.--See Rapin, Henault, and the French historians.
The following copy is given from the Editor's ancient folio MS.
collated with another in black-letter in the Pepys Collection,
intitled, _An excellent Ballad of a prince of England's courtship to
the king of France's daughter, &c._ To the tune of _Crimson Velvet_.
Many breaches having been made in this old song by the hand of time,
principally (as might be expected) in the quick returns of the rhime;
an attempt is here made to repair them.
* * * * *
[This ballad was written by Thomas Deloney, who included it in his
_Garland of Goodwill_ (Percy Society, vol. xxx. p. 52). It is,
as Percy points out, founded on history, but Deloney paid little
attention to facts. All the first part of the poem, which tells
of the miserable end of the English prince of suitable age to the
young French princess, is fiction. Judith was Ethelwulf's wife for
about two years, and on the death of her husband she married his
son Ethelbert. The only historical fact that is followed in the
ballad is the marriage of Judith with Baldwin, Great Forester of
France, from which union descended Matilda, the wife of William the
Conqueror.
The copy in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii.
p. 441) is entitled "In the Dayes of Olde." Percy altered it
considerably, sometimes following the printed copy and sometimes
the MS.
Mr. Hales suggests that the name of the tune is derived from the
dress of the princess, described in vv. 185-6,--
"Their mothers riche array
Was of crimson velvet,"
and Mr. Chappell agrees with him.]
* * * * *
In the dayes of old,
When faire France did flourish,
Storyes plaine have told,
Lovers felt annoye.
The queene a daughter bare, 5
Whom beautye's queene did nourish:
She was lovelye faire
She was her father's joye.
A prince of England came,
Whose deeds did merit fame, 10
But he was exil'd, and outcast:
Love his soul did fire,
Shee granted his desire,
Their hearts in one were linked fast.
Which when her father proved, 15
Sorelye he was moved,
And tormented in his minde.
He sought for to prevent them;
And, to discontent them,
Fortune cross'd these lovers kinde. 20
When these princes twaine
Were thus barr'd of pleasure,
Through the kinges disdaine,
Which their joyes withstoode:
The lady soone prepar'd 25
Her jewells and her treasure;
Having no regard
For state and royall bloode;
In homelye poore array
She went from court away, 30
To meet her joye and hearts delight;
Who in a forest great
Had taken up his seat,
To wayt her coming in the night.
But, lo! what sudden danger 35
To this princely stranger
Chanced, as he sate alone!
By outlawes he was robbed,
And with ponyards stabbed,
Uttering many a dying grone. 40
The princesse, arm'd by love,
And by chaste desire,
All the night did rove
Without dread at all:
Still unknowne she past 45
In her strange attire;
Coming at the last
Within echoes call,--
You faire woods, quoth shee,
Honoured may you bee, 50
Harbouring my heart's delight;
Which encompass here
My joye and only deare,
My trustye friend, and comelye knight.
Sweete, I come unto thee, 55
Sweete, I come to woo thee;
That thou mayst not angry bee
For my long delaying;
For thy curteous staying
Soone amendes Ile make to thee. 60
Passing thus alone
Through the silent forest,
Many a grievous grone
Sounded in her eares:
She heard one complayne 65
And lament the sorest,
Seeming all in payne,
Shedding deadly teares.
Farewell, my deare, quoth hee,
Whom I must never see; 70
For why my life is att an end,
Through villaines crueltye:
For thy sweet sake I dye,
To show I am a faithfull friend.
Here I lye a bleeding, 75
While my thoughts are feeding
On the rarest beautye found.
O hard happ, that may be!
Little knows my ladye
My heartes blood lyes on the ground. 80
With that a grone he sends
Which did burst in sunder
All the tender bands
Of his gentle heart.
She, who knewe his voice, 85
At his wordes did wonder;
All her former joyes
Did to griefe convert.
Strait she ran to see,
Who this man shold bee, 90
That soe like her love did seeme:
Her lovely lord she found
Lye slaine upon the ground,
Smear'd with gore a ghastlye streame.
Which his lady spying, 95
Shrieking, fainting, crying,
Her sorrows could not uttered bee:
Fate, she cryed, too cruell:
For thee--my dearest jewell,
Would God! that I had dyed for thee. 100
His pale lippes, alas!
Twentye times she kissed,
And his face did wash
With her trickling teares:
Every gaping wound 105
Tenderlye she pressed,
And did wipe it round
With her golden haires.
Speake, faire love, quoth shee,
Speake, fair prince, to mee, 110
One sweete word of comfort give:
Lift up thy deare eyes,
Listen to my cryes,
Thinke in what sad griefe I live.
All in vain she sued, 115
All in vain she wooed,
The prince's life was fled and gone.
There stood she still mourning,
Till the suns retourning,
And bright day was coming on. 120
In this great distresse
Weeping, wayling ever,
Oft shee cryed, alas!
What will become of mee?
To my fathers court 125
I returne will never:
But in lowlye sort
I will a servant bee.
While thus she made her mone,
Weeping all alone, 130
In this deepe and deadlye feare:
A for'ster all in greene,
Most comelye to be seene,
Ranging the woods did find her there.
Moved with her sorrowe, 135
Maid, quoth hee, good morrowe,
What hard happ has brought thee here?
Harder happ did never
Two kinde hearts dissever:
Here lyes slaine my brother deare. 140
Where may I remaine,
Gentle for'ster, shew me,
'Till I can obtaine
A service in my neede?
Paines I will not spare: 145
This kinde favour doe me,
It will ease my care;
Heaven shall be thy meede.
The for'ster all amazed,
On her beautye gazed, 150
Till his heart was set on fire.
If, faire maid, quoth hee,
You will goe with mee,
You shall have your hearts desire.
He brought her to his mother, 155
And above all other
He sett forth this maidens praise.
Long was his heart inflamed,
At length her love he gained,
And fortune crown'd his future dayes. 160
Thus unknowne he wedde
With a kings faire daughter;
Children seven they had,
'Ere she told her birth.
Which when once he knew, 165
Humblye he besought her,
He to the world might shew
Her rank and princelye worth.
He cloath'd his children then,
(Not like other men) 170
In partye-colours strange to see;
The right side cloth of gold,
The left side to behold,
Of woollen cloth still framed hee[386].
Men thereat did wonder; 175
Golden fame did thunder
This strange deede in every place:
The king of France came thither,
It being pleasant weather,
In those woods the hart to chase. 180
The children then they bring,
So their mother will'd it,
Where the royall king
Must of force come bye:
Their mothers riche array, 185
Was of crimson velvet:
Their fathers all of gray,
Seemelye to the eye.
Then this famous king,
Noting every thing, 190
Askt how he durst be so bold
To let his wife soe weare,
And decke his children there
In costly robes of pearl and gold.
The forrester replying, 195
And the cause descrying[387],
To the king these words did say,
Well may they, by their mother,
Weare rich clothes with other,
Being by birth a princesse gay. 200
The king aroused thus,
More heedfullye beheld them,
Till a crimson blush
His remembrance crost.
The more I fix my mind 205
On thy wife and children,
The more methinks I find
The daughter which I lost.
Falling on her knee,
I am that child, quoth shee; 210
Pardon mee, my soveraine liege.
The king perceiving this,
His daughter deare did kiss,
While joyfull teares did stopp his speeche.
With his traine he tourned, 215
And with them sojourned.
Strait he dubb'd her husband knight;
Then made him erle of Flanders,
And chiefe of his commanders:
Thus were their sorrowes put to flight. 220
[***]
FOOTNOTES:
[386] This will remind the reader of the livery and device of Charles
Brandon, a private gentleman, who married the Queen Dowager of France,
sister of Henry VIII. At a tournament which he held at his wedding, the
trappings of his horse were half Cloth of gold, and half Frieze, with
the following Motto:--
"Cloth of Gold, do not despise,
Tho' thou art matcht with Cloth of Frize,
Cloth of Frize, be not too bold,
Tho' thou art matcht with Cloth of Gold."
See Sir W. Temple's _Misc._ vol. iii. p. 356.
[387] _i.e._ describing.
XVII.
THE SWEET NEGLECT.
This little madrigal (extracted from Ben. Jonson's _Silent Woman_,
act i. sc. 1, first acted in 1609) is in imitation of a Latin Poem
printed at the end of the Variorum Edit. of Petronius, beginning,
_Semper munditias, semper Basilissa, decoras_, &c. See Whalley's _Ben
Jonson_, vol. ii. p. 420.
* * * * *
Still to be neat, still to be drest,
As you were going to a feast:
Still to be pou'dred, still perfum'd:
Lady, it is to be presum'd,
Though art's hid causes are not found, 5
All is not sweet, all is not sound.
Give me a looke, give me a face,
That makes simplicitie a grace;
Robes loosely flowing, haire as free:
Such sweet neglect more taketh me, 10
Than all th' adulteries of art,
That strike mine eyes, but not my heart.
XVIII.
THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD.
The subject of this very popular ballad (which has been set in so
favourable a light by the _Spectator_, No. 85.) seems to be taken
from an old play, intitled, _Two lamentable Tragedies; The one of
the murder of Maister Beech, a chandler in Thames streete, &c. The
other of a young child murthered in a wood by two ruffins, with the_
_consent of his unkle._ By Rob. Yarrington, 1601, 4to. Our ballad-maker
has strictly followed the play in the description of the father and
mother's dying charge: in the uncle's promise to take care of their
issue: his hiring two ruffians to destroy his ward, under pretence of
sending him to school: their chusing a wood to perpetrate the murder
in: one of the ruffians relenting, and a battle ensuing, &c. In other
respects he has departed from the play. In the latter the scene is laid
in Padua: there is but one child: which is murdered by a sudden stab
of the unrelenting ruffian: he is slain himself by his less bloody
companion; but ere he dies gives the other a mortal wound: the latter
living just long enough to impeach the uncle; who, in consequence of
this impeachment, is arraigned and executed by the hand of justice, &c.
Whoever compares the play with the ballad, will have no doubt but the
former is the original: the language is far more obsolete, and such a
vein of simplicity runs through the whole performance, that, had the
ballad been written first, there is no doubt but every circumstance of
it would have been received into the drama: whereas this was probably
built on some Italian novel.
Printed from two ancient copies, one of them in black-letter in the
Pepys Collection. Its title at large is, _The Children in the Wood;
or, The Norfolk Gentleman's Last Will and Testament: To the tune of
Rogero, &c._
* * * * *
[Ritson thought he had refuted Percy's statement that the play was
older than the ballad by pointing out that the latter was entered
in the Stationers' books in 1595, but I find in Baker's _Biographia
Dramatica_ an assertion that Yarrington's play was not printed
"till many years after it was written." The following is the form
of the entry at Stationers' Hall, "15 Oct. 1595. Thomas Millington
entred for his copie under th[e h]andes of bothe the Wardens
a ballad intituled _The Norfolk Gent, his Will and Testament_
_and howe he commytted the keepinge of his children to his owne_
_brother whoe delte most wickedly with them and howe God plagued_
_him for it._" Sharon Turner and Miss Halsted favoured the rather
untenable opinion that the wicked uncle was intended to represent
Richard III., and therefore that the date of the ballad was much
earlier than that usually claimed for it. Turner writes in his
_History of England_, "I have sometimes fancied that the popular
ballad may have been written at this time on Richard and his
nephews before it was quite safe to stigmatize him more openly."
Wailing, or Wayland Wood, a large cover near Walton in Norfolk is
the place which tradition assigns to the tragedy, but the people of
Wood Dalling also claim the honour for their village.
Addison speaks of the ballad as "one of the darling songs of the
common people, [which] has been the delight of most Englishmen in
some part of their age," and points out that the circumstance
... robin-red-breast piously
Did cover them with leaves,
has a parallel in Horace, who tells us that when he was a child,
fallen asleep in a desert wood, the turtle doves took pity on him
and covered him with leaves.
The popular belief that the robin covers dead bodies with leaves
(probably founded on the habits of the bird) is of considerable
antiquity. The passage in Cymbeline (act iv. sc. 2) naturally
occurs as the chief illustration:--
... "the ruddock would,
With charitable bill....
... bring thee all this,
Yea and furr'd moss besides, when flowers are none,
To winter-ground thy corse."
In Webster's _White Devil_, act v., we read:--
"Call for the robin red breast and the wren
Since o'er shady groves they hover
And with leaves and flowers do cover
The friendless bodies of unburied men."
The critics suppose Webster to have imitated Shakespere here, but
there is no ground for any such supposition. The industry of Reed,
Steevens, and Douce has supplied us with several passages from old
literature in which this characteristic of the robin is referred to.
In "_Cornucopiæ, or, divers Secrets_; wherein is contained the rare
secrets of man, beasts, fowles, fishes, trees, plants, stones, and
such like, most pleasant and profitable, and not before committed
to bee printed in English. Newlie drawen out of divers Latine
Authors into English by Thomas Johnson," 4to. London, 1596, occurs
the following passage:--"The robin red-breast if he find a man or
woman dead will cover all his face with mosse, and some thinke that
if the body should remaine unburied that hee woulde cover the whole
body also."
This little secret of Johnson is copied by Thomas Lupton into his
_A Thousand Notable Things of sundrie sorts newly corrected_, 1601,
where it appears as No. 37 of book i.
Michael Drayton has the following lines in his poem, _The Owl_:
"Cov'ring with moss the dead's unclosed eye
The little red-breast teacheth charitie."
In Dekker's _Villanies discovered by lanthorn and candlelight_,
1616, we read, "They that cheere up a prisoner but with their sight
are Robin red-breasts, that bring strawes in their bils to cover
a dead man in extremitìe." This is sufficient evidence that the
belief was wide-spread.]
* * * * *
Now ponder well, you parents deare,
These wordes, which I shall write;
A doleful story you shall heare,
In time brought forth to light.
A gentleman of good account 5
In Norfolke dwelt of late,
Who did in honour far surmount
Most men of his estate.
Sore sicke he was, and like to dye,
No helpe his life could save; 10
His wife by him as sicke did lye,
And both possest one grave.
No love between these two was lost,
Each was to other kinde,
In love they liv'd, in love they dyed, 15
And left two babes behinde:
The one a fine and pretty boy,
Not passing three yeares olde;
The other a girl more young than he,
And fram'd in beautyes molde. 20
The father left his little son,
As plainlye doth appeare,
When he to perfect age should come,
Three hundred poundes a yeare.
And to his little daughter Jane 25
Five hundred poundes in gold,
To be paid down on marriage-day,
Which might not be controll'd:
But if the children chance to dye,
Ere they to age should come, 30
Their uncle should possesse their wealth;
For so the wille did run.
Now, brother, said the dying man,
Look to my children deare;
Be good unto my boy and girl, 35
No friendes else have they here:
To God and you I recommend
My children deare this daye;
But little while be sure we have
Within this world to staye. 40
You must be father and mother both,
And uncle all in one;
God knowes what will become of them,
When I am dead and gone.
With that bespake their mother deare, 45
O brother kinde, quoth shee,
You are the man must bring our babes
To wealth or miserie:
And if you keep them carefully,
Then God will you reward; 50
But if you otherwise should deal,
God will your deedes regard.
With lippes as cold as any stone,
They kist their children small:
God bless you both, my children deare; 55
With that the teares did fall.
These speeches then their brother spake
To this sicke couple there,
The keeping of your little ones
Sweet sister, do not feare; 60
God never prosper me nor mine,
Nor aught else that I have,
If I do wrong your children deare,
When you are layd in grave.
The parents being dead and gone, 65
The children home he takes,
And bringes them straite unto his house,
Where much of them he makes.
He had not kept these pretty babes
A twelvemonth and a daye, 70
But, for their wealth, he did devise
To make them both awaye.
He bargain'd with two ruffians strong,
Which were of furious mood,
That they should take these children young, 75
And slaye them in a wood.
He told his wife an artful tale,
He would the children send
To be brought up in faire Londòn,
With one that was his friend. 80
Away then went those pretty babes,
Rejoycing at that tide,
Rejoycing with a merry minde,
They should on cock-horse ride.
They prate and prattle pleasantly, 85
As they rode on the waye,
To those that should their butchers be,
And work their lives decaye:
So that the pretty speeche they had,
Made Murder's heart relent; 90
And they that undertooke the deed,
Full sore did now repent.
Yet one of them more hard of heart,
Did vowe to do his charge,
Because the wretch, that hired him, 95
Had paid him very large.
The other won't agree thereto,
So here they fall to strife;
With one another they did fight,
About the childrens life: 100
And he that was of mildest mood,
Did slaye the other there,
Within an unfrequented wood;
The babes did quake for feare!
He took the children by the hand, 105
Teares standing in their eye,
And bad them straitwaye follow him,
And look they did not crye:
And two long miles he ledd them on,
While they for food complaine: 110
Staye here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread,
When I come back againe.
These pretty babes, with hand in hand,
Went wandering up and downe;
But never more could see the man 115
Approaching from the town:
Their prettye lippes with black-berries,
Were all besmear'd and dyed,
And when they sawe the darksome night,
They sat them downe and cryed. 120
Thus wandered these poor innocents,
Till deathe did end their grief,
In one anothers armes they dyed,
As wanting due relief:
No burial 'this' pretty 'pair'[388] 125
Of any man receives,
Till Robin-red-breast piously
Did cover them with leaves.
And now the heavy wrathe of God
Upon their uncle fell; 130
Yea, fearfull fiends did haunt his house,
His conscience felt an hell:
His barnes were fir'd, his goodes consum'd,
His landes were barren made,
His cattle dyed within the field, 135
And nothing with him stayd.
And in a voyage to Portugal[389]
Two of his sonnes did dye;
And to conclude, himselfe was brought
To want and miserye: 140
He pawn'd and mortgaged all his land
Ere seven yeares came about.
And now at length this wicked act
Did by this meanes come out:
The fellowe, that did take in hand 145
These children for to kill,
Was for a robbery judg'd to dye,
Such was God's blessed will:
Who did confess the very truth,
As here hath been display'd: 150
Their uncle having dyed in gaol,
Where he for debt was layd.
You that executors be made,
And overseers eke
Of children that be fatherless, 155
And infants mild and meek;
Take you example by this thing,
And yield to each his right,
Lest God with such like miserye
Your wicked minds requite. 160
FOOTNOTES:
[388] Ver. 125. these ... babes. _P.P._
[389] [Ritson has the following note (_Ancient Songs_, 1829, vol. ii.
P. 155): "_the_ voyage, A.D. 1588. See the Catalogue of the Harl.
MSS. No. 167 (15). Dr. Percy, not knowing that the text alludes to a
particular event, has altered it to _a_ voyage."]
XIX.
A LOVER OF LATE.
Printed, with a few slight corrections, from the Editor's folio MS.
* * * * *
[This song is printed, Hales and Furnivall's edition of the MS.
vol. iii. p. 389.]
* * * * *
A lover of late was I,
For Cupid would have it soe,
The boy that hath never an eye,
As every man doth know:
I sighed and sobbed, and cryed, alas! 5
For her that laught, and called me ass.
Then knew not I what to doe,
When I saw itt was in vaine[390]
A lady soe coy to wooe,
Who gave me the asse soe plaine:[391] 10
Yet would I her asse freelye bee,
Soe shee would helpe, and beare with mee.
An' I were as faire as shee,[392]
Or shee were as kind as I,[393]
What payre cold have made, as wee, 15
Soe prettye a sympathye:
I was as kind as she was faire,
But for all this wee cold not paire.
Paire with her that will for mee,
With her I will never paire; 20
That cunningly can be coy,
For being a little faire.
The asse Ile leave to her disdaine;
And now I am myselfe againe.
FOOTNOTES:
[390] [Ver. 8. when I see itt was vaine.]
[391] [V. 10. and gave.]
[392] [V. 13. faine, MS.]
[393] [V. 14. and shee, MS.]
XX.
THE KING AND MILLER OF MANSFIELD.
It has been a favourite subject with our English ballad-makers to
represent our kings conversing, either by accident or design, with
the meanest of their subjects. Of the former kind, besides this song
of the King and the Miller; we have K. Henry and the Soldier; K.
James I. and the Tinker; K. William III. and the Forrester &c. Of the
latter sort, are K. Alfred and the Shepherd; K. Edward IV. and the
Tanner;[394] K. Henry VIII. and the Cobler, &c.--A few of the best
of these are admitted into this collection. Both the author of the
following ballad, and others who have written on the same plan, seem
to have copied a very ancient poem, intitled _John the Reeve_, which
is built on an adventure of the same kind, that happened between K.
Edward Longshanks, and one of his Reeves or Bailiffs. This is a piece
of great antiquity, being written before the time of Edward IV. and for
its genuine humour, diverting incidents, and faithful picture of rustic
manners, is infinitely superior to all that have been since written in
imitation of it. The Editor has a copy in his ancient folio MS. but its
length rendered it improper for this volume, it consisting of more than
900 lines. It contains also some corruptions, and the Editor chuses to
defer its publication in hopes that some time or other he shall be able
to remove them.
The following is printed, with corrections, from the editor's folio
MS. collated with an old black-letter copy in the Pepys Collection,
intitled _A pleasant ballad of K. Henry II. and the Miller of
Mansfield, &c._
* * * * *
[This ballad of _Henry II. and the Miller of Mansfield_ cannot
be traced farther back than the end of Elizabeth's reign or the
beginning of James's. One of the three copies in the Roxburghe
Collection is dated by Mr. Chappell between 1621 and 1655, and the
copy in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 147)
was written about the same period. (See Roxburghe _Ballads_, ed.
Chappell, vol. i. p. 538.)
As there are earlier copies than the one in the Folio MS. it has
not been thought necessary to add Collations.
_John the Reeve_, referred to above, is one of the earliest and
most interesting of this large class of tales. It was printed for
the first time in Hales and Furnivall's edition of the MS. (vol.
ii. p. 550) with a valuable introduction.
This spirited poem was probably written originally in the middle of
the fifteenth century. "It professes to describe an incident that
took place in the days of King Edward. It adds:
Of that name were Kings _three_
But Edward with the long shanks was he,
A lord of great renown.
The poem then was written after the death of Edward III.; that is,
after 1377, and before the accession of Edward IV., that is before
1461."]
* * * * *
PART THE FIRST.
Henry, our royall king, would ride a hunting
To the greene forest so pleasant and faire;
To see the harts skipping, and dainty does tripping:
Unto merry Sherwood his nobles repaire:
Hawke and hound were unbound, all things prepar'd 5
For the game, in the same, with good regard.
All a long summers day rode the king pleasantlye,
With all his princes and nobles eche one;
Chasing the hart and hind, and the bucke gallantlye,
Till the dark evening forc'd all to turne home. 10
Then at last, riding fast, he had lost quite
All his lords in the wood, late in the night.
Wandering thus wearilye, all alone, up and downe,
With a rude miller he mett at the last:
Asking the ready way unto faire Nottingham; 15
Sir, quoth the miller, I meane not to jest,
Yet I thinke, what I thinke, sooth for to say,
You doe not lightlye ride out of your way.
Why, what dost thou think of me, quoth our king merrily,
Passing thy judgment upon me so briefe? 20
Good faith, sayd the miller, I meane not to flatter thee;
I guess thee to be but some gentleman thiefe;
Stand thee backe, in the darke; light not adowne,
Lest that I presentlye cracke thy knaves crowne.
Thou dost abuse me much, quoth the king, saying thus; 25
I am a gentleman; lodging I lacke.
Thou hast not, quoth th' miller, one groat in thy purse;
All thy inheritance hanges on thy backe.[395]
I have gold to discharge all that I call;
If it be forty pence, I will pay all. 30
If thou beest a true man, then quoth the miller,
I sweare by my toll-dish, I'll lodge thee all night.
Here's my hand, quoth the king, that was I ever.
Nay, soft, quoth the miller, thou may'st be a sprite.
Better I'll know thee, ere hands we will shake; 35
With none but honest men hands will I take.
Thus they went all along unto the miller's house;
Where they were seething of puddings and souse:[396]
The miller first enter'd in, after him went the king;
Never came hee in soe smoakye a house. 40
Now, quoth hee, let me see here what you are.
Quoth our king, looke your fill, and doe not spare.
I like well thy countenance, thou hast an honest face
With my son Richard this night thou shalt lye.
Quoth his wife, by my troth, it is a handsome youth, 45
Yet it's best, husband, to deal warilye.
Art thou no run away, prythee, youth, tell?
Shew me thy passport, and all shal be well.
Then our king presentlye, making lowe courtesye,
With his hatt in his hand, thus he did say; 50
I have no passport, nor never was servitor,
But a poor courtyer, rode out of my way:
And for your kindness here offered to mee,
I will requite you in everye degree.
Then to the miller his wife whisper'd secretlye, 55
Saying, It seemeth, this youth's of good kin,
Both by his apparel, and eke by his manners;
To turne him out, certainlye, were a great sin.
Yea, quoth hee, you may see, he hath some grace
When he doth speake to his betters in place. 60
Well, quo' the millers wife, young man, ye're welcome here;
And, though I say it, well lodged shall be:
Fresh straw will I have, laid on thy bed so brave,
And good brown hempen sheets likewise, quoth shee.
Aye, quoth the good man; and when that is done, 65
Thou shalt lye with no worse, than our own sonne.
Nay, first, quoth Richard, good-fellowe, tell me true,
Host thou noe creepers within thy gay hose?
Or art thou not troubled with the scabbado?
I pray, quoth the king, what creatures are those? 70
Art thou not lowsy, nor scabby? quoth he:
If thou beest, surely thou lyest not with mee.
This caus'd the king, suddenlye, to laugh most heartilye,
Till the teares trickled fast downe from his eyes.
Then to their supper were they set orderlye, 75
With hot bag-puddings, and good apple-pyes;
Nappy ale, good and stale, in a browne bowle,
Which did about the board merrilye trowle.
Here, quoth the miller, good fellowe, I drinke to thee,
And to all 'cuckholds, wherever they bee.'[397] 80
I pledge thee, quotth our king, and thanke thee heartilye
For my good welcome in everye degree:
And here, in like manner, I drinke to thy sonne.
Do then, quoth Richard, and quicke let it come.
Wife, quoth the miller, fetch me forth lightfoote, 85
And of his sweetnesse a little we'll taste.
A fair ven'son pastye brought she out presentlye.
Eate, quoth the miller, but, sir, make no waste.
Here's dainty lightfoote! In faith, sayd the king,
I never before eat so daintye a thing. 90
I wis, quoth Richard, no daintye at all it is,
For we doe eate of it everye day.
In what place, sayd our king, may be bought like to this?
We never pay pennye for itt, by my fay;
From merry Sherwood we fetch it home here; 95
Now and then we make bold with our kings deer.
Then I thinke, sayd our king, that it is venison.
Eche foole, quoth Richard, full well may know that:
Never are wee without two or three in the roof,
Very well fleshed, and excellent fat: 100
But, prythee, say nothing wherever thou goe;
We would not, for two pence, the king should it knowe.
Doubt not, then sayd the king, my promist secresye;
The king shall never know more on't for mee.
A cupp of lambs-wool[398] they dranke unto him then, 105
And to their bedds they past presentlie.
The nobles, next morning, went all up and down,
For to seeke out the king in everye towne.
At last, at the miller's 'cott,' soone they espy'd him out,
As he was mounting upon his faire steede; 110
To whom they came presently, falling down on their knee;
Which made the millers heart wofully bleede;
Shaking and quaking, before him he stood,
Thinking he should have been hang'd, by the rood.
The king perceiving him fearfully trembling, 115
Drew forth his sword, but nothing he sed:
The miller downe did fall, crying before them all,
Doubting the king would have cut off his head.
But he his kind courtesye for to requite,
Gave him great living, and dubb'd him a knight. 120
* * * * *
PART THE SECONDE.
When as our royall king came home from Nottingham,
And with his nobles at Westminster lay;
Recounting the sports and pastimes they had taken,
In this late progress along on the way;
Of them all, great and small, he did protest, 5
The miller of Mansfield's sport liked him best.
And now, my lords, quoth the king, I am determined
Against St. Georges next sumptuous feast,
That this old miller, our new confirm'd knight,
With his son Richard, shall here be my guest: 10
For, in this merryment, 'tis my desire
To talke with the jolly knight, and the young squire.
When as the noble lords saw the kinges pleasantness,
They were right joyfull and glad in their hearts:
A pursuivant there was sent straighte on the business, 15
The which had often-times been in those parts.
When he came to the place, where they did dwell,
His message orderlye then 'gan he tell.
God save your worshippe, then said the messenger,
And grant your ladye her own hearts desire; 20
And to your sonne Richard good fortune and happiness;
That sweet, gentle, and gallant young squire.
Our king greets you well, and thus he doth say,
You must come to the court on St. George's day;
Therfore, in any case, faile not to be in place. 25
I wis, quoth the miller, this is an odd jest:
What should we doe there? faith, I am halfe afraid.
I doubt, quoth Richard, to be hang'd at the least.
Nay, quoth the messenger, you doe mistake;
Our king he provides a great feast for your sake. 30
Then sayd the miller, By my troth, messenger,
Thou hast contented my worshippe full well.
Hold here are three farthings, to quite thy gentleness,
For these happy tydings, which thou dost tell.
Let me see, hear thou mee; tell to our king, 35
We'll wayt on his mastershipp in everye thing.
The pursuivant smiled at their simplicitye,
And, making many leggs, tooke their reward;
And his leave taking with great humilitye
To the kings court againe he repair'd; 40
Shewing unto his grace, merry and free,
The knightes most liberall gift and bountie.
When he was gone away, thus gan the miller say,
Here come expences and charges indeed;
Now must we needs be brave, tho' we spend all we have; 45
For of new garments we have great need:
Of horses and serving-men we must have store,
With bridles and saddles, and twentye things more.
Tushe, sir John, quoth his wife, why should you frett, or frowne?
You shall ne'er be att no charges for mee; 50
For I will turne and trim up my old russet gowne,
With everye thing else as fine as may bee;
And on our mill-horses swift we will ride,
With pillowes and pannells, as we shall provide.
In this most statelye sort, rode they unto the court, 55
Their jolly sonne Richard rode foremost of all;
Who set up, for good hap, a cocks feather in his cap,[399]
And so they jetted[400] downe to the kings hall;
The merry old miller with hands on his side;
His wife, like maid Marian, did mince at that tide.[401] 60
The king and his nobles that heard of their coming,
Meeting this gallant knight with his brave traine;
Welcome, sir knight, quoth he, with your gay lady:
Good sir John Cockle, once welcome againe:
And soe is the squire of courage soe free. 65
Quoth Dicke, A bots on you! do you know mee?
Quoth our king gentlye, how should I forget thee?
That wast my owne bed-fellowe, well it I wot.
Yea, sir, quoth Richard, and by the same token,
Thou with thy farting didst make the bed hot. 70
Thou whore-son unhappy knave, then quoth the knight,
Speake cleanly to our king, or else go sh***.
The king and his courtiers laugh at this heartily,
While the king taketh them both by the hand;
With the court-dames, and maids, like to the queen of spades 75
The millers wife did soe orderlye stand.
A milk-maids courtesye at every word;
And downe all the folkes were set to the board.
There the king royally, in princelye majestye,
Sate at his dinner with joy and delight; 80
When they had eaten well, then he to jesting fell,
And in a bowle of wine dranke to the knight:
Here's to you both, in wine, ale and beer;
Thanking you heartilye for my good cheer.
Quoth sir John Cockle, I'll pledge you a pottle, 85
Were it the best ale in Nottinghamshire:
But then said our king, now I think of a thing;
Some of your lightfoote I would we had here.
Ho! ho! quoth Richard, full well I may say it,
'Tis knavery to eate it, and then to betray it. 90
Why art thou angry? quoth our king merrilye;
In faith, I take it now very unkind:
I thought thou wouldst pledge me in ale and wine heartily.
Quoth Dicke, You are like to stay till I have din'd:
You feed us with twatling dishes soe small; 95
Zounds, a blacke-pudding is better than all.
Aye, marry, quoth our king, that were a daintye thing,
Could a man get but one here for to eate.
With that Dicke straite arose, and pluckt one from his hose,
Which with heat of his breech gan to sweate. 100
The king made a proffer to snatch it away:--
'Tis meat for your master: good sir, you must stay.
Thus in great merriment was the time wholly spent;
And then the ladyes prepared to dance.
Old Sir John Cockle, and Richard, incontinent[402] 105
Unto their places the king did advance.
Here with the ladyes such sport they did make,
The nobles with laughing did make their sides ake.
Many thankes for their paines did the king give them,
Asking young Richard then, if he would wed; 110
Among these ladyes free, tell me which liketh thee?
Quoth he, Jugg Grumball, Sir, with the red head:
She's my love, she's my life, her will I wed;
She hath sworn I shall have her maidenhead.
Then sir John Cockle the king called unto him, 115
And of merry Sherwood made him o'er seer;
And gave him out of hand three hundred pound yearlye:
Take heed now you steale no more of my deer:
And once a quarter let's here have your view;
And now, sir John Cockle, I bid you adieu. 120
FOOTNOTES:
[394] [See vol. ii. book i. No. 15.]
[395] The king says this.
[396] [The head, feet, and ears of swine boiled and pickled for
eating.--_Halliwell's Dictionary._]
[397] [Ver. 80. courtnalls, that courteous be. _MS. and P._]
[398] [A favourite liquor among the common people, composed of ale and
roasted apples, the pulp of the apple worked up with the ale till the
mixture formed a smooth beverage. _Nares' Glossary._]
[399] [Ver. 57. _for good hap_: _i.e._ for good luck; they were going
on an hazardous expedition.]
[400] [strutted.]
[401] [Ver. 60. Maid Marian in the Morris dance, was represented by a
man in woman's cloaths, who was to take short steps in order to sustain
the female character.]
[402] [forthwith.]
XXI.
THE SHEPHERD'S RESOLUTION.
This beautiful old song was written by a poet, whose name would have
been utterly forgotten, if it had not been preserved by _Swift_, as a
term of contempt. _Dryden_ and _Wither_ are coupled by him like the
_Bavius_ and _Mævius_ of Virgil. _Dryden_, however, has had justice
done him by posterity: and as for _Wither_, though of subordinate
merit, that he was not altogether devoid of genius, will be judged from
the following stanzas. The truth is, _Wither_ was a very voluminous
party-writer: and as his political and satyrical strokes rendered him
extremely popular in his life-time; so afterwards, when these were no
longer relished, they totally consigned his writings to oblivion.
_George Wither_ was born June 11, 1588, and in his younger years
distinguished himself by some pastoral pieces, that were not inelegant;
but growing afterwards involved in the political and religious disputes
in the times of James I. and Charles I. he employed his poetical vein
in severe pasquils on the court and clergy, and was occasionally a
sufferer for the freedom of his pen. In the civil war that ensued,
he exerted himself in the service of the Parliament, and became a
considerable sharer in the spoils. He was even one of those provincial
tyrants, whom Oliver distributed over the kingdom, under the name
of Major Generals; and had the fleecing of the county of Surrey:
but surviving the Restoration, he outlived both his power and his
affluence; and giving vent to his chagrin in libels on the court, was
long a prisoner in Newgate and the Tower. He died at length on the 2d
of May, 1667.
During the whole course of his life, _Wither_ was a continual
publisher; having generally for opponent, _Taylor_ the Water-poet.
The long list of his productions may be seen in Wood's _Athenæ._
_Oxon._ vol. ii. His most popular satire is intitled, _Abuses whipt_
_and stript_, 1613. His most poetical pieces were eclogues, intitled,
_The Shepherd's Hunting_, 1615, 8vo. and others printed at the end
of Browne's _Shepherd's Pipe_, 1614, 8vo. The following sonnet is
extracted from a long pastoral piece of his, intitled, _The Mistresse_
_of Philarete_, 1622, 8vo. which is said in the preface to be one of
the Author's first poems; and may therefore be dated as early as any of
the foregoing.
* * * * *
[This favourite song appeared in 1619, appended to Wither's
_Fidelia_, and again in his _Juvenilia_ in 1633 in _Fair Virtue
the mistress of Philarete_. It was reprinted again and again, and
occurs in the Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 50).
Mr. Chappell refers to a copy in the Pepys Collection entitled, _A
New Song of a young man's opinion of the difference between good_
_and bad women_, the first line of which is, "Shall I _wrestling_
in despaire?" This reading seems to have been pretty popular, as
Mr. Chappell gives two instances of the tune being called "_Shall_
_I wrastle in despair?_" Mr. Chappell prints a song in the same
metre and with a similar burden, which has been attributed on
insufficient evidence to Sir Walter Raleigh. The first stanza is as
follows:--
"Shall I like a hermit dwell
On a rock or in a cell?
Calling home the smallest part
That is missing of my heart,
To bestow it where I may
Meet a rival every day?
If she undervalues me
What care I how fair she be."
_Popular Music of the Olden Time_, vol. i. p. 315.]
* * * * *
Shall I, wasting in dispaire,
Dye because a woman's faire?
Or make pale my cheeks with care,
'Cause another's rosie are?
Be shee fairer then the day, 5
Or the flowery meads in may;
If she be not so to me,[403]
What care I how faire shee be?
Shall my foolish heart be pin'd,
'Cause I see a woman kind? 10
Or a well-disposed nature
Joyned with a lovely feature?
Be she meeker, kinder, than
The turtle-dove or pelican:
If shee be not so to me, 15
What care I how kind shee be?
Shall a woman's virtues move
Me to perish for her love?
Or, her well-deservings knowne,
Make me quite forget mine owne? 20
Be shee with that goodnesse blest,
Which may merit name of Best;
If she be not such to me,[404]
What care I how good she be?
Cause her fortune seems too high,[405] 25
Shall I play the foole and dye?[405]
Those that beare a noble minde,[405]
Where they want of riches find,[405]
Think what with them they would doe,[405]
That without them dare to woe;[405] 30
And, unlesse that minde I see,[405]
What care I how great she be?[405]
Great or good, or kind or faire,
I will ne'er the more dispaire:
If she love me, this beleeve; 35
I will die ere she shall grieve.
If she slight me when I wooe,
I can scorn and let her goe:
If shee be not fit for me,
What care I for whom she be? 40
FOOTNOTES:
[403] [Ver. 7. if shee thinke not well of mee, MS.]
[404] [V. 23. soe to me, MS.]
[405] [V. 25-32. this stanza is not in the MS.]
XXII.
QUEEN DIDO.
Such is the title given in the editor's folio MS.[406] to this
excellent old ballad, which, in the common printed copies, is
inscribed, _Eneas, wandering Prince of Troy_. It is here given
from that MS. collated with two different printed copies, both in
black-letter, in the Pepys Collection.
The reader will smile to observe with what natural and affecting
simplicity, our ancient ballad-maker has engrafted a Gothic conclusion
on the classic story of Virgil, from whom, however, it is probable he
had it not. Nor can it be denied, but he has dealt out his poetical
justice with a more impartial hand, than that celebrated poet.
* * * * *
[This once popular ballad was entered on the Registers of the
Stationers Company in 1564-5 as "a ballett intituled _The
Wanderynge Prince_." Its great popularity is evidenced by the
frequent references in literature and the large number of ballads
sung to the tune of _Queen Dido_ or _Troy towne_. In _The Penniless
Parliament of Threadbare Poets_, 1608, ale-knights are said
to "sing _Queen Dido_ over a cup and tell strange news over an
ale-pot," and the same song is referred to in Fletcher's _Captain_
(act iii. sc. 3) and his _Bonduca_, act i. sc. 2.
The only tune that Mr. Chappell could find for the ballad was one
by Dr. John Wilson (the Jack Wilson of Shakspere's stage according
to Dr. Rimbault), which is printed in his _Cheerful Ayres or
Ballads_, Oxford, 1660.]
* * * * *
When Troy towne had, for ten yeeres "past,"[407]
Withstood the Greekes in manfull wise,
Then did their foes encrease soe fast,
That to resist none could suffice:
Wast lye those walls, that were soe good, 5
And corne now growes where Troy towne stoode.
Æneas, wandering prince of Troy,
When he for land long time had sought,
At length arriving with great joy,
To mighty Carthage walls was brought; 10
Where Dido queene, with sumptuous feast,
Did entertaine that wandering guest.
And, as in hall at meate, they sate,
The queene, desirous newes to heare,
"Says, of thy Troys unhappy fate" 15
Declare to me thou Trojan deare:
The heavy hap and chance soe bad,
That thou, poore wandering prince, hast had,
And then anon this comelye knight,
With words demure, as he cold well, 20
Of his unhappy ten yeares "fight,"
Soe true a tale began to tell,
With words soe sweete, and sighes so deepe,
That oft he made them all to weepe.
And then a thousand sighes he fet,[408] 25
And every sigh brought teares amaine;
That where he sate the place was wett,
As though he had seene those warrs againe;
Soe that the queene, with ruth therfore,
Said, worthy prince, enough, no more. 30
And then the darksome night drew on,
And twinkling starres the skye bespred;
When he his dolefull tale had done,
And every one was layd in bedd:
Where they full sweetly tooke their rest, 35
Save only Dido's boyling brest.
This silly woman never slept,
But in her chamber, all alone,
As one unhappye, alwayes wept,
And to the walls shee made her mone; 40
That she shold still desire in vaine
The thing, she never must obtaine.
And thus in grieffe she spent the night,
Till twinkling starres the skye were fled,
And Ph[oe]bus, with his glistering light, 45
Through misty cloudes appeared red;
Then tidings came to her anon,
That all the Trojan shipps were gone.
And then the queene with bloody knife
Did arme her hart as hard as stone, 50
Yet, something loth to loose her life,
In woefull wise she made her mone;
And, rowling on her carefull bed,
With sighes and sobbs, these words shee sayd:
O wretched Dido queene! quoth shee, 55
I see thy end approacheth neare;
For hee is fled away from thee,
Whom thou didst love and hold so deare:
What is he gone, and passed by?
O hart, prepare thyselfe to dye. 60
Though reason says, thou shouldst forbeare,
And stay thy hand from bloudy stroke;
Yet fancy bids thee not to fear,
Which fetter'd thee in Cupids yoke.
Come death, quoth shee, resolve my smart!-- 65
And with those words shee peerced her hart.
When death had pierced the tender hart
Of Dido, Carthaginian queene;
Whose bloudy knife did end the smart,
Which shee sustain'd in mournfull teene[409]; 70
Æneas being shipt and gone,
Whose flattery caused all her mone;
Her funerall most costly made,
And all things finisht mournfullye;
Her body fine in mold was laid, 75
Where itt consumed speedilye:
Her sisters teares her tombe bestrewde;
Her subjects griefe their kindnesse shewed.
Then was Æneas in an ile
In Grecya, where he stayd long space, 80
Wheras her sister in short while
Writt to him to his vile disgrace;
In speeches bitter to his mind
Shee told him plaine he was unkind.
False-harted wretch, quoth shee, thou art; 85
And traiterouslye thou hast betraid
Unto thy lure a gentle hart,
Which unto thee much welcome made;
My sister deare, and Carthage' joy,
Whose folly bred her deere annoy. 90
Yett on her death-bed when shee lay,
Shee prayd for thy prosperitye,
Beseeching god, that every day
Might breed thy great felicitye:
Thus by thy meanes I lost a friend; 95
Heavens send thee such untimely end.
When he these lines, full fraught with gall,
Perused had, and wayed them right,
His lofty courage then did fall;
And straight appeared in his sight 100
Queene Dido's ghost, both grim and pale;
Which made this valliant souldier quaile.
Æneas, quoth this ghastly ghost,
My whole delight when I did live,
Thee of all men I loved most; 105
My fancy and my will did give;
For entertainment I thee gave,
Unthankefully thou didst me grave.
Therfore prepare thy flitting soule
To wander with me in the aire; 110
Where deadlye griefe shall make it howle,
Because of me thou tookst no care:
Delay not time, thy glasse is run,
Thy date is past, thy life is done.
O stay a while, thou lovely sprite, 115
Be not soe hasty to convay
My soule into eternall night,
Where itt shall ne're behold bright day.
O doe not frowne; thy angry looke,
Hath "all my soule with horror shooke."[410] 120
But, woe is me! all is in vaine,
And bootless is my dismall crye;
Time will not be recalled againe,
Nor thou surcease before I dye.
O lett me live, and make amends 125
To some of thy most deerest friends.
But seeing thou obdurate art,
And wilt no pittye on me show,
Because from thee I did depart,
And left unpaid what I did owe: 130
I must content myselfe to take
What lott to me thou wilt partake.
And thus, as one being in a trance,
A multitude of uglye feinds
About this woffull prince did dance; 135
He had no helpe of any friends:
His body then they tooke away,
And no man knew his dying day.
FOOTNOTES:
[406] [Ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 502.]
[407] [Ver. 1. 21. war. MS. and PP.]
[408] fetched.
[409] [trouble.]
[410] Ver. 120. MS. _Hath_ made my breath my life forsooke.
XXIII.
THE WITCHES' SONG
From Ben Jonson's _Masque of Queens_ presented at Whitehall, Feb. 2,
1609.
The editor thought it incumbent on him to insert some old pieces on
the popular superstition concerning witches, hobgoblins, fairies, and
ghosts. The last of these make their appearance in most of the tragical
ballads; and in the following songs will be found some description of
the former.
It is true, this song of the Witches, falling from the learned pen
of Ben Jonson, is rather an extract from the various incantations of
classical antiquity, than a display of the opinions of our own vulgar.
But let it be observed, that a parcel of learned wiseacres had just
before busied themselves on this subject, in compliment to K. James I.
whose weakness on this head is well known: and these had so ransacked
all writers, ancient and modern, and so blended and kneaded together
the several superstitions of different times and nations, that those of
genuine English growth could no longer be traced out and distinguished.
By good luck the whimsical belief of fairies and goblins could furnish
no pretences for torturing our fellow-creatures, and therefore we have
this handed down to us pure and unsophisticated.
* * * * *
1 WITCH.[411]
I have been all day looking after
A raven feeding upon a quarter;
And, soone as she turn'd her beak to the south,
I snatch'd this morsell out of her mouth.
2 WITCH.
I have beene gathering wolves haires, 5
The madd dogges foames, and adders eares;
The spurging of a deadmans eyes:
And all since the evening starre did rise.
3 WITCH.
I last night lay all alone
O' the ground, to heare the mandrake grone; 10
And pluckt him up, though he grew full low:
And, as I had done, the cocke did crow.
4 WITCH.
And I ha' beene chusing out this scull
From charnell houses that were full;
From private grots, and publike pits; 15
And frighted a sexton out of his wits.
5 WITCH.
Under a cradle I did crepe
By day; and, when the childe was a-sleepe
At night, I suck'd the breath; and rose,
And pluck'd the nodding nurse by the nose. 20
6 WITCH.
I had a dagger: what did I with that?
Killed an infant to have his fat.
A piper it got at a church-ale,[412]
I bade him again blow wind i' the taile.
7 WITCH.
A murderer, yonder, was hung in chaines; 25
The sunne and the wind had shrunke his veines:
I bit off a sinew; I clipp'd his haire;
I brought off his ragges, that danc'd i' the ayre.
8 WITCH.
The scrich-owles egges and the feathers blacke,
The bloud of the frogge, and the bone in his backe 30
I have been getting; and made of his skin
A purset, to keep sir Cranion[413] in.
9 WITCH.
And I ha' beene plucking (plants among)
Hemlock, henbane, adders-tongue,
Night-shade, moone-wort, libbards-bane[414]; 35
And twise by the dogges was like to be tane.
10 WITCH.
I from the jawes of a gardiner's bitch
Did snatch these bones, and then leap'd the ditch:
Yet went I back to the house againe,
Kill'd the blacke cat, and here is the braine. 40
11 WITCH.
I went to the toad, breedes under the wall,
I charmed him out, and he came at my call;
I scratch'd out the eyes of the owle before;
I tore the batts wing: what would you have more?
DAME.[415]
Yes: I have brought, to helpe your vows, 45
Horned poppie, cypresse boughes,
The fig-tree wild, that growes on tombes,
And juice, that from the larch-tree comes,
The basiliskes bloud, and the viper's skin:
And now our orgies let's begin. 50
FOOTNOTES:
[411] [These witches are called Hags by Jonson.]
[412] [a wake or feast in commemoration of the dedication of a church.]
[413] [skull.]
[414] [the herb wolfbane.]
[415] [Jonson meant the Dame to represent Ate or the goddess of
Mischief.]
XXIV.
ROBIN GOOD-FELLOW,
Alias _Pucke_, alias _Hobgoblin_, in the creed of ancient superstition,
was a kind of merry sprite, whose character and atchievements are
recorded in this ballad, and in those well-known lines of Milton's
_L'Allegro_, which the antiquarian Peck supposes to be owing to it:
"Tells how the drudging _Goblin_ swet
To earn his creame-bowle duly set;
When in one night ere glimpse of morne,
His shadowy flail hath thresh'd the corn
That ten day-labourers could not end;
Then lies him down the lubber fiend,
And stretch'd out all the chimneys length,
Basks at the fire his hairy strength,
And crop-full out of doors he flings,
Ere the first cock his matins rings."
The reader will observe that our simple ancestors had reduced all
these whimsies to a kind of system, as regular, and perhaps more
consistent, than many parts of classic mythology: a proof of the
extensive influence and vast antiquity of these superstitions. Mankind,
and especially the common people, could not every where have been so
unanimously agreed concerning these arbitrary notions, if they had
not prevailed among them for many ages. Indeed, a learned friend in
Wales assures the Editor, that the existence of Fairies and Goblins is
alluded to by the most ancient British Bards, who mention them under
various names, one of the most common of which signifies, _The spirits
of the mountains_. See also Preface to Song XXV.
This song, which Peck attributes to Ben Jonson, (tho' it is not found
among his works) is chiefly printed from an ancient black-letter copy
in the British Museum. It seems to have been originally intended for
some Masque.
It is intitled, in the old black-letter copies, _The mad merry_
_Prankes of Robin Goodfellow_. To the tune of _Dulcina_, &c. (See No.
XIII. above.)
To one, if not more of the old copies, are prefixed two wooden cuts,
said to be taken from Bulwer's _Artificial Changeling, &c._, which,
as they seem to correspond with the notions then entertained of the
whimsical appearances of this fantastic spirit, and perhaps were copied
in the dresses in which he was formerly exhibited on the stage, are, to
gratify the curious, engraven below.
* * * * *
[The copy in the Roxburghe _Collection_ (ed. Chappell, vol. ii. pl.
i. p. 80) is printed by H[enry] G[osson], who was a contemporary
of Ben Jonson. Some little books in prose on _Robin Goodfellow_,
written in the seventeenth century, were printed for the Percy
Society by Mr. J. P. Collier.]
* * * * *
From Oberon, in fairye land,
The king of ghosts and shadowes there,
Mad Robin I, at his command,
Am sent to viewe the night-sports here.
What revell rout 5
Is kept about,
In every corner where I go,
I will o'ersee,
And merry bee,
And make good sport, with ho, ho, ho! 10
More swift than lightening can I flye
About this aery welkin soone,
And, in a minutes space, descrye
Each thing that's done belowe the moone,
There's not a hag 15
Or ghost shall wag,
Or cry, ware Goblins! where I go;
But Robin I
Their feates will spy,
And send them home, with ho, ho, ho! 20
Whene'er such wanderers I meete,
As from their night-sports they trudge home;
With counterfeiting voice I greete
And call them on, with me to roame
Thro' woods, thro' lakes, 25
Thro' bogs, thro' brakes;
Or else, unseene, with them I go,
All in the nicke
To play some tricke
And frolicke it, with ho, ho, ho! 30
Sometimes I meete them like a man;
Sometimes, an ox, sometimes, a hound;
And to a horse I turn me can;
To trip and trot about them round.
But if, to ride, 35
My backe they stride,
More swift than wind away I go,
Ore hedge and lands,
Thro' pools and ponds
I whirry, laughing, ho, ho, ho! 40
When lads and lasses merry be,
With possets and with juncates fine;
Unseene of all the company,
I eat their cakes and sip their wine;
And, to make sport, 45
I fart and snort;
And out the candles I do blow:
The maids I kiss;
They shrieke--Who's this?
I answer nought, but ho, ho, ho! 50
Yet now and then, the maids to please,
At midnight I card up their wooll;
And while they sleepe, and take their ease,
With wheel to threads their flax I pull.
I grind at mill 55
Their malt up still;
I dress their hemp, I spin their tow.
If any 'wake,
And would me take,
I wend me, laughing, ho, ho, ho! 60
When house or harth doth sluttish lye,[416]
I pinch the maidens blacke and blue;
The bed-clothes from the bedd pull I,
And lay them naked all to view.
'Twixt sleepe and wake, 65
I do them take,
And on the key-cold floor them throw.
If out they cry,
Then forth I fly,
And loudly laugh out, ho, ho, ho! 70
When any need to borrowe ought,
We lend them what they do require;
And for the use demand we nought;
Our owne is all we do desire.
If to repay, 75
They do delay,
Abroad amongst them then I go,
And night by night,
I them affright
With pinchings, dreames, and ho, ho, ho! 80
When lazie queans have nought to do,
But study how to cog and lye;
To make debate and mischief too,
'Twixt one another secretlye:
I marke their gloze, 85
And it disclose,
To them whom they have wronged so;
When I have done,
I get me gone,
And leave them scolding, ho, ho, ho! 90
When men do traps and engins set
In loop-holes, where the vermine creepe,
Who from their foldes and houses, get
Their duckes and geese, and lambes and sheepe:
I spy the gin, 95
And enter in,
And seeme a vermine taken so;
But when they there
Approach me neare,
I leap out laughing, ho, ho, ho! 100
By wells and rills,[417] in meadowes greene,
We nightly dance our hey-day guise;[418]
And to our fairye king, and queene,
We chant our moon-light minstrelsies.
When larks 'gin sing, 105
Away we fling;
And babes new borne steal as we go,
And else in bed,
We leave instead,
And wend us laughing, ho, ho, ho! 110
From hag-bred Merlin's time have I
Thus nightly revell'd to and fro:
And for my pranks men call me by
The name of Robin Good-fellow.
Fiends, ghosts, and sprites, 115
Who haunt the nightes,
The hags and goblins do me know;
And beldames old
My feates have told;
So _Vale, Vale_; ho, ho, ho! 120
FOOTNOTES:
[416] [Ver. 61. this begins the second part in the Roxburghe copy.]
[417] [gills=rivulets, _Roxb. copy_.]
[418] [a misprint for heydegies=rustic dances. The word occurs in
Lily's _Endymion_, 1591, and in Wm. Bulleyn's _Dialogue_, 1564, where
the minstrel daunces "Trenchmore" and "Heie de gie."--_Chappell._]
XXV.
THE FAIRY QUEEN.
We have here a short display of the popular belief concerning
_Fairies_. It will afford entertainment to a contemplative mind to
trace these whimsical opinions up to their origin. Whoever considers,
how early, how extensively, and how uniformly, they have prevailed in
these nations, will not readily assent to the hypothesis of those, who
fetch them from the east so late as the time of the Croisades. Whereas
it is well known that our Saxon ancestors, long before they left their
German forests, believed the existence of a kind of diminutive demons,
or middle species between men and spirits, whom they called _Duergar_
or _Dwarfs_, and to whom they attributed many wonderful performances,
far exceeding human art. Vid. Hervarer Saga Olaj Verelj. 1675. Hickes'
Thesaur., &c.
This Song is given (with some corrections by another copy) from a book
intitled, _The Mysteries of Love and Eloquence, &c._ Lond. 1658, 8vo.
* * * * *
[Dr. Rimbault points out that this song occurs in a rare tract
published more than twenty years before the book mentioned above.
It is entitled, _A description of the King and Queen of the_
_Fayries, their habit, fare, abode, pomp and state, being very
delightful to the sense and full of mirth_. London, 1635. The
song was to be sung to the tune of the _Spanish Gypsie_, which
began--
"O follow, follow me
For we be gypsies three."
Martin Parker wrote a sort of parody called _The three merry_
_Cobblers_, commencing--
"Come follow, follow me
To the alehouse we'll march all three;
Leave awl, last, thread and leather,
And let's go all together."
Mr. Chappell prints the first, eighth, fourteenth and last stanzas
(_Popular Music_, vol. i. p. 272.)]
* * * * *
Come, follow, follow me,
You, fairy elves that be:
Which circle on the greene,
Come follow Mab your queene.
Hand in hand let's dance around, 5
For this place is fairye ground.
When mortals are at rest,
And snoring in their nest;
Unheard, and un-espy'd,
Through key-holes we do glide; 10
Over tables, stools, and shelves.
We trip it with our fairy elves.
And, if the house be foul[419]
With platter, dish or bowl,
Up stairs we nimbly creep, 15
And find the sluts asleep:
There we pinch their armes and thighes;
None escapes, nor none espies.
But if the house be swept,
And from uncleanness kept, 20
We praise the household maid,
And duely she is paid:
For we use before we goe
To drop a tester[420] in her shoe.
Upon a mushroomes head 25
Our table-cloth we spread;
A grain of rye, or wheat,
Is manchet,[421] which we eat;
Pearly drops of dew we drink
In acorn cups fill'd to the brink. 30
The brains of nightingales,
With unctuous fat of snailes,
Between two cockles stew'd,
Is meat that's easily chew'd;
Tailes of wormes, and marrow of mice 35
Do make a dish, that's wonderous nice.
The grashopper, gnat, and fly,
Serve for our minstrelsie;
Grace said, we dance a while,
And so the time beguile; 40
And if the moon doth hide her head,
The gloe-worm lights us home to bed.
On tops of dewie grasse
So nimbly do we passe,
The young and tender stalk 45
Ne'er bends when we do walk:
Yet in the morning may be seen
Where we the night before have been.
FOOTNOTES:
[419] [Puck's speech in _Midsummer Night's Dream_ (act v. sc. 2)--
"I am sent with broom before
To sweep the dust behind the door,"
illustrates the delight of the fairies in cleanliness, which is dwelt
upon in this and the following song.]
[420] [tester or teston=sixpence.]
[421] [best kind of white bread.]
XXVI.
THE FAIRIES FAREWELL.
This humorous old song fell from the hand of the witty Dr. _Corbet_
(afterwards bishop of Norwich, &c.) and is printed from his _Poëtica
Stromata_, 1648, 12mo. (compared with the third edition of his poems,
1672.) It is there called, _A proper new Ballad, intitled, The Fairies
Farewell, or God-a-mercy Will, to be sung or whistled to the tune of
The Meddow brow, by the learned; by the unlearned, to the tune of
Fortune_.
The departure of Fairies is here attributed to the abolition of
monkery: Chaucer has, with equal humour, assigned a cause the very
reverse, in his _Wife of Bath's Tale_.
"In olde dayes of the king Artour,
Of which that Bretons speken gret honour,
All was this lond fulfilled of faerie;
The elf-quene, with hire joly compagnie
Danced ful oft in many a grene mede.
This was the old opinion as I rede;
I speke of many hundred yeres ago;
But now can no man see non elves mo,
For now the grete charitee and prayeres
Of limitoures and other holy freres,
That serchen every land and every streme,
As thikke as motes in the sonne beme,
Blissing halles, chambres, kichenes, and boures,
Citees and burghes, castles high and toures,
Thropes and bernes, shepenes and dairies,
This maketh that ther ben no faeries:
For ther as wont to walken was an elf,
Ther walketh now the limitour himself,
In undermeles and in morweninges,
And sayth his Matines and his holy thinges,
As he goth in his limitatioun.
Women may now go safely up and doun,
In every bush, and under every tree,
Ther is non other incubus but he,
And he ne will don hem no dishonour."
Tyrwhitt's _Chaucer_, i. p. 255.
Dr. Richard Corbet, having been bishop of Oxford about three years, and
afterwards as long bishop of Norwich, died in 1635, Ætat. 52.
* * * * *
Farewell rewards and Fairies!
Good housewives now may say;
For now foule sluts in dairies,
Doe fare as well as they:
And though they sweepe their hearths no less 5
Than mayds were wont to doe,
Yet who of late for cleaneliness
Finds sixe-pence in her shoe?
Lament, lament old Abbies,
The fairies lost command; 10
They did but change priests babies,
But some have chang'd your land:
And all your children stoln from thence
Are now growne Puritanes,
Who live as changelings ever since, 15
For love of your demaines.
At morning and at evening both
You merry were and glad,
So little care of sleepe and sloth,
These prettie ladies had. 20
When Tom came home from labour,
Or Ciss to milking rose,
Then merrily went their tabour,
And nimbly went their toes.
Witness those rings and roundelayes 25
Of theirs, which yet remaine;
Were footed in queene Maries dayes
On many a grassy playne.
But since of late Elizabeth
And later James came in; 30
They never danc'd on any heath,
As when the time hath bin.
By which wee note the fairies 35
Were of the old profession:
Their songs were _Ave Maries_,
Their dances were procession.
But now, alas! they all are dead,
Or gone beyond the seas,
Or farther for religion fled,
Or else they take their ease. 40
A tell-tale in their company
They never could endure;
And whoso kept not secretly
Their mirth, was punish'd sure:
It was a just and christian deed 45
To pinch such blacke and blue:
O how the common-welth doth need
Such justices, as you!
Now they have left our quarters;
A Register they have, 50
Who can preserve their charters;
A man both wise and grave.
An hundred of their merry pranks
By one that I could name
Are kept in store; con twenty thanks 55
To William for the same.
To William Churne of Staffordshire
Give laud and praises due,
Who every meale can mend your cheare
With tales both old and true: 60
To William all give audience,
And pray yee for his noddle:
For all the fairies evidence
Were lost, if it were addle.
* * * * *
[***] After these _Songs_ on the _Fairies_, the reader may be
curious to see the manner in which they were formerly invoked
and bound to human service. In Ashmole's _Collection of MSS._ at
Oxford (Num. 8259. 1406. 2), are the papers of some alchymist,
which contain a variety of Incantations and Forms of Conjuring both
_Fairies_, _Witches_, and _Demons_, principally, as it should seem,
to assist him in his Great Work of transmuting Metals. Most of them
are too impious to be reprinted: but the two following may be very
innocently laughed at.
Whoever looks into Ben Jonson's _Alchymist_, will find that these
impostors, among their other secrets, affected to have a power over
_Fairies_: and that they were commonly expected to be seen in a
christal glass appears from that extraordinary book, _The Relation_
_of Dr. John Dee's actions with Spirits_, 1659, folio.
_"An excellent way_ to gett a _Fayrie_. (For myself I call
_Margarett Barrance_; but this will obteine any one that is not
allready bownd.)
"First, gett a broad square christall or Venice glasse, in length
and breadth 3 inches. Then lay that glasse or christall in the
bloud of a white henne, 3 Wednesdayes, or 3 Fridayes. Then take it
out, and wash it with holy aq. and fumigate it. Then take 3 hazle
sticks, or wands of an yeare groth: pill them fayre and white;
and make 'them' soe longe, as you write the _Spiritts_ name, or
_Fayries_ name, which you call, 3 times on every sticke being made
flatt on one side. Then bury them under some hill, whereas you
suppose _Fayries_ haunt, the Wednesday before you call her: and the
Friday followinge take them uppe, and call her at 8 or 3 or 10 of
the clocke, which be good planetts and houres for that turne: but
when you call, be in cleane life, and turne thy face towards the
east. And when you have her, bind her to that stone or glasse."
"An Unguent to annoynt under the Eyelids, and upon the
Eyelids eveninge and morninge: but especially when you call;
or find your sight not perfect.
"R. A pint of sallet-oyle, and put it into a viall glasse: but
first wash it with rose-water, and marygold-water; the flowers 'to'
be gathered towards the east. Wash it till the oyle come white;
then put it into the glasse, _ut supra_: and then put thereto the
budds of holyhocke, the flowers of marygold, the flowers or toppes
of wild thime, the budds of young hazle: and the thime must be
gathered neare the side of a hill where _Fayries_ use to be: and
'take' the grasse of a fayrie throne, there. All these put into the
oyle, into the glasse: and set it to dissolve 3 dayes in the sunne,
and then keep it for thy use; _ut supra_."
After this receipt for the unguent follows a form of incantation,
wherein the alchymist conjures a fairy, named _Elaby Gathon_, to
appear to him in that chrystal glass, meekly and mildly; to resolve
him truly in all manner of questions; and to be obedient to all his
commands, under pain of damnation, &c.
One of the vulgar opinions about fairies is, that they cannot be
seen by human eyes, without a particular charm exerted in favour of
the person who is to see them: and that they strike with blindness
such as having the gift of seeing them, take notice of them
_mal-à-propos_.
As to the hazle sticks mentioned above, they were to be probably of
that species called the _witch hazle_; which received its name from
this manner of applying it in incantations.
THE END OF BOOK THE SECOND.
[Illustration]
RELIQUES OF ANCIENT POETRY, ETC.
SERIES THE THIRD.
BOOK III.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
I.
THE BIRTH OF ST. GEORGE.
The incidents in this, and the other ballad of _St. George and
the Dragon_, are chiefly taken from the old story-book of the Seven
Champions of Christendome; which, tho' now the play-thing of children,
was once in high repute. Bp. Hall in his _Satires_, published in 1597,
ranks
"St. George's sorell, and his cross of blood,"
among the most popular stories of his time: and an ingenious critic
thinks that Spencer himself did not disdain to borrow hints from
it;[422] tho' I much doubt whether this popular romance were written so
early as the _Faery Queen_.
The author of this book of the _Seven Champions_ was one Richard
Johnson, who lived in the reigns of Elizabeth and James, as we collect
from his other publications: viz.--_The nine worthies of London_:
1592, 4to.--_The pleasant walks of Moor fields_: 1607, 4to.--_A crown
garland of Goulden Roses, gathered, &c._ 1612, 8vo.--_The life and
death of Rob. Cecill, E. of Salisbury_: 1612, 4to.--_The Hist. of Tom
of Lincoln_, 4to. is also by R. J. who likewise reprinted _Don Flores
of Greece_, 4to.
The _Seven Champions_, tho' written in a wild inflated style, contains
some strong Gothic painting; which seems, for the most part, copied
from the metrical romances of former ages. At least the story of _St.
George and the fair Sabra_ is taken almost verbatim from the old
poetical legend of _Syr Bevis of Hampton_.
This very antique poem was in great fame in Chaucer's time (see above,
pag. 107.), and so continued till the introduction of printing, when
it ran thro' several editions; two of which are in black letter,
4to. "imprinted by Wyllyam Copland," without date; containing great
variations.
As a specimen of the poetic powers of this very old rhimist, and as a
proof how closely the author of the _Seven Champions_ has followed him,
take a description of the dragon slain by sir Bevis.
"--Whan the dragon, that foule is,
Had a syght of syr Bevis,
He cast up a loude cry,
As it had thondred in the sky;
He turned his bely towarde the son;
It was greater than any tonne:
His scales was bryghter then the glas,
And harder they were than any bras:
Betwene his shulder and his tayle,
Was forty fote withoute fayle.
He waltred out of his denne,
And Bevis pricked his stede then,
And to hym a spere he thraste
That all to shyvers he it braste:
The dragon then gan Bevis assayle,
And smote syr Bevis with his tayle;
Then downe went horse and man,
And two rybbes of Bevis brused than."
After a long fight, at length, as the dragon was preparing to fly, sir
Bevis
"Hit him under the wynge,
As he was in his flyenge,
There he was tender without scale,
And Bevis thought to be his bale.
He smote after, as I you saye,
With his good sword Morglaye.
Up to the hiltes Morglay yode
Through harte, lyver, bone, and bloude:
To the ground fell the dragon,
Great joye syr Bevis begon.
Under the scales al on hight
He smote off his head forth right,
And put it on a spere: &c."
Sign. K. iv.
Sir Bevis's dragon is evidently the parent of that in the _Seven_
_Champions_, see chap, iii., viz. "The dragon no sooner had a sight of
him (St. George) but he gave such a terrible peal, as though it had
thundered in the elements.... Betwixt his shoulders and his tail were
fifty feet in distance, his scales glistering as bright as silver, but
far more hard than brass; his belly of the colour of gold, but bigger
than a tun. Thus weltered he from his den, &c.... The champion ... gave
the dragon such a thrust with his spear, that it shivered in a thousand
pieces: whereat the furious dragon so fiercely smote him with his
venomous tail, that down fell man and horse: in which fall two of St.
George's ribs were so bruised, &c.--At length ... St. George smote the
dragon under the wing where it was tender without scale, whereby his
good sword Ascalon with an easie passage went to the very hilt through
both the dragon's heart, liver, bone, and blood.--Then St. George--cut
off the dragon's head and pitcht it upon the truncheon of a spear, &c."
The _History of the Seven Champions_, being written just before the
decline of books of chivalry, was never, I believe, translated into any
foreign language: But _Le Roman de Beuves of Hantonne_ was published at
Paris in 1502, 4to. Let. Gothique.
The learned Selden tell us, that about the time of the Norman invasion
was Bevis famous with the title of Earl of Southampton, whose residence
was at Duncton in Wiltshire; but he observes, that the monkish
enlargements of his story have made his very existence doubted. See
_Notes on Poly-Olbion, Song_ iii.
This hath also been the case of _St. George_ himself; whose martial
history is allowed to be apocryphal. But, to prove that there really
existed an orthodox saint of this name (altho' little or nothing, it
seems, is known of his genuine story) is the subject of _An Historical
and Critical Inquiry into the Existence and Character of St. George,
&c._ By the Rev. J. Milner, F.S.A. 1792, 8vo.
The equestrian figure worn by the Knights of the Garter, has been
understood to be an emblem of the Christian warrior, in his spiritual
armour, vanquishing the old serpent.
But on this subject the inquisitive reader may consult _A Dissertation_
_on the Original of the Equestrian Figure of the George and of the
Garter, ensigns of the most noble order of that name_. Illustrated
with copper-plates. By John Petingal, A.M., Fellow of the Society of
Antiquaries, London, 1753, 4to. This learned and curious work the
author of the _Historical and Critical Inquiry_ would have done well to
have seen.
It cannot be denied, but that the following ballad is for the most part
modern: for which reason it would have been thrown to the end of the
volume, had not its subject procured it a place here.
* * * * *
[In respect to the last paragraph, Ritson writes, "It may be safely
denied, however, that the least part of it is ancient."]
* * * * *
Listen, lords, in bower and hall,
I sing the wonderous birth
Of brave St. George, whose valorous arm
Rid monsters from the earth:
Distressed ladies to relieve 5
He travell'd many a day;
In honour of the christian faith,
Which shall endure for aye.
In Coventry sometime did dwell
A knight of worthy fame, 10
High steward of this noble realme;
Lord Albert was his name.
He had to wife a princely dame,
Whose beauty did excell.
This virtuous lady, being with child, 15
In sudden sadness fell:
For thirty nights no sooner sleep
Had clos'd her wakeful eyes,
But, lo! a foul and fearful dream
Her fancy would surprize: 20
She dreamt a dragon fierce and fell
Conceiv'd within her womb;
Whose mortal fangs her body rent
Ere he to life could come.
All woe-begone, and sad was she; 25
She nourisht constant woe:
Yet strove to hide it from her lord,
Lest he should sorrow know.
In vain she strove, her tender lord,
Who watch'd her slightest look, 30
Discover'd soon her secret pain,
And soon that pain partook.
And when to him the fearful cause
She weeping did impart,
With kindest speech he strove to heal 35
The anguish of her heart.
Be comforted, my lady dear,
Those pearly drops refrain;
Betide me weal, betide me woe,
I'll try to ease thy pain. 40
And for this foul and fearful dream,
That causeth all thy woe,
Trust me I'll travel far away
But I'll the meaning knowe.
Then giving many a fond embrace, 45
And shedding many a teare,
To the weïrd lady of the woods
He purpos'd to repaire.
To the weïrd lady of the woods,
Full long and many a day, 50
Thro' lonely shades, and thickets rough
He winds his weary way.
At length he reach'd a dreary dell
With dismal yews o'erhung;
Where cypress spred its mournful boughs, 55
And pois'nous nightshade sprung.
No chearful gleams here pierc'd the gloom,
He hears no chearful sound;
But shrill night-ravens' yelling scream,
And serpents hissing round. 60
The shriek of fiends, and damned ghosts
Ran howling thro' his ear:
A chilling horror froze his heart,
Tho' all unus'd to fear.
Three times he strives to win his way,
And pierce those sickly dews:
Three times to bear his trembling corse
His knocking knees refuse.
At length upon his beating breast
He signs the holy crosse; 70
And, rouzing up his wonted might,
He treads th' unhallow'd mosse.
Beneath a pendant craggy cliff,
All vaulted like a grave,
And opening in the solid rock, 75
He found the inchanted cave.
An iron gate clos'd up the mouth,
All hideous and forlorne;
And, fasten'd by a silver chain,
Near hung a brazed horne. 80
Then offering up a secret prayer,
Three times he blowes amaine:
Three times a deepe and hollow sound
Did answer him againe.
"Sir knight, thy lady beares a son, 85
Who, like a dragon bright,
Shall prove most dreadful to his foes,
And terrible in fight.
"His name advanc'd in future times
On banners shall be worn: 90
But lo! thy lady's life must passe
Before he can be born."
All sore opprest with fear and doubt
Long time lord Albert stood;
At length he winds his doubtful way 95
Back thro' the dreary wood.
Eager to clasp his lovely dame
Then fast he travels back:
But when he reach'd his castle gate,
His gate was hung with black. 100
In every court and hall he found
A sullen silence reigne;
Save where, amid the lonely towers,
He heard her maidens 'plaine;
And bitterly lament and weep, 105
With many a grievous grone:
Then sore his bleeding heart misgave,
His lady's life was gone.
With faultering step he enters in,
Yet half affraid to goe; 110
With trembling voice asks why they grieve,
Yet fears the cause to knowe.
"Three times the sun hath rose and set;"
They said, then stopt to weep:
"Since heaven hath laid thy lady deare 115
In death's eternal sleep.
"For, ah! in travel sore she fell,
So sore that she must dye;
Unless some shrewd and cunning leech
Could ease her presentlye. 120
"But when a cunning leech was fet,
Too soon declared he,
She, or her babe must lose its life;
Both saved could not be.
"Now take my life, thy lady said, 125
My little infant save:
And O commend me to my lord,
When I am laid in grave.
"O tell him how that precious babe
Cost him a tender wife: 130
And teach my son to lisp her name,
Who died to save his life.
"Then calling still upon thy name,
And praying still for thee;
Without repining or complaint, 135
Her gentle soul did flee."
What tongue can paint lord Albret's woe,
The bitter tears he shed,
The bitter pangs that wrung his heart,
To find his lady dead? 140
He beat his breast: he tore his hair;
And shedding many a tear,
At length he askt to see his son;
The son that cost so dear.
New sorrowe seiz'd the damsells all: 145
At length they faultering say;
"Alas! my lord, how shall we tell?
Thy son is stoln away.
"Fair as the sweetest flower of spring,
Such was his infant mien: 150
And on his little body stampt
Three wonderous marks were seen:
"A blood-red cross was on his arm;
A dragon on his breast:
A little garter all of gold 155
Was round his leg exprest.
"Three carefull nurses we provide
Our little lord to keep:
One gave him sucke, one gave him food,
And one did lull to sleep. 160
"But lo! all in the dead of night,
We heard a fearful sound:
Loud thunder clapt; the castle shook;
And lightning flasht around.
"Dead with affright at first we lay; 165
But rousing up anon,
We ran to see our little lord:
Our little lord was gone!
"But how or where we could not tell;
For lying on the ground, 170
In deep and magic slumbers laid,
The nurses there we found."
O grief on grief! lord Albret said:
No more his tongue cou'd say,
When falling in a deadly swoone, 175
Long time he lifeless lay.
At length restor'd to life and sense
He nourisht endless woe,
No future joy his heart could taste,
No future comfort know. 180
So withers on the mountain top
A fair and stately oake,
Whose vigorous arms are torne away,
By some rude thunder-stroke.
At length his castle irksome grew, 185
He loathes his wonted home;
His native country he forsakes
In foreign lands to roame.
There up and downe he wandered far,
Clad in a palmer's gown; 190
Till his brown locks grew white as wool,
His beard as thistle down.
At length, all wearied, down in death
He laid his reverend head.
Meantime amid the lonely wilds 195
His little son was bred.
There the weïrd lady of the woods
Had borne him far away,
And train'd him up in feates of armes,
And every martial play. 200
[***]
FOOTNOTES:
[422] Mr. Warton. Vid. Observations on the _Fairy Queen_, 2 vol. 1762,
12mo. _passim._
II.
ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
The following ballad is given (with some corrections) from two ancient
black-letter copies in the _Pepys Collection_: one of which is in
12mo., the other in folio.
* * * * *
[The story of _St. George and the Dragon_ is found in many forms in
the northern languages.]
* * * * *
Of Hector's deeds did Homer sing;
And of the sack of stately Troy,
What griefs fair Helena did bring,
Which was sir Paris' only joy:
And by my pen I will recite 5
St. George's deeds, and English knight.
Against the Sarazens so rude
Fought he full long and many a day,
Where many gyants he subdu'd,
In honour of the christian way: 10
And after many adventures past
To Egypt land he came at last.
Now, as the story plain doth tell,
Within that countrey there did rest
A dreadful dragon fierce and fell, 15
Whereby they were full sore opprest;
Who by his poisonous breath each day,
Did many of the city slay.
The grief whereof did grow so great
Throughout the limits of the land, 20
That they their wise-men did intreat
To shew their cunning out of hand;
What way they might this fiend destroy,
That did the countrey thus annoy.
The wise-men all before the king 25
This answer fram'd incontinent;
The dragon none to death might bring
By any means they could invent:
His skin more hard than brass was found,
That sword nor spear could pierce nor wound. 30
When this the people understood,
They cryed out most piteouslye,
The dragon's breath infects their blood,
That every day in heaps they dye:
Among them such a plague it bred, 35
The living scarce could bury the dead.
No means there were, as they could hear,
For to appease the dragon's rage,
But to present some virgin clear,
Whose blood his fury might asswage; 40
Each day he would a maiden eat,
For to allay his hunger great.
This thing by art the wise-men found,
Which truly must observed be;
Wherefore throughout the city round 45
A virgin pure of good degree
Was by the king's commission still
Taken up to serve the dragon's will.
Thus did the dragon every day
Untimely crop some virgin flowr, 50
Till all the maids were worn away,
And none were left him to devour:
Saving the king's fair daughter bright,
Her father's only heart's delight.
Then came the officers to the king 55
That heavy message to declare,
Which did his heart with sorrow sting;
She is, quoth he, my kingdom's heir:
O let us all be poisoned here,
Ere she should die, that is my dear. 60
Then rose the people presently,
And to the king in rage they went;
They said his daughter dear should dye,
The dragon's fury to prevent:
Our daughters all are dead, quoth they, 65
And have been made the dragon's prey:
And by their blood we rescued were,
And thou hast sav'd thy life thereby;
And now in sooth it is but faire,
For us thy daughter so should die. 70
O save my daughter, said the king;
And let ME feel the dragon's sting.
Then fell fair Sabra on her knee,
And to her father dear did say,
O father, strive not thus for me, 75
But let me be the dragon's prey;
It may be, for my sake alone
This plague upon the land was thrown.
Tis better I should dye, she said,
Than all your subjects perish quite; 80
Perhaps the dragon here was laid,
For my offence to work his spite:
And after he hath suckt my gore,
Your land shall feel the grief no more.
What hast thou done, my daughter dear, 85
For to deserve this heavy scourge?
It is my fault, as may appear,
Which makes the gods our state to purge;
Then ought I die, to stint the strife,
And to preserve thy happy life. 90
Like mad-men, all the people cried,
Thy death to us can do no good;
Our safety only doth abide
In making her the dragon's food.
Lo! here I am, I come, quoth she, 95
Therefore do what you will with me.
Nay stay, dear daughter, quoth the queen,
And as thou art a virgin bright,
That hast for vertue famous been,
So let me cloath thee all in white; 100
And crown thy head with flowers sweet,
An ornament for virgins meet.
And when she was attired so,
According to her mother's mind,
Unto the stake then did she go; 105
To which her tender limbs they bind:
And being bound to stake a thrall
She bade farewell unto them all.
Farewell, my father dear, quoth she,
And my sweet mother meek and mild; 110
Take you no thought nor weep for me,
For you may have another child:
Since for my country's good I dye,
Death I receive most willinglye.
The king and queen and all their train 115
With weeping eyes went then their way,
And let their daughter there remain,
To be the hungry dragon's prey:
But as she did there weeping lye,
Behold St. George came riding by. 120
And seeing there a lady bright
So rudely tyed unto a stake,
As well became a valiant knight,
He straight to her his way did take:
Tell me, sweet maiden, then quoth he, 125
What caitif thus abuseth thee?
And, lo! by Christ his cross I vow,
Which here is figured on my breast,
I will revenge it on his brow,
And break my lance upon his chest: 130
And speaking thus whereas he stood,
The dragon issued from the wood.
The lady that did first espy
The dreadful dragon coming so,
Unto St. George aloud did cry, 135
And willed him away to go;
Here comes that cursed fiend, quoth she;
That soon will make an end of me.
St. George then looking round about,
The fiery dragon soon espy'd, 140
And like a knight of courage stout,
Against him did most fiercely ride;
And with such blows he did him greet,
He fell beneath his horse's feet.
For with his launce that was so strong, 145
As he came gaping in his face,
In at his mouth he thrust along;
For he could pierce no other place:
And thus within the lady's view
This mighty dragon straight he slew. 150
The savour of his poisoned breath
Could do this holy knight no harm.
Thus he the lady sav'd from death,
And home he led her by the arm;
Which when king Ptolemy did see, 155
There was great mirth and melody.
When as that valiant champion there
Had slain the dragon in the field,
To court he brought the lady fair,
Which to their hearts much joy did yield. 160
He in the court of Egypt staid
Till he most falsely was betray'd.
That lady dearly lov'd the knight,
He counted her his only joy; 165
But when their love was brought to light
It turn'd unto their great annoy:
Th' Morocco king was in the court,
Who to the orchard did resort,
Dayly to take the pleasant air, 170
For pleasure sake he us'd to walk,
Under a wall he oft did hear
St. George with lady Sabra talk:
Their love he shew'd unto the king,
Which to St. George great woe did bring. 175
Those kings together did devise
To make the christian knight away,
With letters him in curteous wise
They straightway sent to Persia:
But wrote to the sophy him to kill, 180
And treacherously his blood to spill.
Thus they for good did him reward
With evil, and most subtilly
By much vile meanes they had regard
To work his death most cruelly; 185
Who, as through Persia land he rode,
With zeal destroy'd each idol god.
For which offence he straight was thrown
Into a dungeon dark and deep;
Where, when he thought his wrongs upon, 190
He bitterly did wail and weep:
Yet like a knight of courage stout,
At length his way he digged out.
Three grooms of the king of Persia
By night this valiant champion slew, 195
Though he had fasted many a day;
And then away from thence he flew
On the best steed the sophy had;
Which when he knew he was full mad.
Towards Christendom he made his flight, 200
But met a gyant by the way,
With whom in combat he did fight
Most valiantly a summer's day:
Who yet, for all his bats of steel,
Was forc'd the sting of death to feel. 205
Back o'er the seas with many bands
Of warlike souldiers soon he past,
Vowing upon those heathen lands
To work revenge; which at the last,
Ere thrice three years were gone and spent, 210
He wrought unto his heart's content.
Save onely Egypt land he spar'd
For Sabra bright her only sake,
And, ere for her he had regard,
He meant a tryal kind to make: 215
Mean while the king o'ercome in field
Unto saint George did quickly yield.
Then straight Morocco's king he slew,
And took fair Sabra to his wife,
But meant to try if she were true 220
Ere with her he would lead his life:
And, tho' he had her in his train,
She did a virgin pure remain.
Toward England then that lovely dame
The brave St. George conducted strait, 225
An eunuch also with them came,
Who did upon the lady wait;
These three from Egypt went alone.
Now mark St. George's valour shown.
When as they in a forest were, 230
The lady did desire to rest;
Mean while St. George to kill a deer,
For their repast did think it best:
Leaving her with the eunuch there,
Whilst he did go to kill the deer. 235
But lo! all in his absence came
Two hungry lyons fierce and fell,
And tore the eunuch on the same
In pieces small, the truth to tell;
Down by the lady then they laid, 240
Whereby they shew'd, she was a maid.
But when he came from hunting back,
And did behold this heavy chance,
Then for his lovely virgin's sake
His courage strait he did advance, 245
And came into the lions sight,
Who ran at him with all their might.
Their rage did him no whit dismay,
Who, like a stout and valiant knight,
Did both the hungry lyons slay 250
Within the lady Sabra's sight:
Who all this while sad and demure,
There stood most like a virgin pure.
Now when St. George did surely know
This lady was a virgin true, 255
His heart was glad, that erst was woe,
And all his love did soon renew:
He set her on a palfrey steed,
And towards England came with speed.
Where being in short space arriv'd 260
Unto his native dwelling-place;
Therein with his dear love he liv'd,
And fortune did his nuptials grace:
They many years of joy did see,
And led their lives at Coventry. 265
III.
LOVE WILL FIND OUT THE WAY.
This excellent song is ancient: but we could only give it from a modern
copy.
* * * * *
[Earlier editions of this spirited song are printed in Evans's _Old
Ballads_, iii. 282 (1810), and Rimbault's _Little Book of Songs
and Ballads_, p. 137. It is quoted in Brome's _Sparagus Garden_,
acted in 1635, and Shirley's _Constant Maid_ was republished in
1661, under the title of _Love will find out the Way_, by T. B.
Dr. Rimbault has the following note in his _Musical Illustrations_,
"The old black-letter copy of this ballad is called '_Truth's
Integrity: or, a curious Northerne Ditty_, called _Love will
finde out the Way_. To a pleasant new Tune Printed at London for
F. Coules, dwelling in the Old Bailey.' There is a second part
consisting of six stanzas, which Percy has not reprinted. The tune
is here given (translated from the _Tablature_) from _Musicks
Recreation on the Lyra Viol_, published by Playford in 1652. It is
also preserved in Forbes's _Cantus_, 1662; in _Musick's Delight on
the Cithren_, 1666; and in D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_,
1719. The _Pepysian Collection_ contains several ballads to this
tune."
Mr. Chappell writes, "The air is still current, for in the summer
of 1855, Mr. Jennings, Organist of All Saints' Church, Maidstone,
noted it down from the wandering hop-pickers singing a song to it
on their entrance into that town." _Popular Music_, vol. i. p. 304.]
* * * * *
Over the mountains,
And over the waves;
Under the fountains,
And under the graves;
Under the floods that are deepest, 5
Which Neptune obey;
Over rocks that are steepest,
Love will find out the way.
Where there is no place
For the glow-worm to lye; 10
Where there is no space
For receipt of a fly;
Where the midge dares not venture,
Lest herself fast she lay;
If love come, he will enter, 15
And soon find out his way.
You may esteem him
A child for his might;
Or you may deem him
A coward from his flight; 20
But if she, whom love doth honour,
Be conceal'd from the day,
Set a thousand guards upon her,
Love will find out the way.
Some think to lose him, 25
By having him confin'd;
And some do suppose him,
Poor thing, to be blind;
But if ne'er so close ye wall him,
Do the best that you may, 30
Blind love, if so ye call him,
Will find out his way.
You may train the eagle
To stoop to your fist;
Or you may inveigle 35
The phenix of the east;
The lioness, ye may move her
To give o'er her prey;
But you'll ne'er stop a lover:
He will find out his way.
[***]
IV.
LORD THOMAS AND FAIR ANNET,
A SCOTTISH BALLAD,
Seems to be composed (not without improvements) out of two ancient
English ones, printed in the former part of this volume. See book i.
ballad xv. and book ii. ballad iv.--If this had been the original,
the authors of those two ballads would hardly have adopted two such
different stories: besides, this contains enlargements not to be found
in either of the others. It is given with some corrections, from a MS.
copy transmitted from Scotland.
* * * * *
[Jamieson prints a version of this ballad which was taken down from
the recitation of Mrs. W. Arrot of Aberbrothick, and is entitled
_Sweet Willie and Fair Annie_. He contends that it is "pure and
entire," and expresses his opinion that the text of Percy's copy
had been "adjusted" previous to its leaving Scotland.]
* * * * *
Lord Thomas and fair Annet
Sate a' day on a hill;
Whan night was cum, and sun was sett,
They had not talkt their fill.
Lord Thomas said a word in jest, 5
Fair Annet took it ill:
A'! I will nevir wed a wife
Against my ain friends will.
Gif ye wull nevir wed a wife,
A wife wull neir wed yee. 10
Sae he is hame to tell his mither,
And knelt upon his knee:
O rede, O rede, mither, he says,
A gude rede gie to mee:
O sall I tak the nut-browne bride, 15
And let faire Annet bee?
The nut-browne bride haes gowd and gear,
Fair Annet she has gat nane;
And the little beauty fair Annet has,
O it wull soon be gane! 20
And he has till his brother gane:
Now, brother, rede ye mee;
A' sall I marrie the nut-browne bride,
And let fair Annet bee?
The nut-browne bride has oxen, brother,
The nut-browne bride has kye;
I wad hae ye marrie the nut-browne bride,
And cast fair Annet bye.
Her oxen may dye i' the house, Billìe,
And her kye into the byre; 30
And I sall hae nothing to my sell,
Bot a fat fadge[423] by the fyre.
And he has till his sister gane:
Now, sister, rede ye mee;
O sall I marrie the nut-browne bride, 35
And set fair Annet free?
Ise rede ye tak fair Annet, Thomas,
And let the browne bride alane;
Lest ye sould sigh and say, Alace!
What is this we brought hame? 40
No, I will tak my mithers counsel,
And marrie me owt o' hand;
And I will tak the nut-browne bride;
Fair Annet may leive the land.
Up then rose fair Annets father 45
Twa hours or it wer day,
And he is gane into the bower,
Wherein fair Annet lay.
Rise up, rise up, fair Annet, he says,
Put on your silken sheene; 50
Let us gae to St. Maries kirke,
And see that rich weddeen.
My maides, gae to my dressing roome,
And dress to me my hair;
Whair-eir yee laid a plait before,
See yee lay ten times mair.
My maids, gae to my dressing room,
And dress to me my smock;
The one half is o' the holland fine,
The other o' needle-work. 60
The horse fair Annet rade upon,
He amblit like the wind,
Wi' siller he was shod before,
Wi' burning gowd behind.
Four and twanty siller bells 65
Wer a' tyed till his mane,
And yae tift[424] o' the norland wind,
They tinkled ane by ane.
Four and twanty gay gude knichts
Rade by the fair Annets side, 70
And four and twanty fair ladies,
As gin she had bin a bride.
And whan she cam to Maries kirk,
She sat on Maries stean:
The cleading that fair Annet had on 75
It skinkled in their een.
And whan she cam into the kirk,
She shimmer'd like the sun;
The belt that was about her waist,
Was a' wi' pearles bedone. 80
She sat her by the nut-browne bride,
And her een they wer sae clear,
Lord Thomas he clean forgat the bride,
Whan fair Annet she drew near.
He had a rose into his hand, 95
And he gave it kisses three,
And reaching by the nut-browne bride,
Laid it on fair Annets knee
Up than spak the nut-browne bride,
She spak wi' meikle spite; 90
And whair gat ye that rose-water,
That does mak yee sae white?
O I did get the rose-water,
Whair ye wull neir get nane,
For I did get that very rose-water 95
Into my mithers wame.
The bride she drew a long bodkin,
Frae out her gay head-gear,
And strake fair Annet unto the heart,
That word she nevir spak mair. 100
Lord Thomas he saw fair Annet wex pale,
And marvelit what mote bee:
But whan he saw her dear hearts blude,
A' wood-wroth[425] wexed hee.
He drew his dagger, that was sae sharp, 105
That was sae sharp and meet,
And drave into the nut-browne bride,
That fell deid at his feit.
Now stay for me, dear Annet, he sed,
Now stay, my dear, he cry'd; 110
Then strake the dagger untill his heart,
And fell deid by her side.
Lord Thomas was buried without kirk-wa',
Fair Annet within the quiere;
And o' the tane thair grew a birk, 115
The other a bonny briere.
And ay they grew, and ay they threw,
As they wad faine be neare;
And by this ye may ken right weil,
They ware twa luvers deare. 120
FOOTNOTES:
[423] [bundle of sticks.]
[424] [gust of wind.]
[425] [furiously enraged.]
V.
UNFADING BEAUTY.
This little beautiful sonnet is reprinted from a small volume
of "_Poems_ by _Thomas Carew_, Esq. one of the gentlemen of the
privie-chamber, and sewer in ordinary to his majesty (Charles I.) Lond.
1640." This elegant, and almost-forgotten writer, whose poems have been
deservedly revived, died in the prime of his age, in 1639.
In the original follows a third stanza; which, not being of general
application, nor of equal merit, I have ventured to omit.
* * * * *
[Dr. Rimbault informs us that the original music was composed by
Henry Lawes, and is included in his _Ayres and Dialogues for one,
two and three Voyces_, 1653.]
* * * * *
Hee, that loves a rosie cheeke,
Or a corall lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seeke
Fuell to maintaine his fires,
As old time makes these decay, 5
So his flames must waste away.
But a smooth and stedfast mind,
Gentle thoughts, and calme desires,
Hearts with equal love combin'd
Kindle never-dying fires: 10
Where these are not I despise
Lovely cheekes, or lips, or eyes.
* * * * *
VI.
GEORGE BARNWELL.
The subject of this ballad is sufficiently popular from the modern
play which is founded upon it. This was written by _George Lillo_, a
jeweller of London, and first acted about 1730.--As for the ballad it
was printed at least as early as the middle of the last century.
It is here given from three old printed copies, which exhibit a
strange intermixture of Roman and black letter. It is also collated
with another copy in the _Ashmole Collection_ at Oxford, which is thus
intitled, "An excellent ballad of _George Barnwell_, an apprentice of
London, who ... thrice robbed his master and murdered his uncle in
Ludlow." The tune is _The Merchant_.
This tragical narrative seems to relate a real fact; but when it
happened I have not been able to discover.
* * * * *
[Ritson writes as follows concerning certain improvements made
by Percy in the following ballad (_Ancient Songs_, 1829, vol.
ii. p. 165, note):--"Throughout this 'second part' (except in a
single instance) the metre of the first line of each stanza is in
the old editions lengthened by a couple of syllables, which are,
occasionally at least, a manifest interpolation. The person also is
for the most part changed from the first to the third, with evident
impropriety. Dr. Percy has very ingeniously restored the measure by
ejecting the superfluous syllables, and given consistency to the
whole by the restoration of the proper person; and as it is now
highly improbable that any further ancient copy will be found, and
those which exist are manifestly corrupt, it seemed justifiable to
adopt the judicious emendations of this ingenious editor."
Dr. Rimbault observes, "This curious tune (_The Merchant_) which
has been quite overlooked by antiquaries, is found, together with
the original ballad, _The Merchant and the Fiddler's Wife_, in
D'Urfey's _Pills to Purge Melancholy_, vol. v. p. 77, edit. 1719."
The former great popularity of the story of the wicked young
prentice is shown by James Smith's parody in the _Rejected
Addresses_ and Thackeray's caricature romance--_George de
Barnwell_.]
* * * * *
THE FIRST PART.
All youths of fair Englànd
That dwell both far and near,
Regard my story that I tell,
And to my song give ear.
A London lad I was, 5
A merchant's prentice bound;
My name George Barnwell; that did spend
My master many a pound.
Take heed of harlots then,
And their enticing trains; 10
For by that means I have been brought
To hang alive in chains.
As I, upon a day,
Was walking through the street
About my master's business, 15
A wanton I did meet.
A gallant dainty dame,
And sumptuous in attire;
With smiling look she greeted me,
And did my name require. 20
Which when I had declar'd,
She gave me then a kiss,
And said, if I would come to her,
I should have more than this.
Fair mistress, then quoth I, 25
If I the place may know,
This evening I will be with you,
For I abroad must go
To gather monies in,
That are my master's due: 30
And ere that I do home return,
I'll come and visit you.
Good Barnwell, then quoth she,
Do thou to Shoreditch come,
And ask for Mrs. Millwood's house, 35
Next door unto the Gun.
And trust me on my truth,
If thou keep touch with me,
My dearest friend, as my own heart
Thou shall right welcome be. 40
Thus parted we in peace,
And home I passed right;
Then went abroad, and gathered in,
By six o'clock at night,
An hundred pound and one: 45
With bag under my arm
I went to Mrs. Millwood's house,
And thought on little harm;
And knocking at the door,
Straightway herself came down; 50
Rustling in most brave attire,
With hood and silken gown.
Who, through her beauty bright,
So gloriously did shine,
That she amaz'd my dazzling eyes, 55
She seemed so divine.
She took me by the hand,
And with a modest grace,
Welcome, sweet Barnwell, then quoth she,
Unto this homely place. 60
And since I have thee found
As good as thy word to be:
A homely supper, ere we part,
Thou shalt take here with me.
O pardon me, quoth I, 65
Fair mistress, I you pray;
For why, out of my master's house,
So long I dare not stay.
Alas, good Sir, she said,
Are you so strictly ty'd, 70
You may not with your dearest friend
One hour or two abide?
Faith, then the case is hard:
If it be so, quoth she,
I would I were a prentice bound, 75
To live along with thee:
Therefore, my dearest George,
List well what I shall say,
And do not blame a woman much,
Her fancy to bewray. 80
Let not affection's force
Be counted lewd desire;
Nor think it not immodesty,
I should thy love require.
With that she turn'd aside, 85
And with a blushing red,
A mournful motion she bewray'd
By hanging down her head.
A handkerchief she had,
All wrought with silk and gold: 90
Which she to stay her trickling tears
Before her eyes did hold.
This thing unto my sight
Was wondrous rare and strange;
And in my soul and inward thought 95
It wrought a sudden change:
That I so hardy grew,
To take her by the hand:
Saying, Sweet mistress, why do you
So dull and pensive stand? 100
Call me no mistress now,
But Sarah, thy true friend,
Thy servant, Millwood, honouring thee,
Until her life hath end.
If thou wouldst here alledge, 105
Thou art in years a boy;
So was Adonis, yet was he
Fair Venus' only joy.
Thus I, who ne'er before
Of woman found such grace, 110
But seeing now so fair a dame
Give me a kind embrace,
I supt with her that night,
With joys that did abound;
And for the same paid presently, 115
In money twice three pound.
An hundred kisses then,
For my farewel she gave;
Crying, Sweet Barnwell, when shall I
Again thy company have? 120
O stay not hence too long,
Sweet George, have me in mind.
Her words bewicht my childishness,
She uttered them so kind:
So that I made a vow, 125
Next Sunday without fail,
With my sweet Sarah once again
To tell some pleasant tale.
When she heard me say so,
The tears fell from her eye; 130
O George, quoth she, if thou dost fail,
Thy Sarah sure will dye.
Though long, yet loe! at last,
The appointed day was come,
That I must with my Sarah meet; 135
Having a mighty sum
Of money in my hand,[426]
Unto her house went I,
Whereas my love upon her bed
In saddest sort did lye. 140
What ails my heart's delight,
My Sarah dear? quoth I;
Let not my love lament and grieve,
Nor sighing pine, and die.
But tell me, dearest friend, 145
What may thy woes amend,
And thou shalt lack no means of help,
Though forty pound I spend.
With that she turn'd her head,
And sickly thus did say, 150
Oh me, sweet George, my grief is great,
Ten pound I have to pay
Unto a cruel wretch;
And God he knows, quoth she,
I have it not. Tush, rise, I said, 155
And take it here of me.
Ten pounds, nor ten times ten,
Shall make my love decay.
Then from my bag into her lap,
I cast ten pound straightway. 160
All blithe and pleasant then,
To banqueting we go;
She proffered me to lye with her,
And said it should be so.
And after that same time, 165
I gave her store of coyn,
Yea, sometimes fifty pound at once;
All which I did purloyn.
And thus I did pass on;
Until my master then 170
Did call to have his reckoning in
Cast up among his men.
The which when as I heard,
I knew not what to say:
For well I knew that I was out 175
Two hundred pound that day.
Then from my master straight
I ran in secret sort;
And unto Sarah Millwood there
My case I did report. 180
"But how she us'd this youth,
In this his care and woe,
And all a strumpet's wiley ways,
The SECOND PART may showe."
* * * * *
THE SECOND PART.
Young Barnwell comes to thee,
Sweet Sarah, my delight;
I am undone unless thou stand
My faithful friend this night.
Our master to accompts, 5
Hath just occasion found;
And I am caught behind the hand,
Above two hundred pound:
And now his wrath to 'scape,
My love, I fly to thee, 10
Hoping some time I may remaine
In safety here with thee.
With that she knit her brows,
And looking all aquoy,[427]
Quoth she, What should I have to do 15
With any prentice boy?
And seeing you have purloyn'd
Your master's goods away,
The case is bad, and therefore here
You shall no longer stay. 20
Why, dear, thou knowst, I said,
How all which I could get,
I gave it, and did spend it all
Upon thee every whit.
Quoth she, Thou art a knave, 25
To charge me in this sort,
Being a woman of credit fair,
And known of good report:
Therefore I tell thee flat,
Be packing with good speed; 30
I do defie thee from my heart,
And scorn thy filthy deed.
Is this the friendship, that
You did to me protest?
Is this the great affection, which 35
You so to me exprest?
Now fie on subtle shrews!
The best is, I may speed
To get a lodging any where,
For money in my need. 40
False woman, now farewell,
Whilst twenty pound doth last,
My anchor in some other haven
With freedom I will cast.
When she perceiv'd by this, 45
I had store of money there:
Stay, George, quoth she, thou art too quick:
Why, man, I did but jeer:
Dost think for all my speech,
That I would let thee go? 50
Faith no, said she, my love to thee
I wiss is more than so.
You scorne a prentice boy,
I heard you just now swear,
Wherefore I will not trouble you.---- 55
----Nay, George, hark in thine ear;
Thou shalt not go to-night,
What chance so e're befall:
But man we'll have a bed for thee,
O else the devil take all. 60
So I by wiles bewitcht,
And snar'd with fancy still,
Had then no power to 'get' away,
Or to withstand her will.
For wine on wine I call'd, 65
And cheer upon good cheer;
And nothing in the world I thought
For Sarah's love too dear.
Whilst in her company,
I had such merriment; 70
All, all too little I did think,
That I upon her spent.
A fig for care and thought!
When all my gold is gone,
In faith, my girl, we will have more, 75
Whoever I light upon.
My father's rich, why then
Should I want store of gold?
Nay with a father sure, quoth she,
A son may well make bold. 80
I've a sister richly wed,
I'll rob her ere I'll want.
Nay, then quoth Sarah, they may well
Consider of your scant.
Nay, I an uncle have; 85
At Ludlow he doth dwell:
He is a grazier, which in wealth
Doth all the rest excell.
Ere I will live in lack,
And have no coyn for thee: 90
I'll rob his house, and murder him,
Why should you not? quoth she:
Was I a man, ere I
Would live in poor estate;
On father, friends, and all my kin, 95
I would my talons grate.
For without money, George,
A man is but a beast:
But bringing money, thou shalt be
Always my welcome guest. 100
For shouldst thou be pursued
With twenty hues and cryes,
And with a warrant searched for
With Argus' hundred eyes,
Yet here thou shalt be safe; 105
Such privy ways there be,
That if they sought an hundred years,
They could not find out thee.
And so carousing both
Their pleasures to content: 110
George Barnwell had in little space
His money wholly spent.
Which done, to Ludlow straight
He did provide to go,
To rob his wealthy uncle there; 115
His minion would it so.
And once he thought to take
His father by the way,
But that he fear'd his master had
Took order for his stay[428]. 120
Unto his uncle then
He rode with might and main,
Who with a welcome and good cheer,
Did Barnwell entertain.
One fortnight's space he stayed, 125
Until it chanced so,
His uncle with his cattle did
Unto a market go.
His kinsman rode with him,
Where he did see right plain, 130
Great store of money he had took:
When coming home again,
Sudden within a wood,
He struck his uncle down,
And beat his brains out of his head; 135
So sore he crackt his crown.
Then seizing fourscore pound,
To London straight he hyed,
And unto Sarah Millwood all
The cruell fact descryed. 140
Tush,'tis no matter, George,
So we the money have
To have good cheer in jolly sort,
And deck us fine and brave.
Thus lived in filthy sort, 145
Until their store was gone:
When means to get them any more,
I wis, poor George, had none.
Therefore in railing sort,
She thrust him out of door: 150
Which is the just reward of those,
Who spend upon a whore.
O! do me not disgrace
In this my need, quoth he
She call'd him thief and murderer, 155
With all the spight might be:
To the constable she sent,
To have him apprehended;
And shewed how far, in each degree,
He had the laws offended. 160
When Barnwell saw her drift,
To sea he got straightway;
Where fear and sting of conscience
Continually on him lay.
Unto the lord mayor then, 165
He did a letter write;
In which his own and Sarah's fault
He did at large recite.
Whereby she seized was,
And then to Ludlow sent: 170
Where she was judg'd, condemn'd, and hang'd,
For murder incontinent.
There dyed this gallant quean,
Such was her greatest gains:
For murder in Polonia, 175
Was Barnwell hang'd in chains.
Lo! here's the end of youth,
That after harlots haunt;
Who in the spoil of other men,
About the streets do flaunt. 180
FOOTNOTES:
[426] The having a sum of money with him on Sunday, &c. shews this
narrative to have been penned before the civil wars: the strict
observance of the sabbath was owing to the change of manners at that
period.
[427] [coy, shy.]
[428] _i.e._ for stopping, and apprehending him at his father's.
VII.
THE STEDFAST SHEPHERD.
These beautiful stanzas were written by _George Wither_, of whom some
account was given in the former part of this volume; see the song
intitled, _The Shepherd's Resolution_, book ii. song xxi. In the
first edition of this work only a small fragment of this sonnet was
inserted. It was afterwards rendered more compleat and intire by the
addition of five stanzas more, extracted from Wither's pastoral poem,
intitled, _The Mistress of Philarete_, of which this song makes a part.
It is now given still more correct and perfect by comparing it with
another copy, printed by the author in his improved edition of _The
Shepherd's Hunting_, 1620, 8vo.
* * * * *
[The Folio MS. (ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. iii. p. 360) contains
only the fifth and sixth stanzas slightly varied, which were
printed in the first edition of the _Reliques_, with the title of
_The Aspiring Shepherd_.]
* * * * *
Hence away, thou Syren, leave me,
Pish! unclaspe these wanton armes;
Sugred words can ne'er deceive me,
(Though thou prove a thousand charmes).
Fie, fie, forbeare; 5
No common snare
Can ever my affection chaine:
Thy painted baits,
And poore deceits,
Are all bestowed on me in vaine. 10
I'me no slave to such, as you be;
Neither shall that snowy brest,
Rowling eye, and lip of ruby
Ever robb me of my rest:
Goe, go display 15
Thy beautie's ray
To some more soone-enamour'd swaine;
Those common wiles
Of sighs and smiles
Are all bestowed on me in vaine. 20
I have elsewhere vowed a dutie;
Turne away thy tempting eye:
Shew not me a painted beautie;
These impostures I defie:
My spirit lothes 25
Where gawdy clothes
And fained othes may love obtaine:
I love her so,
Whose looke sweares No;
That all your labours will be vaine. 30
Can he prize the tainted posies,
Which on every brest are worne;
That may plucke the virgin roses
From their never-touched thorne?
I can goe rest 35
On her sweet brest,
That is the pride of Cynthia's traine:
Then stay thy tongue;
Thy mermaid song
Is all bestowed on me in vaine. 40
Hee's a foole, that basely dallies,
Where each peasant mates with him:
Shall I haunt the thronged vallies,
Whilst ther's noble hills to climbe?
No, no, though clownes 45
Are scar'd with frownes,
I know the best can but disdaine;
And those Ile prove:
So will thy love
Be all bestowed on me in vaine. 50
I doe scorne to vow a dutie,
Where each lustfull lad may wooe:
Give me her, whose sun-like beautie
Buzzards dare not soar unto:
Shee, shee it is 55
Affoords that blisse
For which I would refuse no paine:
But such as you,
Fond fooles, adieu;
You seeke to captive me in vaine. 60
Leave me then, you Syrens, leave me;
Seeke no more to worke my harmes:
Craftie wiles cannot deceive me,
Who am proofe against your charmes:
You labour may 65
To lead astray
The heart, that constant shall remaine:
And I the while
Will sit and smile
To see you spend your time in vaine. 70
VIII.
THE SPANISH VIRGIN, OR EFFECTS OF JEALOUSY.
The subject of this ballad is taken from a folio collection of tragical
stories, intitled, _The theatre of God's judgments_, by Dr. Beard and
Dr. Taylor, 1642. Pt. ii. p. 89.--The text is given (with corrections)
from two copies; one of them in black-letter in the Pepys collection.
In this every stanza is accompanied with the following distich by way
of burden:
"Oh jealousie! thou art nurst in hell:
Depart from hence, and therein dwell."
* * * * *
All tender hearts, that ake to hear
Of those that suffer wrong;
All you, that never shed a tear,
Give heed unto my song.
Fair Isabella's tragedy 5
My tale doth far exceed:
Alas! that so much cruelty
In female hearts should breed!
In Spain a lady liv'd of late,
Who was of high degree; 10
Whose wayward temper did create
Much woe and misery.
Strange jealousies so fill'd her head
With many a vain surmize,
She thought her lord had wrong'd her bed, 15
And did her love despise.
A gentlewoman passing fair
Did on this lady wait;
With bravest dames she might compare;
Her beauty was compleat. 20
Her lady cast a jealous eye
Upon this gentle maid;
And taxt her with disloyaltye;
And did her oft upbraid.
In silence still this maiden meek 25
Her bitter taunts would bear,
While oft adown her lovely cheek
Would steal the falling tear.
In vain in humble sort she strove
Her fury to disarm; 30
As well the meekness of the dove
The bloody hawke might charm.
Her lord of humour light and gay,
And innocent the while,
As oft as she came in his way, 35
Would on the damsell smile.
And oft before his lady's face,
As thinking her her friend,
He would the maiden's modest grace
And comeliness commend. 40
All which incens'd his lady so
She burnt with wrath extreame;
At length the fire that long did glow,
Burst forth into a flame.
For on a day it so befell, 45
When he was gone from home,
The lady all with rage did swell,
And to the damsell come.
And charging her with great offence,
And many a grievous fault; 50
She bade her servants drag her thence,
Into a dismal vault,
That lay beneath the common-shore:
A dungeon dark and deep:
Where they were wont, in days of yore, 55
Offenders great to keep.
There never light of chearful day
Dispers'd the hideous gloom;
But dank and noisome vapours play
Around the wretched room: 60
And adders, snakes, and toads therein,
As afterwards was known,
Long in this loathsome vault had bin,
And were to monsters grown.
Into this foul and fearful place, 65
The fair one innocent
Was cast, before her lady's face;
Her malice to content.
This maid no sooner enter'd is,
But strait, alas! she hears 70
The toads to croak, and snakes to hiss:
Then grievously she fears.
Soon from their holes the vipers creep,
And fiercely her assail:
Which makes the damsel sorely weep, 75
And her sad fate bewail.
With her fair hands she strives in vain
Her body to defend:
With shrieks and cries she doth complain,
But all is to no end. 80
A servant listning near the door,
Struck with her doleful noise,
Strait ran his lady to implore;
But she'll not hear his voice.
With bleeding heart he goes agen 85
To mark the maiden's groans;
And plainly hears, within the den,
How she herself bemoans.
Again he to his lady hies
With all the haste he may: 90
She into furious passion flies,
And orders him away.
Still back again does he return
To hear her tender cries;
The virgin now had ceas'd to mourn; 95
Which fill'd him with surprize.
In grief, and horror, and affright,
He listens at the walls;
But finding all was silent quite,
He to his lady calls. 100
Too sure, O lady, now quoth he,
Your cruelty hath sped;
Make hast, for shame, and come and see;
I fear the virgin's dead.
She starts to hear her sudden fate, 105
And does with torches run:
But all her haste was now too late,
For death his worst had done.
The door being open'd strait they found
The virgin stretch'd along: 110
Two dreadful snakes had wrapt her round,
Which her to death had stung.
One round her legs, her thighs, her waist
Had twin'd his fatal wreath:
The other close her neck embrac'd, 115
And stopt her gentle breath.
The snakes, being from her body thrust,
Their bellies were so fill'd,
That with excess of blood they burst,
Thus with their prey were kill'd. 120
The wicked lady at this sight,
With horror strait ran mad;
So raving dy'd, as was most right,
'Cause she no pity had.
Let me advise you, ladies all, 125
Of jealousy beware:
It causeth many a one to fall,
And is the devil's snare.
[***]
IX.
JEALOUSY TYRANT OF THE MIND.
This Song is by _Dryden_, being inserted in his Tragi-Comedy of _Love
Triumphant_, &c.--On account of the subject it is inserted here.
* * * * *
What state of life can be so blest,
As love that warms the gentle brest;
Two souls in one; the same desire
To grant the bliss, and to require?
If in this heaven a hell we find, 5
Tis all from thee,
O Jealousie!
Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
All other ills, though sharp they prove,
Serve to refine and perfect love: 10
In absence, or unkind disdaine,
Sweet hope relieves the lovers paine:
But, oh, no cure but death we find
To sett us free
From jealousie, 15
Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
False in thy glass all objects are,
Some sett too near, and some too far:
Thou art the fire of endless night,
The fire that burns, and gives no light. 20
All torments of the damn'd we find
In only thee,
O Jealousie;
Thou tyrant, tyrant of the mind.
X.
CONSTANT PENELOPE.
The ladies are indebted for the following notable documents to the
Pepys collection, where the original is preserved in black-letter, and
is intitled, _A lookingglass for ladies, or a mirrour for married
women_. Tune _Queen Dido, or Troy town_.
* * * * *
When Greeks and Trojans fell at strife,
And lords in armour bright were seen;
When many a gallant lost his life
About fair Hellen, beauty's queen;
Ulysses, general so free, 5
Did leave his dear Penelope.
When she this wofull news did hear,
That he would to the warrs of Troy;
For grief she shed full many a tear,
At parting from her only joy; 10
Her ladies all about her came,
To comfort up this Grecian dame.
Ulysses, with a heavy heart,
Unto her then did mildly say,
The time is come that we must part; 15
My honour calls me hence away;
Yet in my absence, dearest, be
My constant wife, Penelope.
Let me no longer live, she sayd,
Then to my lord I true remain; 20
My honour shall not be betray'd
Until I see my love again;
For I will ever constant prove,
As is the loyal turtle-dove.
Thus did they part with heavy chear, 25
And to the ships his way he took;
Her tender eyes dropt many a tear;
Still casting many a longing look:
She saw him on the surges glide,
And unto Neptune thus she cry'd: 30
Thou god, whose power is in the deep,
And rulest in the ocean main,
My loving lord in safety keep
Till he return to me again:
That I his person may behold, 35
To me more precious far than gold.
Then straight the ships with nimble sails
Were all convey'd out of her sight:
Her cruel fate she then bewails,
Since she had lost her hearts delight. 40
Now shall my practice be, quoth she,
True vertue and humility.
My patience I will put in ure,[429]
My charity I will extend;
Since for my woe there is no cure, 45
The helpless now I will befriend:
The widow and the fatherless
I will relieve, when in distress.
Thus she continued year by year
In doing good to every one; 50
Her fame was noised every where,
To young and old the same was known,
That she no company would mind,
Who were to vanity inclin'd.
Mean while Ulysses fought for fame, 55
'Mongst Trojans hazarding his life:
Young gallants, hearing of her name,
Came flocking for to tempt his wife:
For she was lovely, young, and fair,
No lady might with her compare. 60
With costly gifts and jewels fine,
They did endeavour her to win;
With banquets and the choicest wine,
For to allure her unto sin:
Most persons were of high degree, 65
Who courted fair Penelope.
With modesty and comely grace,
Their wanton suits she did denye;
No tempting charms could e'er deface
Her dearest husband's memorye; 70
But constant she would still remain,
Hopeing to see him once again.
Her book her dayly comfort was,
And that she often did peruse;
She seldom looked in her glass; 75
Powder and paint she ne'er would use.
I wish all ladies were as free
From pride, as was Penelope.
She in her needle took delight,
And likewise in her spinning-wheel; 80
Her maids about her every night
Did use the distaff, and the reel:
The spiders, that on rafters twine,
Scarce spin a thread more soft and fine.
Sometimes she would bewail the loss 85
And absence of her dearest love:
Sometimes she thought the seas to cross,
Her fortune on the waves to prove.
I fear my lord is slain, quoth she,
He stays so from Penelope. 90
At length the ten years siege of Troy
Did end: in flames the city burn'd;
And to the Grecians was great joy,
To see the towers to ashes turn'd:
Then came Ulysses home to see 95
His constant, dear, Penelope.
O blame her not if she was glad,
When she her lord again had seen.
Thrice-welcome home, my dear, she said,
A long time absent thou hast been: 100
The wars shall never more deprive
Me of my lord whilst I'm alive.
Fair ladies all example take;
And hence a worthy lesson learn,
All youthful follies to forsake, 105
And vice from virtue to discern:
And let all women strive to be,
As constant as Penelope.
FOOTNOTES:
[429] [use.]
XI.
TO LUCASTA, ON GOING TO THE WARS.
By Col. Richard Lovelace: from the volume of his poems, intitled
_Lucasta_, (Lond. 1649. 12mo.). The elegance of this writer's manner
would be more admired, if it had somewhat more of simplicity.
* * * * *
[Percy's admirers would be glad to expunge the above unjust
judgment. Some of Lovelace's poems may be affected, but that charge
cannot be brought against these exquisite verses, the last two of
which have become a world-famed quotation.]
* * * * *
Tell me not, sweet, I am unkinde,
That from the nunnerie
Of thy chaste breast and quiet minde,
To warre and armes I flie.
True, a new mistresse now I chase, 5
The first foe in the field;
And with a stronger faith imbrace
A sword, a horse, a shield.
Yet this inconstancy is such,
As you too shall adore; 10
I could not love thee, deare, so much,
Lov'd I not honour more.
XII.
VALENTINE AND URSINE.
The old story-book of _Valentine and Orson_ (which suggested the plan
of this tale, but it is not strictly followed in it) was originally a
translation from the French, being one of their earliest attempts at
romance. See _Le Bibliothèque de Romans, &c._
The circumstance of the bridge of bells is taken from the old metrical
legend of Sir Bevis, and has also been copied in the _Seven Champions_.
The original lines are,
"Over the dyke a bridge there lay,
That man and beest might passe away:
Under the brydge were sixty belles;
Right as the Romans telles;
That there might no man passe in,
But all they rang with a gyn."
Sign. E. iv.
In the Editor's folio MS. was an old poem on this subject, in a
wretched corrupt state, unworthy the press: from which were taken such
particulars as could be adopted.
* * * * *
[The poem entitled _The Emperour and the Childe_ in the Folio MS.
(ed. Hales and Furnivall, vol. ii. p. 390) only suggested the
subject of the present ballad. It commences--
Within the Grecyan land some time did dwell
an Emperour, whose name did ffar excell;
he tooke to wiffe the lady B[e]llefaunt,
the only sister to the kinge of ffrance,
with whome he liued in pleasure and delight
vntill that ffortune came to worke them spighte.
There are no particular signs of "corruption," and the piece is
probably superior to Percy's own effusion.
Percy's trumpery commencement is an echo of the beginning of the
printed copies of _Sir Andrew Barton_.
The name Ursine, like that of Orson, is derived from Fr. _Ourson_,
the diminutive of _Ours_, a bear (Latin, _ursus_.)]
* * * * *
PART THE FIRST.
Then Flora 'gins to decke the fields
With colours fresh and fine,
Then holy clerkes their mattins sing
To good Saint Valentine!
The king of France that morning fair 5
He would a hunting ride:
To Artois forest prancing forth
In all his princelye pride.
To grace his sports a courtly train
Of gallant peers attend; 10
And with their loud and cheerful cryes
The hills and valleys rend.
Through the deep forest swift they pass,
Through woods and thickets wild;
When down within a lonely dell 15
They found a new-born child;
All in a scarlet kercher lay'd
Of silk so fine and thin:
A golden mantle wrapt him round
Pinn'd with a silver pin. 20
The sudden sight surpriz'd them all;
The courtiers gather'd round;
They look, they call, the mother seek;
No mother could be found.
At length the king himself drew near, 25
And as he gazing stands,
The pretty babe look'd up and smil'd,
And stretch'd his little hands.
Now, by the rood, king Pepin says,
This child is passing fair: 30
I wot he is of gentle blood;
Perhaps some prince's heir.
Goe bear him home unto my court
With all the care ye may:
Let him be christen'd Valentine, 35
In honour of this day:
And look me out some cunning nurse;
Well nurtur'd let him bee;
Nor ought be wanting that becomes
A bairn of high degree. 40
They look'd him out a cunning nurse;
And nurtur'd well was hee;
Nor ought was wanting that became
A bairn of high degree.
Thus grewe the little Valentine 45
Belov'd of king and peers;
And shew'd in all he spake or did
A wit beyond his years.
But chief in gallant feates of arms
He did himself advance, 50
That ere he grewe to man's estate
He had no peere in France.
And now the early downe began
To shade his youthful chin;
When Valentine was dubb'd a knight, 55
That he might glory win.
A boon, a boon, my gracious liege,
I beg a boon of thee!
The first adventure, that befalls,
May be reserv'd for mee. 60
The first adventure shall be thine;
The king did smiling say.
Nor many days, when lo! there came
Three palmers clad in graye.
Help, gracious lord, they weeping say'd; 65
And knelt, as it was meet:
From Artoys forest we be come,
With weak and wearye feet.
Within those deep and drearye woods
There wends a savage boy; 70
Whose fierce and mortal rage doth yield
Thy subjects dire annoy.
'Mong ruthless beares he sure was bred;
He lurks within their den:
With beares he lives; with beares he feeds; 75
And drinks the blood of men.
To more than savage strength he joins
A more than human skill:
For arms, ne cunning may suffice
His cruel rage to still:
Up then rose sir Valentine,
And claim'd that arduous deed.
Go forth and conquer, say'd the king,
And great shall be thy meed.
Well mounted on a milk-white steed, 85
His armour white as snow;
As well beseem'd a virgin knight,
Who ne'er had fought a foe;
To Artoys forest he repairs
With all the haste he may; 90
And soon he spies the savage youth
A rending of his prey.
His unkempt hair all matted hung
His shaggy shoulders round:
His eager eye all fiery glow'd: 95
His face with fury frown'd.
Like eagles' talons grew his nails:
His limbs were thick and strong;
And dreadful was the knotted oak
He bare with him along. 100
Soon as sir Valentine approach'd,
He starts with sudden spring;
And yelling forth a hideous howl,
He made the forests ring.
As when a tyger fierce and fell 105
Hath spyed a passing roe,
And leaps at once upon his throat;
So sprung the savage foe;
So lightly leap'd with furious force
The gentle knight to seize: 110
But met his tall uplifted spear,
Which sunk him on his knees.
A second stroke so stiff and stern
Had laid the savage low;
But springing up, he rais'd his club, 115
And aim'd a dreadful blow.
The watchful warrior bent his head,
And shun'd the coming stroke;
Upon his taper spear it fell,
And all to shivers broke. 120
Then lighting nimbly from his steed,
He drew his burnisht brand:
The savage quick as lightning flew
To wrest it from his hand.
Three times he grasp'd the silver hilt; 125
Three times he felt the blade;
Three times it fell with furious force;
Three ghastly wounds it made.
Now with redoubled rage he roared;
His eye-ball flash'd with fire; 130
Each hairy limb with fury shook;
And all his heart was ire.
Then closing fast with furious gripe
He clasp'd the champion round,
And with a strong and sudden twist 135
He laid him on the ground.
But soon the knight, with active spring,
O'erturn'd his hairy foe:
And now between their sturdy fists
Past many a bruising blow. 140
They roll'd and grappled on the ground,
And there they struggled long:
Skilful and active was the knight;
The savage he was strong.
But brutal force and savage strength 145
To art and skill must yield:
Sir Valentine at length prevail'd,
And won the well-fought field.
Then binding strait his conquer'd foe
Fast with an iron chain, 150
He tyes him to his horse's tail,
And leads him o'er the plain.
To court his hairy captive soon
Sir Valentine doth bring;
And kneeling downe upon his knee, 155
Presents him to the king.
With loss of blood and loss of strength,
The savage tamer grew;
And to sir Valentine became
A servant try'd and true. 160
And 'cause with beares he erst was bred,
Ursine they call his name;
A name which unto future times
The Muses shall proclame.
* * * * *
PART THE SECOND.
In high renown with prince and peere
Now liv'd sir Valentine:
His high renown with prince and peere
Made envious hearts repine.
It chanc'd the king upon a day 5
Prepar'd a sumptuous feast:
And there came lords, and dainty dames,
And many a noble guest.
Amid their cups, that freely flow'd,
Their revelry, and mirth; 10
A youthful knight tax'd Valentine
Of base and doubtful birth.
The foul reproach, so grossly urg'd,
His generous heart did wound:
And strait he vow'd he ne'er would rest 15
Till he his parents found.
Then bidding king and peers adieu,
Early one summer's day,
With faithful Ursine by his side,
From court he took his way. 20
O'er hill and valley, moss and moor,
For many a day they pass;
At length upon a moated lake,[430]
They found a bridge of brass.
Beyond it rose a castle fair 25
Y-built of marble stone:
The battlements were gilt with gold,
And glittred in the sun.
Beneath the bridge, with strange device,
A hundred bells were hung; 30
That man, nor beast, might pass thereon,
But strait their larum rung.
This quickly found the youthful pair,
Who boldly crossing o'er,
The jangling sound bedeaft their ears, 35
And rung from shore to shore.
Quick at the sound the castle gates
Unlock'd and opened wide,
And strait a gyant huge and grim
Stalk'd forth with stately pride. 40
Now yield you, caytiffs, to my will;
He cried with hideous roar;
Or else the wolves shall eat your flesh,
And ravens drink your gore.
Vain boaster, said the youthful knight, 45
I scorn thy threats and thee:
I trust to force thy brazen gates,
And set thy captives free.
Then putting spurs unto his steed,
He aim'd a dreadful thrust: 50
The spear against the gyant glanc'd,
And caus'd the blood to burst.
Mad and outrageous with the pain,
He whirl'd his mace of steel:
The very wind of such a blow 55
Had made the champion reel.
It haply mist; and now the knight
His glittering sword display'd,
And riding round with whirlwind speed
Oft made him feel the blade. 60
As when a large and monstrous oak
Unceasing axes hew:
So fast around the gyant's limbs
The blows quick-darting flew.
As when the boughs with hideous fall 65
Some hapless woodman crush:
With such a force the enormous foe
Did on the champion rush.
A fearful blow, alas! there came,
Both horse and knight it took. 70
And laid them senseless in the dust;
So fatal was the stroke.
Then smiling forth a hideous grin,
The gyant strides in haste,
And, stooping, aims a second stroke: 75
"Now caytiff breathe thy last!"
But ere it fell, two thundering blows
Upon his scull descend:
From Ursine's knotty club they came,
Who ran to save his friend. 80
Down sunk the gyant gaping wide,
And rolling his grim eyes:
The hairy youth repeats his blows:
He gasps, he groans, he dies.
Quickly sir Valentine reviv'd 85
With Ursine's timely care:
And now to search the castle walls
The venturous youths repair.
The blood and bones of murder'd knights
They found where'er they came: 90
At length within a lonely cell
They saw a mournful dame.
Her gentle eyes were dim'd with tears;
Her cheeks were pale with woe:
And long sir Valentine besought 95
Her doleful tale to know.
"Alas! young knight," she weeping said,
"Condole my wretched fate:
A childless mother here you see;
A wife without a mate. 100
"These twenty winters here forlorn
I've drawn my hated breath;
Sole witness of a monster's crimes,
And wishing aye for death.
"Know, I am sister of a king; 105
And in my early years
Was married to a mighty prince,
The fairest of his peers.
"With him I sweetly liv'd in love
A twelvemonth and a day: 110
When, lo! a foul and treacherous priest
Y-wrought our loves' decay.
"His seeming goodness wan him pow'r;
He had his master's ear:
And long to me and all the world 115
He did a saint appear.
"One day, when we were all alone,
He proffer'd odious love:
The wretch with horrour I repuls'd,
And from my presence drove. 120
"He feign'd remorse, and piteous beg'd
His crime I'd not reveal:
Which, for his seeming penitence,
I promis'd to conceal.
"With treason, villainy, and wrong 125
My goodness he repay'd:
With jealous doubts he fill'd my lord,
And me to woe betray'd.
"He hid a slave within my bed,
Then rais'd a bitter cry. 130
My lord, possest with rage, condemn'd
Me, all unheard, to dye.
"But 'cause I then was great with child,
At length my life he spar'd;
But bade me instant quit the realme, 135
One trusty knight my guard.
"Forth on my journey I depart,
Opprest with grief and woe;
And tow'rds my brother's distant court,
With breaking heart, I goe. 140
"Long time thro' sundry foreign lands
We slowly pace along:
At length within a forest wild
I fell in labour strong:
"And while the knight for succour sought, 145
And left me there forlorn,
My childbed pains so fast increast
Two lovely boys were born.
"The eldest fair, and smooth, as snow
That tips the mountain hoar: 150
The younger's little body rough
With hairs was cover'd o'er.
"But here afresh begin my woes:
While tender care I took
To shield my eldest from the cold, 155
And wrap him in my cloak;
"A prowling bear burst from the wood,
And seiz'd my younger son:
Affection lent my weakness wings,
And after them I run. 160
"But all forewearied, weak and spent,
I quickly swoon'd away;
And there beneath the greenwood shade
Long time I lifeless lay.
"At length the knight brought me relief, 165
And rais'd me from the ground:
But neither of my pretty babes
Could ever more be found.
"And, while in search we wander'd far,
We met that gyant grim; 170
Who ruthless slew my trusty knight,
And bare me off with him.
"But charm'd by heav'n, or else my griefs,
He offer'd me no wrong;
Save that within these lonely walls 175
I've been immur'd so long."
Now, surely, said the youthful knight,
You are lady Bellisance,
Wife to the Grecian emperor:
Your brother's king of France. 180
For in your royal brother's court
Myself my breeding had;
Where oft the story of your woes
Hath made my bosom sad.
If so, know your accuser's dead, 185
And dying own'd his crime;
And long your lord hath sought you out
Thro' every foreign clime.
And when no tidings he could learn
Of his much-wronged wife, 190
He vow'd thenceforth within his court
To lead a hermit's life.
Now heaven is kind! the lady said;
And dropt a joyful tear:
Shall I once more behold my lord? 195
That lord I love so dear?
But, madam, said sir Valentine,
And knelt upon his knee;
Know you the cloak that wrapt your babe,
If you the same should see? 200
And pulling forth the cloth of gold,
In which himself was found;
The lady gave a sudden shriek,
And fainted on the ground.
But by his pious care reviv'd, 205
His tale she heard anon;
And soon by other tokens found,
He was indeed her son.
But who's this hairy youth? she said;
He much resembles thee: 210
The bear devour'd my younger son,
Or sure that son were he.
Madam, this youth with bears was bred,
And rear'd within their den.
But recollect ye any mark 215
To know you son agen?
Upon his little side, quoth she,
Was stampt a bloody rose.
Here, lady, see the crimson mark
Upon his body grows! 220
Then clasping both her new-found sons
She bath'd their cheeks with tears;
And soon towards hèr brother's court
Her joyful course she steers.
What pen can paint king Pepin's joy, 225
His sister thus restor'd!
And soon a messenger was sent
To cheer her drooping lord:
Who came in haste with all his peers,
To fetch her home to Greece; 230
Where many happy years they reign'd
In perfect love and peace.
To them sir Ursine did succeed,
And long the scepter bare.
Sir Valentine he stay'd in France, 235
And was his uncle's heir.
[***]
FOOTNOTES:
[430] Ver. 23. _i.e._ a lake that served for a moat to a castle.
XIII.
THE DRAGON OF WANTLEY.
This humourous song (as a former Editor[431] has well observed) is to
old metrical romances and ballads of chivalry, what _Don Quixote_ is to
prose narratives of that kind:--a lively satire on their extravagant
fictions. But altho' the satire is thus general, the subject of this
ballad is local and peculiar: so that many of the finest strokes of
humour are lost for want of our knowing the minute circumstances to
which they allude. Many of them can hardly now be recovered, altho' we
have been fortunate enough to learn the general subject to which the
satire referred, and shall detail the information, with which we have
been favoured, at the end of this introduction.
In handling his subject, the Author has brought in most of the
common incidents which occur in romance. The description of the
dragon[432]--his outrages--the people flying to the knight for
succour--his care in chusing his armour--his being drest for fight by a
young damsel--and most of the circumstances of the battle and victory
(allowing for the burlesque turn given to them) are what occur in every
book of chivalry, whether in prose or verse.
If any one piece, more than other, is more particularly levelled at,
it seems to be the old rhiming legend of sir Bevis. There a _Dragon_
is attacked from a _Well_ in a manner not very remote from this of the
ballad:--
There was a well, so have I wynne,
And Bevis stumbled ryght therein.
* * * * *
Than was he glad without fayle,
And rested a whyle for his avayle;
And dranke of that water his fyll;
And then he lepte out, with good wyll,
And with Morglay his brande
He assayled the dragon, I understande:
On the dragon he smote so faste,
Where that he hit the scales braste:
The dragon then faynted sore,
And cast a galon and more
Out of his mouthe of venim strong,
And on syr Bevis he it flong:
It was venymous y-wis.
This seems to be meant by the Dragon of Wantley's stink, ver. 110. As
the politick knight's creeping out, and attacking the dragon, &c. seems
evidently to allude to the following:
Bevis blessed himselfe and forth yode,
And lepte out with haste full good;
And Bevis unto the dragon gone is;
And the dragon also to Bevis.
Longe, and harde was that fyght
Betwene the dragon, and that knyght:
But ever whan syr Bevis was hurt sore,
He went to the well, and washed him thore;
He was as hole as any man,
Ever freshe as whan he began.
The dragon sawe it might not avayle
Besyde the well to hold batayle;
He thought he would, wyth some wyle,
Out of that place Bevis begyle;
He woulde have flowen then awaye,
But Bevis lepte after with good Morglaye,
And hyt him under the wynge,
As he was in his flyenge, &c.
Sign. M. jv. L. j. &c.
After all, perhaps the writer of this ballad was acquainted with the
above incidents only thro' the medium of Spenser, who has assumed
most of them in his _Faery Queen_. At least some particulars in the
description of the Dragon, &c. seem evidently borrowed from the latter.
See book i. canto 11, where the Dragon's "two wynges like sayls--huge
long tayl--with stings--his cruel rending clawes--and yron teeth--his
breath of smothering smoke and sulphur"--and the duration of the fight
for upwards of two days, bear a great resemblance to passages in the
following ballad; though it must be confessed that these particulars
are common to all old writers of romance.
Altho' this ballad must have been written early in the last century,
we have met with none but such as were comparatively modern copies.
It is here printed from one in Roman letter, in the Pepys collection,
collated with such others as could be procured.
A description of the supposed scene of this ballad, which was
communicated to the Editor in 1767, is here given in the words of the
relater:--
"In Yorkshire, 6 miles from Rotherham, is a village, called _Wortley_,
the seat of the late _Wortley Montague_, Esq. About a mile from this
village is a lodge, named _Warncliff Lodge_, but vulgarly called
_Wantley_: here lies the scene of the song. I was there about forty
years ago: and it being a woody rocky place, my friend made me clamber
over rocks and stones, not telling me to what end, till I came to a
sort of a cave; then asked my opinion of the place, and pointing to
one end, says, Here lay the dragon killed by _Moor_ of _Moor-hall_:
here lay his head; here lay his tail; and the stones we came over on
the hill, are those he could not crack; and yon white house you see
half a mile off, is _Moor-hall_. I had dined at the lodge, and knew the
man's name was _Matthew_, who was a keeper to Mr. Wortley, and, as he
endeavoured to persuade me, was the same Matthew mentioned in the song:
In the house is the picture of the Dragon and Moor of Moor-hall, and
near it a well, which, says he, is the well described in the ballad."
Since the former editions of this humorous old song were printed, the
following _Key to the Satire_ hath been communicated by _Godfrey_
_Bosville_, Esq. of Thorp, near Malton, in Yorkshire; who, in the most
obliging manner, gave full permission to adjoin it to the poem.
_Warncliffe_ Lodge, and _Warncliffe_ Wood (vulgarly pronounced
_Wantley_), are in the parish of Penniston, in Yorkshire. The rectory
of Penniston was part of the dissolved monastery of St. Stephen's,
Westminster; and was granted to the Duke of Norfolk's family: who
therewith endowed an hospital, which he built at Sheffield, for women.
The trustees let the impropriation of the great Tythes of Penniston to
the Wortley family, who got a great deal by it, and wanted to get still
more; for Mr. Nicholas Wortley attempted to take the tythes in kind,
but Mr. Francis Bosville opposed him, and there was a decree in favour
of the Modus in 37th Eliz. The vicarage of Penniston did not go along
with the rectory, but with the copyhold rents, and was part of a large
purchase made by Ralph Bosville, Esq. from Q. Elizabeth, in the 2d year
of her reign: and that part he sold in 12th Eliz. to his elder brother
Godfrey, the father of Francis; who left it, with the rest of his
estate, to his wife, for her life, and then to Ralph, 3d son of his
uncle Ralph. The widow married Lyonel Rowlestone, lived eighteen years,
and survived Ralph.
This premised, the ballad apparently relates to the law-suit carried on
concerning this claim of tythes made by the Wortley family. "Houses and
churches, were to him geese and turkeys:" which are tytheable things,
the dragon chose to live on. Sir Francis Wortley, the son of Nicholas,
attempted again to take the tythes in kind: but the parishioners
subscribed an agreement to defend their Modus. And at the head of the
agreement was Lyonel Rowlestone, who is supposed to be one of "the
Stones, dear Jack, which the Dragon could not crack." The agreement
is still preserved in a large sheet of parchment, dated 1st of James
I., and is full of names and seals, which might be meant by the coat
of armour, "with spikes all about, both within and without." _More_
of _More-hall_ was either the attorney, or counsellor, who conducted
the suit. He is not distinctly remembered, but More-hall is still
extant at the very bottom of Wantley [Warncliff] Wood, and lies so low,
that it might be said to be in a well: as the dragon's den [Warncliff
Lodge] was at the top of the wood, "with Matthew's house hard by it."
The keepers belonging to the Wortley family were named, for many
generations, Matthew Northall: the last of them left this lodge,
within memory, to be keeper to the Duke of Norfolk. The present owner
of More-hall still attends Mr. Bosville's Manor-Court at Oxspring,
and pays a rose a year. "More of More-hall, with nothing at all, slew
the Dragon of Wantley." He gave him, instead of tythes, so small a
Modus, that it was in effect nothing at all, and was slaying him with a
vengeance. "The poor children three," &c. cannot surely mean the three
sisters of Francis Bosville, who would have been coheiresses, had he
made no will? The late Mr. Bosville had a contest with the descendants
of two of them, the late Sir Geo. Saville's father, and Mr. Copley,
about the presentation to Penniston, they supposing Francis had not the
power to give this part of the estate from the heirs at law; but it was
decided against them. The dragon (Sir Francis Wortley) succeeded better
with his cousin Wordesworth, the freehold lord of the manor (for it
is the copyhold manor that belongs to Mr. Bosville) having persuaded
him not to join the refractory parishioners, under a promise that he
would let him his tythes cheap: and now the estates of Wortley and
Wordesworth are the only lands that pay tythes in the parish.
* * * * *
N.B. "Two days and a night," mentioned in ver. 125, as the duration of
the combat, was probably that of the trial at law.
* * * * *
[In Gough's edition of Camden's _Britannia_ we learn that "Sir
Thomas Wortley, who was knight of the body to Edward IV.,
Richard III., Henry VII. and VIII., built a lodge in his chace of
Warncliffe, and had a house and park there, disparked in the Civil
War."
Mr. Gilfillan has the following note in his edition of the
_Reliques_, "A legend current in the Wortley family states the
dragon to have been a formidable drinker, drunk dead by the
chieftain of the opposite moors. Ellis thinks it was a wolf or some
other fierce animal hunted down by More of More-hall." A writer
in the _Notes and Queries_ (3rd S. ix. 29), who signs himself
"Fitzhopkins," expresses his disbelief in the above explanation
communicated to Percy by Godfrey Bosville.]
* * * * *
Old stories tell how Hercules
A dragon slew at Lerna,
With seven heads, and fourteen eyes,
To see and well discern-a:
But he had a club, this dragon to drub, 5
Or he had ne'er done it, I warrant ye:
But More of More-Hall, with nothing at all,
He slew the dragon of Wantley.
This dragon had two furious wings,
Each one upon each shoulder; 10
With a sting in his tayl as long as a flayl,
Which made him bolder and bolder.
He had long claws, and in his jaws
Four and forty teeth of iron;
With a hide as tough, as any buff, 15
Which did him round environ.
Have you not heard how the Trojan horse
Held seventy men in his belly?
This dragon was not quite so big,
But very near, I'll tell ye. 20
Devoured he poor children three,
That could not with him grapple;
And at one sup he eat them up,
As one would eat an apple.
All sorts of cattle this dragon did eat. 25
Some say he ate up trees,
And that the forests sure he would
Devour up by degrees:
For houses and churches were to him geese and turkies;[433]
He ate all, and left none behind, 30
But some stones, dear Jack, that he could not crack,
Which on the hills you will find.
In Yorkshire, near fair Rotherham,[434]
The place I know it well;
Some two or three miles, or thereabouts, 35
I vow I cannot tell.
But there is a hedge, just on the hill edge,
And Matthew's house hard by it;
O there and then was this dragon's den,
You could not chuse but spy it. 40
Some say, this dragon was a witch;
Some say, he was a devil,
For from his nose a smoke arose,
And with it burning snivel;
Which he cast off, when he did cough, 45
In a well that he did stand by;
Which made it look, just like a brook
Running with burning brandy.
Hard by a furious knight there dwelt,
Of whom all towns did ring; 50
For he could wrestle, play at quarter-staff, kick, cuff, and huff,
Call son of a whore, do any kind of thing:
By the tail and the main, with his hands twain
He swung a horse till he was dead;
And that which is stranger, he for very anger 55
Eat him all up but his head.
These children, as I am told, being eat;
Men, women, girls and boys,
Sighing and sobbing, came to his lodging,
And made a hideous noise: 60
O save us all, More of More-Hall,
Thou peerless knight of these woods;
Do but slay this dragon, who won't leave us a rag on,
We'll give thee all our goods.
Tut, tut, quoth he, no goods I want; 65
But I want, I want, in sooth,
A fair maid of sixteen, that's brisk, and keen,
With smiles about the mouth;
Hair black as sloe, skin white as snow,
With blushes her cheeks adorning; 70
To anoynt me o'er night, ere I go to fight,
And to dress me in the morning.
This being done, he did engage
To hew the dragon down;
But first he went, new armour to 75
Bespeak at Sheffield town;
With spikes all about, not within but without,
Of steel so sharp and strong;
Both behind and before, arms, legs, and all o'er
Some five or six inches long. 80
Had you but seen him in this dress,
How fierce he look'd and how big,
You would have thought him for to be
Some Egyptian porcupig:
He frighted all, cats, dogs, and all, 85
Each cow, each horse, and each hog:
For fear they did flee, for they took him to be
Some strange outlandish hedge-hog.
To see this fight, all people then
Got up on trees and houses, 90
On churches some, and chimneys too;
But these put on their trowses,
Not to spoil their hose. As soon as he rose,
To make him strong and mighty,
He drank by the tale, six pots of ale, 95
And a quart of aqua-vitæ.
It is not strength that always wins,
For wit doth strength excell;
Which made our cunning champion
Creep down into a well; 100
Where he did think, this dragon would drink,
And so he did in truth;
And as he stoop'd low, he rose up and cry'd, boh!
And hit him in the mouth.
O, quoth the dragon, pox take thee, come out, 105
Thou disturb'st me in my drink:
And then he turn'd, and s... at him;
Good lack how he did stink!
Beshrew thy soul, thy body's foul,
Thy dung smells not like balsam; 110
Thou son of a whore, thou stink'st so sore,
Sure thy diet is unwholesome.
Our politick knight, on the other side,
Crept out upon the brink,
And gave the dragon such a douse, 115
He knew not what to think:
By cock, quoth he, say you so: do you see?
And then at him he let fly
With hand and with foot, and so they went to't;
And the word it was, Hey boys, hey! 120
Your words, quoth the dragon, I don't understand:
Then to it they fell at all,
Like two wild boars so fierce, if I may,
Compare great things with small.
Two days and a night, with this dragon did fight 125
Our champion on the ground;
Tho' their strength it was great, their skill it was neat,
They never had one wound.
At length the hard earth began to quake,
The dragon gave him a knock, 130
Which made him to reel, and straitway he thought,
To lift him as high as a rock,
And thence let him fall. But More of More-Hall,
Like a valiant son of Mars,
As he came like a lout, so he turn'd him about, 135
And hit him a kick on the a...
Oh, quoth the dragon, with a deep sigh,
And turn'd six times together,
Sobbing and tearing, cursing and swearing
Out of his throat of leather; 140
More of More-Hall! O thou rascàl!
Would I had seen thee never;
With the thing at thy foot, thou hast prick'd my a...gut,
And I'm quite undone for ever.
Murder, murder, the dragon cry'd, 145
Alack, alack, for grief;
Had you but mist that place, you could
Have done me no mischief.
Then his head he shaked, trembled and quaked,
And down he laid and cry'd; 150
First on one knee, then on back tumbled he,
So groan'd, kickt, s..., and dy'd.
FOOTNOTES:
[431] Collection of Historical Ballads in 3 vol. 1727.
[432] See above, pp. 108, 216.
[433] Ver. 29. were to him gorse and birches. _Other Copies._
[434] [Wharncliffe is about six miles from Rotherham.]
XIV.
ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.
THE FIRST PART.
As the former song is in ridicule of the extravagant incidents in old
ballads and metrical romances; so this is a burlesque of their style;
particularly of the rambling transitions and wild accumulations of
unconnected parts, so frequent in many of them.
This ballad is given from an old black-letter copy in the Pepys
collection, "imprinted at London, 1612." It is more ancient than many
of the preceding; but we place it here for the sake of connecting it
with the _Second Part_.
* * * * *
[_Saint George that, O! did break the dragon's heart_ is one of the
ballads offered for sale by Nightingale, the ballad-singer in Ben
Jonson's comedy of _Bartholomew Fair_ (act ii. sc. 1), and according
to Fielding's Tom Jones, _St. George, he was for England_, was one of
Squire Western's favourite tunes.
This ballad is printed in several collections, and Mr. Chappell notices
a modernization subscribed S. S. and "printed for W. Gilbertson in
Giltspur Street," about 1659, which commences--
"What need we brag or boast at all
Of Arthur and his knights."]
* * * * *
Why doe you boast of Arthur and his knightes,
Knowing 'well' how many men have endured fightes?
For besides king Arthur, and Lancelot du lake,
Or sir Tristram de Lionel, that fought for ladies sake;
Read in old histories, and there you shall see
How St. George, St. George the dragon made to flee.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Mark our father Abraham, when first he resckued Lot
Onely with his household, what conquest there he got:
David was elected a prophet and a king,
He slew the great Goliah, with a stone within a sling:
Yet these were not knightes of the table round;
Nor St. George, St. George, who the dragon did confound.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Jephthah and Gideon did lead their men to fight,
They conquered the Amorites, and put them all to flight:
Hercules his labours 'were' on the plaines of Basse;
And Sampson slew a thousand with the jawbone of an asse,
And eke he threw a temple downe, and did a mighty spoyle:
But St. George, St. George he did the dragon foyle.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The warres of ancient monarchs it were too long to tell,
And likewise of the Romans, how farre they did excell;
Hannyball and Scipio in many a fielde did fighte:
Orlando Furioso he was a worthy knighte:
Remus and Romulus, were they that Rome did builde:
But St. George, St. George the dragon made to yielde.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The noble Alphonso, that was the Spanish king,
The order of the red scarffes and bandrolles in did bring:[435]
He had a troope of mighty knightes, when first he did begin,
Which sought adventures farre and neare, that conquest they might
win:
The ranks of the Pagans he often put to flight:
But St. George, St. George did with the dragon fight.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Many 'knights' have fought with proud Tamberlaine.
Cutlax the Dane, great warres he did maintaine:
Rowland of Beame, and good 'sir' Olivere
In the forest of Acon slew both woolfe and beare:
Besides that noble Hollander, 'sir' Goward with the bill:
But St. George, St. George the dragon's blood did spill.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Valentine and Orson were of king Pepin's blood:
Alfride and Henry they were brave knightes and good:
The four sons of Aymon, that follow'd Charlemaine:
Sir Hughon of Burdeaux, and Godfrey of Bullaine:
These were all French knightes that lived in that age:
But St. George, St. George the dragon did assuage.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Bevis conquered Ascapart, and after slew the boare,
And then he crost beyond the seas to combat with the moore:
Sir Isenbras, and Eglamore they were knightes most bold;
And good Sir John Mandeville of travel much hath told:
There were many English knights that Pagans did convert:
But St. George, St. George pluckt out the dragon's heart.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The noble earl of Warwick, that was call'd sir Guy,
The infidels and pagans stoutlie did defie;
He slew the giant Brandimore, and after was the death
Of that most ghastly dun cowe, the divell of Dunsmore heath;
Besides his noble deeds all done beyond the seas:
But St George, St. George the dragon did appease.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Richard C[oe]ur-de-lion erst king of this land,
He the lion gored with his naked hand:[436]
The false duke of Austria nothing did he feare;
But his son he killed with a boxe on the eare;
Besides his famous actes done in the holy lande:
But St. George, St. George the dragon did withstande.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Henry the fifth he conquered all France,
And quartered their arms, his honour to advance:
He their cities razed, and threw their castles downe,
And his head he honoured with a double crowne:
He thumped the French-men, and after home he came:
But St. George, St. George he did the dragon tame.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
St. David of Wales the Welsh-men much advance:
St. Jaques of Spaine, that never yet broke lance:
St. Patricke of Ireland, which was St. Georges boy,
Seven yeares he kept his horse, and then stole him away:
For which knavish act, as slaves they doe remaine:
But St. George, St. George the dragon he hath slaine.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
FOOTNOTES:
[435] This probably alludes to "An Ancient Order of Knighthood, called
the Order of the Band, instituted by Don Alphonsus, king of Spain, ...
to wear a red riband of three fingers breadth," &c. See Ames _Typog._
p. 327.
[436] Alluding to the fabulous exploits attributed to this king in the
old romances. See the dissertation affixed to this volume.
XV.
ST. GEORGE FOR ENGLAND.
THE SECOND PART.
Was written by JOHN GRUBB, M.A. of Christ Church, Oxford. The occasion
of its being composed is said to have been as follows. A set of
gentlemen of the university had formed themselves into a club, all the
members of which were to be of the name of _George_: Their anniversary
feast was to be held on _St. George's_ day. Our author solicited
strongly to be admitted; but his name being unfortunately _John_, this
disqualification was dispensed with only upon this condition, that
he would compose a song in honour of their Patron Saint, and would
every year produce one or more new stanzas, to be sung on their annual
festival. This gave birth to the following humorous performance,
the several stanzas of which were the produce of many successive
anniversaries.[437]
This diverting poem was long handed about in manuscript, at length a
friend of _Grubb's_ undertook to get it printed, who, not keeping pace
with the impatience of his friends, was addressed in the following
whimsical macaronic lines, which, in such a collection as this, may not
improperly accompany the poem itself.
* * * * *
_Expostulatiuncula_, sive _Querimoniuncula_ ad _Antonium_ [_Atherton_]
ob Poema _Johannis Grubb_, Viri #tou pany# ingeniosissimi in lucem
nondum editi.
_Toni!_ Tune sines divina poemata Grubbi
Intomb'd in secret thus still to remain any longer,
#Tounoma sou# shall last, #Ô Grubbe diamperes aei#,
Grubbe tuum nomen vivet dum nobilis ale-a
Efficit heroas, dignamque heroe puellam.
Est genus heroum, quos nobilis efficit alea-a
Qui pro niperkin clamant, quaternque liquoris
Quem vocitant Homines Brandy, Superi Cherry-brandy,
Sæpe illi longcut, vel small-cut flare Tobacco
Sunt soliti pipos. Ast si generosior herba
(Per varios casus, per tot discrimina rerum)
Mundungus desit, tum non funcare recusant
Brown-paper tostâ, vel quod fit arundine bed-mat.
Hic labor, hoc opus est heroum ascendere sedes!
Ast ego quo rapiar! quo me feret entheus ardor
Grubbe, tui memorem? Divinum expande poema.
Quæ mora? quæ ratio est, quin Grubbi protinus anser
Virgilii, Flaccique simul canat inter olores?
At length the importunity of his friends prevailed, and Mr. Grubb's
song was published at Oxford, under the following title:
_The British Heroes._
A New Poem in honour of St. George,
By Mr. _John Grubb_,
School-master of Christ-Church,
_Oxon._ 1688.
Favete linguis: carmina non prius
Audita, musarum sucerdos
Canto.--
HOR.
Sold by Henry Clements. Oxon.
* * * * *
The story of king Arthur old
Is very memorable,
The number of his valiant knights,
And roundness of his table:
The knights around his table in 5
A circle sate d'ye see:
And altogether made up one
Large hoop of chivalry.
He had a sword, both broad and sharp,
Y-clepd Caliburn, 10
Would cut a flint more easily,
Than pen-knife cuts a corn;
As case-knife does a capon carve,
So would it carve a rock,
And split a man at single slash, 15
From noddle down to nock.
As Roman Augur's steel of yore
Dissected Tarquin's riddle,
So this would cut both conjurer
And whetstone thro' the middle. 20
He was the cream of Brecknock,
And flower of all the Welsh:
But George he did the dragon fell,
And gave him a plaguy squelsh.[438]
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; 25
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Pendragon, like his father Jove,
Was fed with milk of goat;
And like him made a noble shield
Of she-goat's shaggy coat: 30
On top of burnisht helmet he
Did wear a crest of leeks;
And onions' heads, whose dreadful nod
Drew tears down hostile cheeks.
Itch, and Welsh blood did make him hot, 35
And very prone to ire;
H' was ting'd with brimstone, like a match,
And would as soon take fire.
As brimstone he took inwardly
When scurf gave him occasion, 40
His postern puff of wind was a
Sulphureous exhalation.
The Briton never tergivers'd,
But was for adverse drubbing,
And never turn'd his back to aught, 45
But to a post for scrubbing.
His sword would serve for battle, or
For dinner, if you please;
When it had slain a Cheshire man,
'Twould toast a Cheshire cheese. 50
He wounded, and, in their own blood
Did anabaptize Pagans:
But George he made the dragon an
Example to all dragons.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; 55
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Brave Warwick Guy, at dinner time,
Challeng'd a gyant savage;
And streight came out the unweildy lout
Brim-full of wrath and cabbage: 60
He had a phiz of latitude,
And was full thick i' th' middle;
The chekes of puffed trumpeter,
And paunch of squire Beadle.[439]
But the knight fell'd him, like an oak, 65
And did upon his back tread;
The valiant knight his weazon cut,
And Atropos his packthread.
Besides he fought with a dun cow,
As say the poets witty, 70
A dreadful dun, and horned too,
Like dun of Oxford city:
The fervent dog-days made her mad,
By causing heat of weather,
Syrius and Procyon baited her, 75
As bull-dogs did her father:
Grafiers, nor butchers this fell beast,
E'er of her frolick hindered;
John Dosset[440] she'd knock down as flat,
As John knocks down her kindred: 80
Her heels would lay ye all along,
And kick into a swoon;
Frewin's[441] cow-heels keep up your corpse,
But hers would beat you down.
She vanquisht many a sturdy wight, 85
And proud was of the honour;
Was pufft by mauling butchers so,
As if themselves had blown her.
At once she kickt, and pusht at Guy,
But all that would not fright him; 90
Who wav'd his winyard o'er sir-loyn,
As if he'd gone to knight him.
He let her blood, frenzy to cure,
And eke he did her gall rip;
His trenchant blade, like cook's long spit, 95
Ran thro' the monster's bald-rib:
He rear'd up the vast crooked rib,
Instead of arch triumphal:
But George hit th' dragon such a pelt,
As made him on his bum fall. 100
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Tamerlain, with Tartarian bow,
The Turkish squadrons slew;
And fetch'd the pagan crescent down, 105
With half-moon made of yew:
His trusty bow proud Turks did gall,
With showers of arrows thick,
And bow-strings, without strangling, sent
Grand Viziers to old Nick: 110
Much turbants, and much Pagan pates
He made to humble in dust;
And heads of Saracens he fixt
On spear, as on a sign-post:
He coop'd in cage Bajazet the prop 115
Of Mahomet's religion,
As if't been the whispering bird,
That prompted him; the pigeon.
In Turkey leather scabbard, he
Did sheathe his blade so trenchant: 120
But George he swinged the dragon's tail,
And cut off every inch on't.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The amazon Thalestris was 125
Both beautiful, and bold;
She sear'd her breasts with iron hot,
And bang'd her foes with cold.
Her hand was like the tool, wherewith
Jove keeps proud mortals under: 130
It shone just like his lightning,
And batter'd like his thunder.
Her eye darts lightning, that would blast
The proudest he that swagger'd,
And melt the rapier of his soul, 135
In its corporeal scabbard.
Her beauty, and her drum to foes
Did cause amazement double;
As timorous larks amazed are
With light, and with a low-bell: 140
With beauty, and that lapland-charm,[442]
Poor men she did bewitch all;
Still a blind whining lover had,
As Pallas had her scrich-owl.
She kept the chastness of a nun 145
In armour, as in cloyster:
But George undid the dragon just
As you'd undo an oister.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_. 150
Stout Hercules, was offspring of
Great Jove, and fair Alcmene:
One part of him celestial was,
One part of him terrene.
To scale the hero's cradle walls 155
Two fiery snakes combin'd,
And, curling into swaddling cloaths,
About the infant twin'd:
But he put out these dragons' fires,
And did their hissing stop; 160
As red-hot iron with hissing noise
Is quencht in blacksmith's shop.
He cleans'd a stable, and rubb'd down
The horses of new-comers;
And out of horse-dung he rais'd fame, 165
As Tom Wrench[443] does cucumbers.
He made a river help him through;
Alpheus was under-groom;
The stream, disgust at office mean,
Ran murmuring thro' the room: 170
This liquid ostler to prevent
Being tired with that long work,
His father Neptune's trident took,
Instead of three-tooth'd dung-fork.
This Hercules, as soldier, and 175
As spinster, could take pains;
His club would sometimes spin ye flax,
And sometimes knock out brains:
H' was forc'd to spin his miss a shift
By Juno's wrath and hér-spite; 180
Fair Omphale whipt him to his wheel,
As cook whips barking turn-spit.
From man, or churn he well knew how
To get him lasting fame:
He'd pound a giant, till the blood, 185
And milk till butter came.
Often he fought with huge battoon,
And oftentimes he boxed;
Tapt a fresh monster once a month,
As Hervey[444] doth fresh hogshead. 190
He gave Anteus such a hug,
As wrestlers give in Cornwall:
But George he did the dragon kill,
As dead as any door-nail.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France; 195
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The Gemini, sprung from an egg,
Were put into a cradle:
Their brains with knocks and bottled ale,
Were often-times full addle: 200
And, scarcely hatch'd, these sons of him,
That hurls the bolt trisulcate,
With helmet-shell on tender head,
Did tustle with red-ey'd pole-cat.
Castor a horseman, Pollux tho' 205
A boxer was, I wist:
The one was fam'd for iron heel;
Th' other for leaden fist.
Pollux to shew he was god,
When he was in a passion 210
With fist made noses fall down flat
By way of adoration:
This fist, as sure as French disease,
Demolish'd noses' ridges:
He like a certain lord[445] was famd' 215
For breaking down of bridges.
Castor the flame of fiery steed,
With well-spur'd boots took down;
As men, with leathern buckets, quench
A fire in country town. 220
His famous horse, that liv'd on oats,
Is sung on oaten quill;
By bards' immortal provender
The nag surviveth still.
This shelly brood on none but knaves 225
Employ'd their brisk artillery:
And flew as naturally at rogues,
As eggs at thief in pillory.[446]
Much sweat they spent in furious fight,
Much blood they did effund: 230
Their whites they vented thro' the pores;
Their yolks thro' gaping wound:
Then both were cleans'd from blood and dust
To make a heavenly sign;
The lads were, like their armour, scowr'd, 235
And then hung up to shine;
Such were the heavenly double-Dicks,
The sons of Jove and Tyndar:
But George he cut the dragon up,
As he had bin duck or windar.[447] 240
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Gorgon a twisted adder wore
For knot upon her shoulder:
She kemb'd her hissing periwig, 245
And curling snakes did powder.
These snakes they made stiff changelings
Of all the folks they hist on;
They turned barbars into hones,
And masons into free-stone: 250
Sworded magnetic Amazon
Her shield to load-stone changes;
Then amorous sword by magic belt
Clung fast unto her haunches.
This shield long village did protect, 255
And kept the army from-town,
And chang'd the bullies into rocks,
That came t' invade Long-Compton.[448]
She post-diluvian stores unmans,
And Pyrrha's work unravels; 260
And stares Deucalion's hardy boys
Into their primitive pebbles.
Red noses she to rubies turns,
And noddles into bricks:
But George made dragon laxative; 265
And gave him a bloody flix.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
By boar-spear Meleager got,
An everlasting name, 270
And out of haunch of basted swine,
He hew'd eternal fame.
This beast each hero's trouzers ript,
And rudely shew'd his bare-breech,
Prickt but the wem, and out there came 275
Heroic guts and garbadge.
Legs were secur'd by iron boots
No more, than peas by peascods:
Brass helmets, with inclosed sculls,
Wou'd crackle in's mouth like chestnuts. 280
His tawny hairs erected were
By rage, that was resistless;
And wrath, instead of cobler's wax,
Did stiffen his rising bristles.
His tusk lay'd dogs so dead asleep, 285
Nor horn, nor whip cou'd wake 'um:
It made them vent both their last blood,
And their last album-grecum.
But the knight gor'd him with his spear,
To make of him a tame one, 290
And arrows thick, instead of cloves,
He stuck in monster's gammon.
For monumental pillar, that
His victory might be known,
He rais'd up, in cylindric form, 295
A collar of the brawn.
He sent his shade to shades below,
In Stygian mud to wallow:
And eke the stout St. George eftsoon,
He made the dragon follow. 300
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Achilles of old Chiron learnt
The great horse for to ride;
H' was taught by th' Centaur's rational part, 305
The hinnible to bestride.
Bright silver feet, and shining face
Had that stout hero's mother;
As rapier's silver'd at one end,
And wounds you at the other. 310
Her feet were bright, his feet were swift,
As hawk pursuing sparrow:
Her's had the metal, his the speed
Of Braburn's[449] silver arrow.
Thetis to double pedagogue 315
Commits her dearest boy;
Who bred him from a slender twig
To be the scourge of Troy:
But ere he lash't the Trojans, h' was
In Stygian waters steept; 320
As birch is soaked first in piss,
When boys are to be whipt.
With skin exceeding hard, he rose
From lake, so black and muddy,
As lobsters from the ocean rise, 325
With shell about their body:
And, as from lobster's broken claw,
Pick out the fish you might:
So might you from one unshell'd heel
Dig pieces of the knight. 330
His myrmidons robb'd Priam's barns
And hen-roosts, says the song;
Carried away both corn and eggs,
Like ants from whence they sprung.
Himself tore Hector's pantaloons, 335
And sent him down bare-breech'd
To pedant Radamanthus, in
A posture to be switch'd.
But George he made the dragon look,
As if he had been bewitch'd. 340
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
Full fatal to the Romans was
The Carthaginian Hanni-
bal; him I mean, who gave them such 345
A devilish thump at Cannæ:
Moors thick, as goats on Penmenmure,
Stood on the Alpes's front:
Their one-eyed guide,[450] like blinking mole,
Bor'd thro' the hindring mount: 350
Who, baffled by the massy rock,
Took vinegar for relief;
Like plowmen, when they hew their way
Thro' stubborn rump of beef.
As dancing louts from humid toes 355
Cast atoms of ill favour
To blinking Hyatt,[451] when on vile crowd
He merriment does endeavour,
And saws from suffering timber out
Some wretched tune to quiver: 360
So Romans slunk and squeak'd at sight
Of Affrican carnivor.
The tawny surface of his phiz
Did serve instead of vizzard:
But George he made the dragon have 365
A grumbling in his gizzard.
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
The valour of Domitian,
It must not be forgotten; 370
Who from the jaws of worm-blowing flies,
Protected veal and mutton.
A squadron of flies errant,
Against the foe appears;
With regiments of buzzing knights, 375
And swarms of volunteers:
The warlike wasp encourag'd 'em,
With animating hum;
And the loud brazen hornet next,
He was their kettle-drum: 380
The Spanish don Cantharido
Did him most sorely pester,
And rais'd on skin of vent'rous knight
Full many a plaguy blister.
A bee whipt thro' his button hole, 385
As thro' key hole a witch,
And stabb'd him with her little tuck
Drawn out of scabbard breech:
But the undaunted knight lifts up
An arm both big and brawny, 390
And slasht her so, that here lay head,
And there lay bag and honey:
Then 'mongst the rout he flew as swift,
As weapon made by Cyclops,
And bravely quell'd seditious buz, 395
By dint of massy fly-flops.
Surviving flies do curses breathe,
And maggots too at Cæsar:
But George he shav'd the dragon's beard,
And Askelon[452] was his razor. 400
St. George he was for England; St. Dennis was for France;
Sing, _Honi soit qui mal y pense_.
[Illustration]
_John Grubb_, the facetious writer of the foregoing song, makes a
distinguished figure among the Oxford wits so humorously enumerated in
the following distich:
Alma novem genuit célebres Rhedycina poetas
Bub, Stubb, Grubb, Crabb, Trap, Young, Carey, Tickel, Evans.
These were Bub Dodington (the late lord Melcombe), Dr. Stubbes, our
poet _Grubb_, Mr. Crabb, Dr. Trapp the poetry-professor, Dr. Edw.
Young, the author of Night-Thoughts, Walter Carey, Thomas Tickel, Esq.,
and Dr. Evans the epigrammatist.
As for our poet _Grubb_, all that we can learn further of him is
contained in a few extracts from the University Register, and from his
epitaph. It appears from the former that he was matriculated in 1667,
being the son of John Grubb, "_de Acton Burnel in comitatu Salop.
pauperis_." He took his degree of Bachelor of Arts, June 28, 1671: and
became Master of Arts, June 28, 1675. He was appointed Head Master of
the Grammar School at Christ Church: and afterwards chosen into the
same employment at Gloucester, where he died in 1697, as appears from
his monument in the church of St. Mary de Crypt in Gloucester, which is
inscribed with the following epitaph:--
H. S. E.
_Johannes Grubb, A. M._
Natus apud Acton Burnel in agro Salopiensi
Anno Dom. 1645.
Cujus variam in linguis notitiam,
et felicem erudiendis pueris industriam,
gratâ adhuc memoriâ testatur Oxonium:
Ibi enim Ædi Christi initiatus,
artes excoluit;
Pueros ad easdem mox excolendas
accuratè formavit:
Huc demum
unanimi omnium consensu accitus,
eandem suscepit provinciam,
quam feliciter adeo absolvit,
ut nihil optandum sit
nisi ut diutius nobis interfuisset:
Fuit enim
propter festivam ingenij suavitatem,
simplicem morum candorem, et
præcipuam erga cognatos benevolentiam,
omnibus desideratissimus.
Obiit 2do die Aprilis, Anno Dni. 1697.
Ætatis suæ 51.
FOOTNOTES:
[437] To this circumstance it is owing that the editor has never met
with two copies, in which the stanzas are arranged alike, he has
therefore thrown them into what appeared the most natural order. The
verses are properly long Alexandrines, but the narrowness of the page
made it necessary to subdivide them: they are here printed with many
improvements.
[438] [blow.]
[439] Men of bulk answerable to their places, as is well known at
Oxford.
[440] A butcher that then served the college.
[441] A cook, who on fast nights was famous for selling cow-heel and
tripe.
[442] The drum.
[443] Who kept Paradise gardens at Oxford.
[444] A noted drawer at the Mermaid tavern in Oxford.
[445] Lord Lovelace broke down the bridges about Oxford, at the
beginning of the Revolution. See on this subject a Ballad in Smith's
Poems, p. 102. London, 1713.
[446] It has been suggested by an ingenious correspondent that this was
a popular subject at that time:--
Not carted bawd, or Dan de Foe,
In wooden ruff ere bluster'd so.
Smith's Poems, p. 117
[447] [perhaps a contraction of windhover, a kind of hawk.]
[448] See the account of Rolricht Stones, in Dr. Plott's _Hist. of_
_Oxfordshire_.
[449] Braburn, a gentleman commoner of Lincoln college, gave a silver
arrow to be shot for by the archers of the university of Oxford.
[450] Hannibal had but one eye.
[451] A one-eyed fellow, who pretended to make fiddles, as well as play
on them; well known at that time in Oxford.
[452] The name of St. George's sword.
XVI.
MARGARET'S GHOST.
This ballad, which appeared in some of the public newspapers in or
before the year 1724, came from the pen of David Mallet, Esq. who
in the edition of his poems, 3 vols. 1759, informs us that the plan
was suggested by the four verses quoted above in page 124, which he
supposed to be the beginning of some ballad now lost.
"These lines, says he, naked of ornament and simple, as they are,
struck my fancy; and bringing fresh into my mind an unhappy adventure
much talked of formerly, gave birth to the following poem, which was
written many years ago."
The two introductory lines (and one or two others elsewhere) had
originally more of the ballad simplicity, viz.
"When all was wrapt in dark midnight,
And all were fast asleep," &c.
In a late publication, intitled, _The Friends_, &c. Lond. 1773, 2 vols.
12mo. (in the first volume, p. 71) is inserted a copy of the foregoing
ballad, with very great variations, which the editor of that work
contends was the original; and that Mallet adopted it for his own and
altered it, as here given.--But the superior beauty and simplicity of
the present copy, gives it so much more the air of an original, that it
will rather be believed that some transcriber altered it from Mallet's,
and adapted the lines to his own taste; than which nothing is more
common in popular songs and ballads.
* * * * *
[This ballad, more generally known as _William and Margaret_, is
supposed to have been printed for the first time in Aaron Hill's
_Plain Dealer_ (No. 36, July 24, 1724), when the author was a very
young man. Hill introduced it to the reader as the work of an old
poet, and wrote, "I am sorry I am not able to acquaint my readers
with his name to whom we owe this melancholy piece of finished
poetry under the humble title of a ballad." In the following month
the editor announced that "he had discovered the author to be still
alive." The verses were probably written in 1723, in the August of
which year Mallet left Scotland, for Allan Ramsay, in his _Stanzas
to Mr. David Mallock on his departure from Scotland_, alludes to
them:--
"But he that could, in tender strains,
Raise Margaret's plaining shade,
And paints distress that chills the veins,
While William's crimes are red."
The ballad at once became popular, and was printed in several
collections, undergoing many alterations for the worse by the
way. Sundry attempts were made to rob Mallet of the credit of his
song. Besides the one mentioned above by Percy, Captain Thompson,
the editor of Andrew Marvell's Works, claimed it for Marvell, but
this claim was even more ridiculous than those he set up against
Addison and Watts. Although Mallet doubtless knew the ballads _Fair
Margaret and Sweet William_ (book ii. No. 4) and _Sweet William's
Ghost_ (No. 6), he is said to have founded his own upon a true
story which came under his observation. A daughter of Professor
James Gregory of St. Andrews, and afterwards of Edinburgh, was
seduced by a son of Sir William Sharp of Strathyrum, who had
promised to marry her, but heartlessly deserted her.
The ballad has been extravagantly praised: Ritson observes, "It
may be questioned whether any English writer has produced so fine
a ballad as _William and Margaret_." Percy describes it as one of
the most beautiful ballads in our own or any other language; and
Allan Ramsay writes, "I know not where to seek a finer mixture of
pathos and terror in the whole range of Gothic romance." Scott,
on the other hand, was of opinion that "The ballad, though the
best of Mallet's writing, is certainly inferior to the original,
which I presume to be the very fine and terrific old Scottish tale,
beginning
'There came a ghost to Margaret's door.'"
The extreme popularity of the poem is seen by the various parodies,
one of which, _Watty and Madge_, is printed in Ramsay's _Tea_
_Table Miscellany_ (vol. iii.). It commences--
"'Twas at the shining mid-day hour,"
and each succeeding verse is parodied in the same manner. Vincent
Browne imitated the original in Latin verse, and a German version
was published as _Wilhelm und Gretchen_.
Mallet was a native of Crieff in Perthshire, and is believed to
have been born in the year 1702. He was sometime tutor to the
Montrose family, through whose influence he was introduced into
public life. He changed his name from Malloch to Mallet when he
settled in London, and in 1742 he was appointed Under Secretary to
the Prince of Wales. He died on the 21st of April, 1765. Mallet
is a writer little cared for now, but he can hardly be said to
be neglected, for in 1857 Mr. Frederick Dinsdale published an
illustrated edition of his Ballads and Songs, chiefly made up of
copious notes on _William and Margaret_ and _Edwin and Emma_.]
* * * * *
'Twas at the silent solemn hour,
When night and morning meet;
In glided Margaret's grimly ghost,
And stood at William's feet.
Her face was like an April morn, 5
Clad in a wintry cloud:
And clay-cold was her lily hand,
That held her sable shrowd.
So shall the fairest face appear,
When youth and years are flown: 10
Such is the robe that kings must wear,
When death has reft their crown.
Her bloom was like the springing flower,
That sips the silver dew;
The rose was budded in her cheek, 15
Just opening to the view.
But love had, like the canker worm,
Consum'd her early prime:
The rose grew pale, and left her cheek;
She dy'd before her time. 20
"Awake!" she cry'd, "thy true love calls,
Come from her midnight grave;
Now let thy pity hear the maid,
Thy love refus'd to save.
"This is the dark and dreary hour, 25
When injur'd ghosts complain;
Now yawning graves give up their dead,
To haunt the faithless swain.
"Bethink thee, William, of thy fault,
Thy pledge, and broken oath: 30
And give me back my maiden vow,
And give me back my troth.
"Why did you promise love to me,
And not that promise keep?
Why did you swear mine eyes were bright, 35
Yet leave those eyes to weep?
"How could you say my face was fair,
And yet that face forsake?
How could you win my virgin heart,
Yet leave that heart to break? 40
"Why did you say my lip was sweet,
And made the scarlet pale?
And why did I, young witless maid,
Believe the flattering tale?
"That face, alas! no more is fair; 45
These lips no longer red:
Dark are my eyes, now clos'd in death,
And every charm is fled.
"The hungry worm my sister is;
This winding-sheet I wear: 50
And cold and weary lasts our night,
Till that last morn appear.
"But hark! the cock has warn'd me hence!
A long and last adieu!
Come see, false man, how low she lies, 55
Who dy'd for love of you."
The lark sung loud; the morning smil'd,
With beams of rosy red:
Pale William shook in ev'ry limb,
And raving left his bed. 60
He hyed him to the fatal place,
Where Margaret's body lay;
And stretch'd him on the grass-green turf,
That wrapt her breathless clay:
And thrice he call'd on Margaret's name, 65
And thrice he wept full sore:
Then laid his cheek to her cold grave,
And word spake never more.
XVII.
LUCY AND COLIN
Was written by Thomas Tickell, Esq. the celebrated friend of Mr.
Addison, and editor of his works. He was son of a clergyman in the
north of England, had his education at Queen's college, Oxon, was under
secretary to Mr. Addison and Mr. Craggs, when successively secretaries
of state; and was lastly (in June, 1724) appointed secretary to the
Lords Justices in Ireland, which place he held till his death in
1740.[453] He acquired Mr. Addison's patronage by a poem in praise of
the opera of _Rosamond_, written while he was at the University.
It is a tradition in Ireland, that the song was written at
Castletown, in the county of Kildare, at the request of the then Mrs.
Conolly--probably on some event recent in that neighbourhood.
[Gray called _Lucy and Colin_ "the prettiest" ballad in the world,
although he was not partial to Tickell's other poems.
The fine old melody given by Dr. Rimbault for this ballad is taken from
"_The Merry Musician; or a Cure for the Spleen_; being a collection of
the most diverting Songs and pleasant Ballads set to Musick," 1716.]
* * * * *
Of Leinster, fam'd for maidens fair,
Bright Lucy was the grace;
Nor e'er did Liffy's limpid stream
Reflect so fair a face.
Till luckless love, and pining care 5
Impair'd her rosy hue,
Her coral lip, and damask cheek,
And eyes of glossy blue.
Oh! have you seen a lily pale,
When beating rains descend? 10
So droop'd the slow-consuming maid;
Her life now near its end.
By Lucy warn'd, of flattering swains
Take heed, ye easy fair:
Of vengeance due to broken vows, 15
Ye perjured swains, beware.
Three times, all in the dead of night,
A bell was heard to ring;
And at her window, shrieking thrice,
The raven flap'd his wing. 20
Too well the love-lorn maiden knew
That solemn boding sound;
And thus, in dying words, bespoke
The virgins weeping round.
"I hear a voice, you cannot hear, 25
Which says I must not stay:
I see a hand, you cannot see,
Which beckons me away.
"By a false heart, and broken vows,
In early youth I die. 30
Am I to blame, because his bride
Is thrice as rich as I?
"Ah Colin! give not her thy vows;
Vows due to me alone:
Nor thou, fond maid, receive his kiss, 35
Nor think him all thy own.
"To-morrow in the church to wed,
Impatient, both prepare;
But know, fond maid, and know, false man,
That Lucy will be there, 40
"Then, bear my corse; ye comrades, bear,
The bridegroom blithe to meet;
He in his wedding-trim so gay,
I in my winding-sheet."
She spoke, she dy'd;--her corse was borne, 45
The bridegroom blithe to meet;
He in his wedding-trim so gay,
She in her winding-sheet.
Then what were perjur'd Colin's thoughts?
How were those nuptials kept? 50
The bride-men flock'd round Lucy dead,
And all the village wept.
Confusion, shame, remorse, despair
At once his bosom swell:
The damps of death bedew'd his brow, 55
He shook, he groan'd, he fell.
From the vain bride (ah bride no more!)
The varying crimson fled,
When, stretch'd before her rival's corse,
She saw her husband dead. 60
Then to his Lucy's new-made grave,
Convey'd by trembling swains,
One mould with her, beneath one sod,
For ever now remains.
Oft at their grave the constant hind 65
And plighted maid are seen;
With garlands gay, and true-love knots
They deck the sacred green.
But, swain forsworn, whoe'er thou art,
This hallow'd spot forbear; 70
Remember Colin's dreadful fate,
And fear to meet him there.
FOOTNOTES:
[453] Born 1686.
XVIII.
THE BOY AND THE MANTLE,
AS REVISED AND ALTERED BY A MODERN HAND.
Mr. Warton, in his ingenious _Observations on Spenser_, has given his
opinion, that the fiction of the _Boy and the Mantle_ is taken from
an old French piece intitled _Le court mantel_, quoted by M. de St.
Palaye in his curious _Mémoires sur l'ancienne Chevalerie_, Paris,
1759, 2 tom. 12mo., who tells us the story resembles that of Ariosto's
inchanted cup. 'Tis possible our English poet may have taken the hint
of this subject from that old French romance, but he does not appear to
have copied it in the manner of execution; to which (if one may judge
from the specimen given in the _Mémoires_) that of the ballad does not
bear the least resemblance. After all, 'tis most likely that all the
old stories concerning K. Arthur are originally of British growth, and
that what the French and other southern nations have of this kind,
were at first exported from this island. See _Mémoires de l'Acad. des
Inscrip._ tom. xx. p. 352.
(Since this volume was printed off, the _Fabliaux ou Contes_, 1781, 5
tom. 12mo., of _M. le Grand_, have come to hand: and in tom. i. p. 54,
he hath printed a modern version of the old tale _Le Court Mantel_,
under a new title _Le Manteau maltaillé_; which contains the story of
this ballad much enlarged, so far as regards the _Mantle_; but without
any mention of the _Knife_, or the _Horn_.)
* * * * *
[See book i. No. 1, for the original of this ballad.]
* * * * *
In Carleile dwelt king Arthur,
A prince of passing might;
And there maintain'd his table round,
Beset with many a knight.
And there he kept his Christmas 5
With mirth and princely cheare,
When, lo! a straunge and cunning boy
Before him did appeare.
A kirtle and a mantle
This boy had him upon, 10
With brooches, rings, and owches[454]
Full daintily bedone.
He had a sarke[455] of silk
About his middle meet;
And thus, with seemly curtesy, 15
He did king Arthur greet.
"God speed thee, brave king Arthur,
Thus feasting in thy bowre.
And Guenever thy goodly queen,
That fair and peerlesse flowre. 20
"Ye gallant lords, and lordings,
I wish you all take heed,
Lest, what ye deem a blooming rose
Should prove a cankred weed."
Then straitway from his bosome 25
A little wand he drew;
And with it eke a mantle
Of wondrous shepe, and hew.
"Now have thou here, king Arthur,
Have this here of mee, 30
And give unto thy comely queen,
All-shapen as you see.
"No wife it shall become,
That once hath been to blame."
Then every knight in Arthur's court 35
Slye glaunced at his dame.
And first came lady Guenever,
The mantle she must trye.
This dame, she was new-fangled,
And of a roving eye. 40
When she had tane the mantle,
And all was with it cladde,
From top to toe it shiver'd down,
As tho' with sheers beshradde.
One while it was too long, 45
Another while too short,
And wrinkled on her shoulders
In most unseemly sort.
Now green, now red it seemed,
Then all of sable hue. 50
"Beshrew me, quoth king Arthur,
I think thou beest not true."
Down she threw the mantle,
Ne longer would not stay;
But storming like a fury, 55
To her chamber flung away.
She curst the whoreson weaver,
That had the mantle wrought:
And doubly curst the froward impe,
Who thither had it brought. 60
"I had rather live in desarts
Beneath the green-wood tree:
Than here, base king, among thy groomes,
The sport of them and thee."
Sir Kay call'd forth his lady, 65
And bade her to come near:
"Yet dame, if thou be guilty,
I pray thee now forbear."
This lady, pertly gigling,
With forward step came on, 70
And boldly to the little boy
With fearless face is gone.
When she had tane the mantle,
With purpose for to wear:
It shrunk up to her shoulder, 75
And left her b**side bare.
Then every merry knight,
That was in Arthur's court,
Gib'd, and laught, and flouted,
To see that pleasant sport. 80
Down she threw the mantle,
No longer bold or gay,
But with a face all pale and wan,
To her chamber slunk away.
Then forth came an old knight, 85
A pattering o'er his creed;
And proffer'd to the little boy
Five nobles to his meed;
"And all the time of Christmass
Plumb-porridge shall be thine, 90
If thou wilt let my lady fair
Within the mantle shine."
A saint his lady seemed,
With step demure, and slow,
And gravely to the mantle 95
With mincing pace doth goe,
When she the same had taken,
That was so fine and thin,
It shrivell'd all about her,
And show'd her dainty skin. 100
Ah! little did HER mincing,
Or HIS long prayers bestead;
She had no more hung on her,
Than a tassel and a thread.
Down she threwe the mantle, 105
With terror and dismay,
And, with a face of scarlet,
To her chamber hyed away.
Sir Cradock call'd his lady,
And bade her to come neare; 110
"Come win this mantle, lady,
And do me credit here.
"Come win this mantle, lady,
For now it shall be thine,
If thou hast never done amiss, 115
Sith first I made thee mine."
The lady gently blushing,
With modest grace came on,
And now to trye this wondrous charm
Courageously is gone. 120
When she had tane the mantle,
And put it on her backe,
About the hem it seemed
To wrinkle and to cracke.
"Lye still, shee cried, O mantle! 125
And shame me not for nought,
I'll freely own whate'er amiss,
Or blameful I have wrought.
"Once I kist Sir Cradocke
Beneathe the green wood tree: 130
Once I kist Sir Cradocke's mouth
Before he married me."
When thus she had her shriven,
And her worst fault had told,
The mantle soon became her 135
Right comely as it shold.
Most rich and fair of colour,
Like gold it glittering shone:
And much the knights in Arthur's court
Admir'd her every one. 140
Then towards king Arthur's table
The boy he turn'd his eye:
Where stood a boar's-head garnished
With bayes and rosemarye.
When thrice he o'er the boar's head 145
His little wand had drawne,
Quoth he, "There's never a cuckold's knife,
Can carve this head of brawne."
Then some their whittles rubbed
On whetstone, and on hone: 150
Some threwe them under the table,
And swore that they had none.
Sir Cradock had a little knife
Of steel and iron made;
And in an instant thro' the skull 155
He thrust the shining blade.
He thrust the shining blade
Full easily and fast:
And every knight in Arthur's court
A morsel had to taste. 160
The boy brought forth a horne,
All golden was the rim:
Said he, "No cuckolde ever can
Set mouth unto the brim.
"No cuckold can this little horne 165
Lift fairly to his head;
But or on this, or that side,
He shall the liquor shed."
Some shed it on their shoulder,
Some shed it on their thigh; 170
And hee that could not hit his mouth,
Was sure to hit his eye.
Thus he, that was a cuckold,
Was known of every man:
But Cradock lifted easily, 175
And wan the golden can.
Thus boar's head, horn and mantle
Were this fair couple's meed:
And all such constant lovers,
God send them well to speed. 180
Then down in rage came Guenever,
And thus could spightful say,
"Sir Cradock's wife most wrongfully
Hath borne the prize away.
"See yonder shameless woman, 185
That makes herselfe so clean:
Yet from her pillow taken
Thrice five gallants have been.
"Priests, clarkes, and wedded men
Have her lewd pillow prest: 190
Yet she the wondrous prize forsooth
Must beare from all the rest."
Then bespake the little boy,
Who had the same in hold:
"Chastize thy wife, king Arthur, 195
Of speech she is too bold:
"Of speech she is too bold,
Of carriage all too free;
Sir king, she hath within thy hall
A cuckold made of thee. 200
"All frolick light and wanton
She hath her carriage borne:
And given thee for a kingly crown
To wear a cuckold's horne."
[***]
* * * * *
[***] The Rev. Evan Evans, editor of the specimens of _Welsh_
_Poetry_, 4to. affirmed that the _Boy and the Mantle_ is taken from
what is related in some of the old Welsh MSS. of Tegan Earfron,
one of King Arthur's mistresses. She is said to have possessed a
mantle that would not fit any immodest or incontinent woman; this,
(which, the old writers say, was reckoned among the curiosities of
Britain) is frequently alluded to by the old Welsh Bards.
_Carleile_, so often mentioned in the ballads of K. Arthur, the
editor once thought might probably be a corruption of _Caer-leon_,
an ancient British city on the river Uske, in Monmouthshire, which
was one of the places of K. Arthur's chief residence; but he is now
convinced, that it is no other than _Carlisle_, in Cumberland; the
old English minstrels, being most of them northern men, naturally
represented the hero of romance as residing in the north: And many
of the places mentioned in the old ballads are still to be found
there: As _Tearne-Wadling_, &c.
Near Penrith is still seen a large circle, surrounded by a mound of
earth, which retains the name of Arthur's Round Table.
* * * * *
[For a full statement of the claims of the "North" to be considered
as the home of King Arthur, see J. S. Stuart Glennie's Essay on
_Arthurian Localities_, in the edition of the Prose Romance of
_Merlin_, published by the Early English Text Society.]
FOOTNOTES:
[454] [bosses or buttons of gold.]
[455] [shirt.]
XIX.
THE ANCIENT FRAGMENT OF THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAINE.[456]
The second poem in this volume, intitled _The Marriage of Sir
Gawaine_, having been offered to the reader with large conjectural
supplements and corrections, the old fragment itself is here literally
and exactly printed from the editor's folio MS. with all its defects,
inaccuracies, and errata; that such austere antiquaries, as complain
that the ancient copies have not been always rigidly adhered to, may
see how unfit for publication many of the pieces would have been, if
all the blunders, corruptions, and nonsense of illiterate reciters and
transcribers had been superstitiously retained, without some attempt to
correct and emend them.
This ballad had most unfortunately suffered by having half of every
leaf in this part of the MS. torn away; and, as about nine stanzas
generally occur in the half page now remaining, it is concluded, that
the other half contained nearly the same number of stanzas.
* * * * *
[The following poem is printed in Hales' and Furnivall's edition of
the MS., vol. i. p. 105.]
* * * * *
Kinge Arthur liues in merry Carleile,
& seemely is to see,
& there he hath w^{th} him Queene Genev^r,
y^t bride soe bright of blee.
And there he hath w^{th} him Queene Genever,
y^t bride soe bright in bower,
& all his barons about him stoode
y^t were both stiffe & stowre.
The K. kept a royall Christmasse
of mirth & great honor,
& when....
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting._]
And bring me word what thing it is
y^t a woman most desire.
this shalbe thy ransome, Arthur, he sayes
for Ile haue noe other hier.
K. Arthur then held vp his hand
according thene as was the law;
he tooke his leaue of the baron there,
& homward can he draw.
And when he came to Merry Carlile,
to his chamber he is gone,
& ther came to him his Cozen S^r Gawaine
as he did make his mone.
And there came to him his Cozen S^r Gawaine
y^t was a curteous knight,
why sigh you soe sore vnckle Arthur, he said
or who hath done thee vnright.
O peace, o peace, thou gentle Gawaine,
y^t faire may thee beffall,
for if thou knew my sighing soe deepe,
thou wold not meruaile att all;
ffor when I came to tearne wadling,
a bold barron there I fand,
w^{th} a great club vpon his backe,
standing stiffe & strong;
And he asked me wether I wold fight,
or from him I shold be gone,
o[r] else I must him a ransome pay
& soe dep't him from.
To fight w^{th} him I saw noe cause,
me thought it was not meet,
ffor he was stiffe & strong w^{th} all,
his strokes were nothing sweete.
Therfor this is my ransome, Gawaine
I ought to him to pay
I must come againe, as I am sworne,
vpon the Newyeers day.
And I must bring him word what thing it is
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting._]
Then king Arthur drest him for to ryde
in one soe rich array
toward the foresaid Tearne wadling,
y^t he might keepe his day.
And as he rode over a more,
hee see a lady where shee sate
betwixt an oke & a greene hollen[457]:
she was cladd in red scarlett.
Then there as shold have stood her mouth,
then there was sett her eye
the other was in her forhead fast
the way that she might see.
Her nose was crooked & turnd outward,
her mouth stood foule a wry;
a worse formed lady then shee was,
neuer man saw w^{th} his eye.
To halch[458] vpon him, k. Arthur
this lady was full faine
but k. Arthur had forgott his lesson
what he shold say againe
What knight art thou, the lady sayd,
that wilt not speake to me?
of me be thou nothing dismayd
tho I be vgly to see;
for I haue halched you curteouslye,
& you will not me againe,
yett I may happen S^r knight, shee said
to ease thee of thy paine.
Giue thou ease me, lady, he said
or helpe me any thing,
thou shalt haue gentle Gawaine, my cozen
& marry him w^{th} a ring.
Why, if I helpe thee not, thou noble k. Arthur
of thy owne hearts desiringe,
of gentle Gawaine....
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting._]
And when he came to the tearne wadling
the baron there cold he fimde[459]
w^{th} a great weapon on his backe,
standing stiffe & stronge
And then he tooke k. Arthur's letters in his hands
& away he cold them fling,
& then he puld out a good browne sword,
& cryd himselfe a k.
And he sayd, I haue thee & thy land, Arthur
to doe as it pleaseth me,
for this is not thy ransome sure,
therfore yeeld thee to mee.
And then bespoke him noble Arthur,
& bad him hold his hands,
& give me leave to speake my mind
in defence of all my land.
He said as I came over a More,
I see a lady where shee sate
betweene an oke & a green hollen;
shee was clad in red scarlett;
And she says a woman will haue her will,
& this is all her cheefe desire:
doe me right as thou art a baron of sckill,
this is thy ransome & and all thy hyer.
He sayes an early vengeance light on her,
she walkes on yonder more;
it was my sister that told thee this
& she is a misshappen hore.
But heer Ile make mine avow[460] to god
to do her an euill turne,
for an euer I may thate fowle theefe get,
in a fyer I will her burne.
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting._]
* * * * *
THE 2D PART.
Sir Lancelott & S^r Steven bold
they rode w^{th} them that day,
and the formost of the company
there rode the steward Kay,
Soe did S^r Banier & S^r Bore
S^r Garrett w^{th} them soe gay,
soe did S^r Tristeram y^t gentle k^t,
to the forrest fresh & gay
And when he came to the greene forrest
vnderneath a greene holly tree
their sate that lady in red scarlet
y^t vnseemly was to see.
S^r Kay beheld this Ladys face,
& looked vppon her smire[461]
whosoeuer kisses this lady, he sayes
of his kisse he standes in feare.
Sir Kay beheld the lady againe,
& looked vpon her snout,
whosoeuer kisses this lady, he saies,
of his kisse he stands in doubt.
Peace coz. Kay, then said S^r Gawaine
amend thee of thy life;
for there is a knight amongst us all
y^t must marry her to his wife.
What, wedd her to wiffe, then said S^r Kay,
in the diuells name anon,
gett me a wiffe where ere I may,
for I had rather be slaine.
Then soome tooke vp their hawkes in hast
& some tooke vp their hounds,
& some sware they wold not marry her
for Citty nor for towne.
And then be spake him noble k. Arthur,
& sware there by this day,
for a litle foule sight and misliking
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting._]
Then shee said choose thee gentle Gawaine,
truth as I doe say,
wether thou wilt haue me in this liknesse
in the night or else in the day.
And then bespake him Gentle Gawaine,
w^{th} one soe mild of moode,
sayes, well I know what I wold say,
god grant it may be good.
To haue thee fowle in the night
when I w^{th} thee shold play;
yet I had rather, if I might
haue thee fowle in the day.
What, when Lords goe w^{th} ther seires,[462] shee said
both to the Ale & wine
alas then I must hyde my selfe,
I must not goe withinne.
And then bespake him gentle gawaine,
said, Lady thats but a skill;
And because thou art my owne lady,
thou shalt haue all thy will.
Then she said, blesed be thou gentle Gawain
this day y^t I thee see,
for as thou see me att this time,
from hencforth I wilbe:
My father was an old knight,
& yett it chanced soe
that he marryed a younge lady
y^t brought me to this woe.
Shee witched me, being a faire young Lady,
to the greene forrest to dwell,
& there I must walke in womans liknesse,
most like a feend of hell.
She witched my brother to a Carlist B....
[_About Nine Stanzas wanting_.]
that looked soe foule & that was wont
on the wild more to goe.
Come kisse her, Brother Kay, then said S^r Gawaine,
& amend the of thy liffe;
I sweare this is the same lady
y^t I marryed to my wiffe.
S^r Kay kissed that lady bright,
standing vpon his ffeete;
he swore, as he was trew knight,
the spice was neuer soe sweete.
Well, Coz. Gawaine, sayes S^r Kay,
thy chance is fallen arright,
for thou hast gotten one of the fairest maids
I euer saw w^{th} my sight.
It is my fortune, said S^r Gawaine;
for my Vnckle Arthurs sake
I am glad as grasse wold be of raine,
great Ioy that I may take.
S^r Gawaine tooke the lady by the one arme,
S^r Kay tooke her by the tother,
they led her straight to k. Arthur
as they were brother & brother.
K. Arthur welcomed them there all,
& soe did lady Geneuer his queene,
w^{th} all the knights of the round table
most seemly to be seene.
K. Arthur beheld that lady faire
that was soe faire & bright,
he thanked christ in trinity
for S^r Gawaine that gentle knight;
Soe did the knights, both more and lesse,
reioyced all that day
for the good chance y^t hapened was
to S^r Gawaine & his lady gay.
Ffins.
FOOTNOTES:
[456] [Printed for the first time in the fourth edition.]
[457] [holly.]
[458] [salute.]
[459] Sic MS. = finde.
[460] [my vow.]
[461] [qy. for swire = neck.]
[462] Sic in MS. pro _feires_, i.e. Mates.
THE END OF THE THIRD BOOK.
[Illustration]
APPENDIX I.
THE WANTON WIFE OF BATH.
[Illustration]
[Illustration]
APPENDIX I.
THE WANTON WIFE OF BATH.
From an ancient copy in black-print, in the Pepys Collection. Mr.
Addison has pronounced this an excellent ballad: see the _Spectator_,
No. 248.
* * * * *
[This ballad was printed in the third volume of the first edition
of the _Reliques_, Book ii. No. 12, but was afterwards expunged
by Percy. Professor Child gives the following references in his
collection of _English and Scottish Ballads_, vol. viii. p.
152:--"The same story circulates among the peasantry of England and
Scotland in the form of a penny tract or chap-book, _Notices of_
_Popular Histories_, p. 16, (_Percy Soc._ vol. xxiii.); _Notes and
Queries_, New Series, vol. iii. p. 49. This jest is an old one.
Mr. Halliwell refers to a fabliau in Barbazan's Collection, which
contains the groundwork of this piece, _Du Vilain qui Conquist
Paradis par Plait_, Meon's ed. iv. 114."]
* * * * *
In Bath a wanton wife did dwelle,
As Chaucer he doth write;
Who did in pleasure spend her dayes;
And many a fond delight.
Upon a time sore sicke she was 5
And at the length did dye;
And then her soul at heaven gate,
Did knocke most mightilye.
First Adam came unto the gate:
Who knocketh there? quoth hee 10
I am the wife of Bath, she sayd,
And faine would come to thee.
Thou art a sinner, Adam sayd,
And here no place shalt have.
And so art thou, I trowe, quoth shee, 15
'and eke a' doting knave.[463]
I will come in, in spight, she sayd,
Of all such churles as thee;
Thou wert the causer of our woe,
Our paine and misery; 20
And first broke God's commandiments,
In pleasure of thy wife.
When Adam heard her tell this tale,
He ranne away for life.
Then downe came Jacob at the gate, 25
And bids her packe to hell,
Thou false deceiving knave, quoth she
Thou mayst be there as well.
For thou deceiv'dst thy father deare,
And thine own brother too. 30
Away 'slunk' Jacob presently,
And made no more adoo.
She knockes again with might and maine,
And Lot he chides her straite,
How now, quoth she, thou drunken ass, 35
Who bade thee here to prate?
With thy two daughters thou didst lye,
On them two bastardes got.
And thus most tauntingly she chaft
Against poor silly Lot. 40
Who calleth there, quoth Judith then,
With such shrill sounding notes?
This fine minkes surely came not here,
Quoth she, for cutting throats.
Good Lord, how Judith blush'd for shame, 45
When she heard her say soe!
King David hearing of the same,
He to the gate would goe.
Quoth David, who knockes there so loud,
And maketh all this strife; 50
You were more kinde, good sir, she sayd,
Unto Uriah's wife.
And when thy servant thou didst cause
In battle to be slaine;
Thou causedst far more strife than I, 55
Who would come here so faine.
The woman's mad, quoth Solomon,
That thus doth taunt a king.
Not half so mad as you, she sayd,
I trowe in manye a thing. 60
Thou hadst seven hundred wives at once,
For whom thou didst provide;
And yet God wot, three hundred whores
Thou must maintaine beside:
And they made thee forsake thy God, 65
And worship stockes and stones;
Besides the charge they put thee to
In breeding of young bones.
Hadst thou not bin beside thy wits,
Thou wouldst not thus have ventur'd; 70
And therefore I do marvel much,
How thou this place hast enter'd.
I never heard, quoth Jonas then,
So vile a scold as this.
Thou whore-son run-away, quoth she, 75
Thou diddest more amiss.
'They say,' quoth Thomas, women's tongues,[464]
Of aspen-leaves are made.
Thou unbelieving wretch, quoth she,
All is not true that's sayd. 80
When Mary Magdalen heard her then,
She came unto the gate.
Quoth she, good woman, you must think
Upon your former state.
No sinner enters in this place 85
Quoth Mary Magdalene. Then
'Twere ill for you, fair mistress mine,
She answered her agen:
You for your honestye, quoth she,
Had once been ston'd to death; 90
Had not our Saviour Christ come by,
And written on the earth.
It was not by your occupation,
You are become divine:
I hope my soul in Christ his passion, 95
Shall be as safe as thine.
Uprose the good apostle Paul,
And to this wife he cryed,
Except thou shake thy sins away,
Thou here shalt be denyed. 100
Remember, Paul, what thou hast done,
All through a lewd desire:
How thou didst persecute God's church,
With wrath as hot as fire.
Then up starts Peter at the last, 105
And to the gate he hies:
Fond fool, quoth he, knock not so fast,
Thou weariest Christ with cries.
Peter, said she, content thyselfe,
For mercye may be won, 110
I never did deny my Christ,
As thou thyselfe hast done.
When as our Saviour Christ heard this,
With heavenly angels bright,
He comes unto this sinful soul, 115
Who trembled at his sight.
Of him for mercye she did crave.
Quoth he, thou hast refus'd
My proffer'd grace, and mercy both,
And much my name abus'd. 120
Sore have I sinned, Lord, she sayd,
And spent my time in vaine,
But bring me like a wandring sheepe
Into thy flocke againe.
O Lord my God, I will amend 125
My former wicked vice:
The thief for one poor silly word,
Past into Paradise.
My lawes and my commandments,
Saith Christ, were known to thee; 130
But of the same in any wise,
Not yet one word did yee.
I grant the same, O Lord, quoth she;
Most lewdly did I live:
But yet the loving father did 135
His prodigal son forgive.
So I forgive thy soul, he sayd,
Through thy repenting crye;
Come enter then into my joy,
I will not thee denye. 140
FOOTNOTES:
[463] Ver. 16. Now gip you, _P._
[464] Ver. 77. I think, _P._
[Illustration]
APPENDIX II.
ON THE ANCIENT METRICAL ROMANCES, &c.
I.
The first attempts at composition among all barbarous nations are
ever found to be poetry and song. The praises of their gods, and the
achievements of their heroes, are usually chanted at their festival
meetings. These are the first rudiments of history. It is in this
manner that the savages of North America preserve the memory of past
events[465]; and the same method is known to have prevailed among our
Saxon ancestors before they quitted their German forests[466]. The
ancient Britons had their Bards, and the Gothic nations their Scalds
or popular poets[467], whose business it was to record the victories
of their warriors, and the genealogies of their princes, in a kind of
narrative songs, which were committed to memory, and delivered down
from one reciter to another. So long as poetry continued a distinct
profession, and while the Bard, or Scald, was a regular and stated
officer in the prince's court, these men are thought to have performed
the functions of the historian pretty faithfully; for though their
narrations would be apt to receive a good deal of embellishment, they
are supposed to have had at the bottom so much of truth as to serve
for the basis of more regular annals. At least succeeding historians
have taken up with the relations of these rude men, and for the want of
more authentic records, have agreed to allow them the credit of true
history[468].
After letters began to prevail, and history assumed a more stable form,
by being committed to plain simple prose; these songs of the Scalds
or Bards began to be more amusing than useful. And in proportion as
it became their business chiefly to entertain and delight, they gave
more and more into embellishment, and set off their recitals with such
marvellous fictions, as were calculated to captivate gross and ignorant
minds. Thus began stories of adventures with giants and dragons, and
witches and enchanters, and all the monstrous extravagances of wild
imagination, unguided by judgment, and uncorrected by art[469].
This seems to be the true origin of that species of romance, which
so long celebrated feats of chivalry, and which at first in metre,
and afterwards in prose, was the entertainment of our ancestors, in
common with their contemporaries on the continent, till the satire
of Cervantes, or rather the increase of knowledge and classical
literature, drove them off the stage to make room for a more refined
species of fiction, under the name of French Romances, copied from the
Greek[470].
That our old romances of chivalry may be derived in a lineal descent
from the ancient historical songs of the Gothic Bards and Scalds, will
be shown below, and indeed appears the more evident, as many of those
songs are still preserved in the north, which exhibit all the seeds
of chivalry before it became a solemn institution[471]. "Chivalry, as
a distinct military order, conferred in the way of investiture, and
accompanied with the solemnity of an oath, and other ceremonies," was
of later date, and sprung out of the feudal constitution, as an elegant
writer has clearly shown[472]. But the ideas of chivalry prevailed
long before in all the Gothic nations, and may be discovered as in
embriyo in the customs, manners, and opinions of every branch of that
people[473]. That fondness of going in quest of adventures, that spirit
of challenging to single combat, and that respectful complaisance shewn
to the fair sex, (so different from the manners of the Greeks and
Romans), all are of Gothic origin, and may be traced up to the earliest
times among all the northern nations[474]. These existed long before
the feudal ages, though they were called forth and strengthened in a
peculiar manner under that constitution, and at length arrived to their
full maturity in the times of the Crusades, so replete with romantic
adventures[475].
Even the common arbitrary fictions of romance were (as is hinted
above) most of them familiar to the ancient Scalds of the North, long
before the time of the Crusades. They believed the existence of giants
and dwarfs[476]; they entertained opinions not unlike the more modern
notion of fairies[477], they were strongly possessed with the belief of
spells and inchantment[478], and were fond of inventing combats with
dragons and monsters[479].
The opinion therefore seems very untenable, which some learned and
ingenious men have entertained, that the turn for chivalry, and the
taste for that species of romantic fiction were caught by the Spaniards
from the Arabians or Moors after their invasion of Spain, and from
the Spaniards transmitted to the bards of Armorica[480], and thus
diffused through Britain, France, Italy, Germany, and the North.
For it seems utterly incredible, that one rude people should adopt
a peculiar taste and manner of writing or thinking from another,
without borrowing at the same time any of their particular stories and
fables, without appearing to know anything of their heroes, history,
laws, and religion. When the Romans began to adopt and imitate the
Grecian literature, they immediately naturalized all the Grecian
fables, histories, and religious stories; which became as familiar to
the poets of Rome, as of Greece itself. Whereas all the old writers of
chivalry, and of that species of romance, whether in prose or verse,
whether of the Northern nations, or of Britain, France, and Italy,
not excepting Spain itself[481], appear utterly unacquainted with
whatever relates to the Mahometan nations. Thus with regard to their
religion, they constantly represent them as worshipping idols, as
paying adoration to a golden image of Mahomet, or else they confound
them with the ancient pagans, &c. And indeed in all other respects
they are so grossly ignorant of the customs, manners, and opinions of
every branch of that people, especially of their heroes, champions, and
local stories, as almost amounts to a demonstration that they did not
imitate them in their songs or romances: for as to dragons, serpents,
necromancies, &c., why should these be thought only derived from the
Moors in Spain so late as after the eighth century? since notions of
this kind appear too familiar to the northern Scalds and enter too
deeply into all the northern mythology, to have been transmitted to
the unlettered Scandinavians, from so distant a country, at so late a
period. If they may not be allowed to have brought these opinions with
them in their original migrations from the north of Asia, they will
be far more likely to have borrowed them from the Latin poets after
the Roman conquests in Gaul, Britain, Germany, &c. For, I believe one
may challenge the maintainers of this opinion, to produce any Arabian
poem or history, that could possibly have been then known in Spain,
which resembles the old Gothic romances of chivalry half so much as the
Metamorphoses of Ovid.
But we well know that the Scythian nations situate in the countries
about Pontus, Colchis, and the Euxine sea, were in all times infamous
for their magic arts: and as Odin and his followers are said to have
come precisely from those parts of Asia; we can readily account for
the prevalence of fictions of this sort among the Gothic nations of
the North, without fetching them from the Moors in Spain; who for many
centuries after their irruption, lived in a state of such constant
hostility with the unsubdued Spanish Christians, whom they chiefly pent
up in the mountains, as gave them no chance of learning their music,
poetry, or stories; and this, together with the religious hatred of the
latter for their cruel invaders, will account for the utter ignorance
of the old Spanish romancers in whatever relates to the Mahometan
nations, although so nearly their own neighbours.
On the other hand, from the local customs and situations, from the
known manners and opinions of the Gothic nations in the north, we
can easily account for all the ideas of chivalry and its peculiar
fictions[482]. For, not to mention their distinguished respect for the
fair sex, so different from the manners of the Mahometan nations[483],
their national and domestic history so naturally assumes all the
wonders of this species of fabling, that almost all their historical
narratives appear regular romances. One might refer in proof of this to
the old northern Sagas in general: but to give a particular instance
it will be sufficient to produce the history of King Regner Lodbrog, a
celebrated warrior and pirate, who reigned in Denmark about the year
800[484]. This hero signalized his youth by an exploit of gallantry.
A Swedish prince had a beautiful daughter whom he intrusted (probably
during some expedition) to the care of one of his officers, assigning
a strong castle for their defence. The officer fell in love with his
ward, and detained her in his castle, spite of all the efforts of
her father. Upon this he published a proclamation through all the
neighbouring countries, that whoever would conquer the ravisher and
rescue the lady should have her in marriage. Of all that undertook the
adventure, Regner alone was so happy as to achieve it: he delivered the
fair captive, and obtained her for his prize. It happened that the name
of this discourteous officer was Orme, which in the Islandic language
signifies serpent: Wherefore the Scalds, to give the more poetical
turn to the adventure, represent the lady as detained from her father
by a dreadful dragon, and that Regner slew the monster to set her at
liberty. This fabulous account of the exploit is given in a poem still
extant, which is even ascribed to Regner himself, who was a celebrated
poet; and which records all the valiant achievements of his life[485].
With marvelous embellishments of this kind the Scalds early began to
decorate their narratives: and they were the more lavish of these,
in proportion as they departed from their original institution,
but it was a long time before they thought of delivering a set of
personages and adventures wholly feigned. Of the great multitude of
romantic tales still preserved in the libraries of the North, most of
them are supposed to have had some foundation in truth, and the more
ancient they are, the more they are believed to be connected with true
history[486].
It was not probably till after the historian and the bard had been
long disunited, that the latter ventured at pure fiction. At length
when their business was no longer to instruct or inform, but merely
to amuse, it was no longer needful for them to adhere to truth. Then
succeeded fabulous songs and romances in verse, which for a long time
prevailed in France and England before they had books of chivalry in
prose. Yet in both these countries the minstrels still retained so much
of their original institution, as frequently to make true events the
subject of their songs[487]; and indeed, as during the barbarous ages,
the regular histories were almost all written in Latin by the monks,
the memory of events was preserved and propagated among the ignorant
laity by scarce any other means than the popular songs of the minstrels.
II. The inhabitants of Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, being the latest
converts to Christianity, retained their original manners and opinions
longer than the other nations of Gothic race: and therefore they have
preserved more of the genuine compositions of their ancient poets,
than their southern neighbours. Hence the progress, among them, from
poetical history to poetical fiction is very discernible: they have
some old pieces, that are in effect complete Romances of Chivalry[488].
They have also (as hath been observed) a multitude of Sagas[489] or
histories on romantic subjects, containing a mixture of prose and
verse, of various dates, some of them written since the times of the
Crusades, others long before: but their narratives in verse only are
esteemed the more ancient.
Now as the irruption of the Normans[490] into France under Rollo
did not take place till towards the beginning of the tenth century,
at which time the Scaldic art was arrived to the highest perfection
in Rollo's native country, we can easily trace the descent of the
French and English romances of chivalry from the Northern Sagas. That
conqueror doubtless carried many Scalds with him from the north,
who transmitted their skill to their children and successors. These
adopting the religion, opinions, and language of the new country,
substituted the heroes of Christendom instead of those of their pagan
ancestors, and began to celebrate the feats of Charlemagne, Roland,
and Oliver; whose true history they set off and embellished with the
Scaldic figments of dwarfs, giants, dragons, and enchantments. The
first mention we have in song of those heroes of chivalry is in the
mouth of a Norman warrior at the conquest of England[491]: and this
circumstance alone would sufficiently account for the propagation of
this kind of romantic poems among the French and English.
But this is not all; it is very certain, that both the Anglo-Saxons
and the Franks had brought with them, at their first emigrations into
Britain and Gaul, the same fondness for the ancient songs of their
ancestors, which prevailed among the other Gothic tribes[492], and
that all their first annals were transmitted in these popular oral
poems. This fondness they even retained long after their conversion
to Christianity, as we learn from the examples of Charlemagne and
Alfred[493]. Now poetry, being thus the transmitter of facts, would
as easily learn to blend them with fictions in France and England,
as she is known to have done in the north, and that much sooner, for
the reasons before assigned[494]. This, together with the example and
influence of the Normans, will easily account to us, why the first
romances of chivalry that appeared both in England and France[495]
were composed in metre, as a rude kind of epic songs. In both kingdoms
tales in verse were usually sung by minstrels to the harp on festival
occasions: and doubtless both nations derived their relish for this
sort of entertainment from their Teutonic ancestors, without either of
them borrowing it from the other. Among both people narrative songs on
true or fictitious subjects had evidently obtained from the earliest
times. But the professed romances of chivalry seem to have been first
composed in France, where also they had their name.
The Latin tongue, as is observed by an ingenious writer[496], ceased
to be spoken in France about the ninth century, and was succeeded
by what was called the Romance tongue, a mixture of the language of
the Franks and bad Latin. As the songs of chivalry became the most
popular compositions in that language, they were emphatically called
Romans or Romants; though this name was at first given to any piece of
poetry. The romances of chivalry can be traced as early as the eleventh
century[497]. I know not if the _Roman de Brut_ written in 1155, was
such: but if it was, it was by no means the first poem of the kind;
others more ancient are still extant[498]. And we have already seen,
that, in the preceding century, when the Normans marched down to the
battle of Hastings, they animated themselves, by singing (in some
popular romance or ballad) the exploits of Roland and the other heroes
of chivalry[499].
So early as this I cannot trace the songs of chivalry in English. The
most ancient I have seen, is that of Hornechild described below, which
seems not older than the twelfth century. However, as this rather
resembles the Saxon poetry than the French, it is not certain that the
first English romances were translated from that language[500]. We have
seen above, that a propensity to this kind of fiction prevailed among
all the Gothic nations[501]; and, though after the Norman Conquest,
this country abounded with French romances, or with translations from
the French, there is good reason to believe, that the English had
original pieces of their own.
The stories of King Arthur and his Round Table, may be reasonably
supposed of the growth of this island; both the French and the
Armoricans probably had them from Britain[502]. The stories of Guy
and Bevis, with some others, were probably the invention of English
minstrels[503]. On the other hand, the English procured translations of
such romances as were most current in France; and in the list given at
the conclusion of these remarks, many are doubtless of French original.
The first prose books of chivalry that appeared in our language, were
those printed by Caxton[504]; at least, these are the first I have
been able to discover, and these are all translations from the French.
Whereas romances of this kind had been long current in metre, and were
so generally admired in the time of Chaucer, that his rhyme of Sir
Thopas was evidently written to ridicule and burlesque them[505].
He expressly mentions several of them by name in a stanza, which I have
had occasion to quote more than once in this volume:
"Men speken of Romaunces of pris
Of Horn-Child, and of Ipotis
Of Bevis, and Sire Guy
Of Sire Libeux, and Pleindamour,
But Sire Thopas, he bereth the flour
Of real chevalrie"[506].
Most, if not all of these are still extant in MS. in some or other of
our libraries, as I shall shew in the conclusion of this slight essay,
where I shall give a list of such metrical histories and romances as
have fallen under my observation.
As many of these contain a considerable portion of poetic merit, and
throw great light on the manners and opinions of former times, it
were to be wished that some of the best of them were rescued from
oblivion. A judicious collection of them accurately published with
proper illustrations, would be an important accession to our stock of
ancient English literature. Many of them exhibit no mean attempts at
epic poetry, and though full of the exploded fictions of chivalry,
frequently display great descriptive and inventive powers in the
bards, who composed them. They are at least generally equal to any
other poetry of the same age. They cannot indeed be put in competition
with the nervous productions of so universal and commanding a genius
as Chaucer, but they have a simplicity that makes them be read with
less interruption, and be more easily understood: and they are far
more spirited and entertaining than the tedious allegories of Gower,
or the dull and prolix legends of Lydgate. Yet, while so much stress
was laid upon the writings of these last, by such as treat of English
poetry, the old metrical romances, though far more popular in their
time, were hardly known to exist. But it has happened unluckily, that
the antiquaries, who have revived the works of our ancient writers,
have been for the most part men void of taste and genius, and therefore
have always fastidiously rejected the old poetical romances, because
founded on fictitious or popular subjects, while they have been careful
to grub up every petty fragment of the most dull and insipid rhymist,
whose merit it was to deform morality, or obscure true history. Should
the publick encourage the revival of some of those ancient epic songs
of chivalry, they would frequently see the rich ore of an Ariosto or a
Tasso, though buried it may be among the rubbish and dross of barbarous
times.
Such a publication would answer many important uses: It would throw new
light on the rise and progress of English poetry, the history of which
can be but imperfectly understood, if these are neglected: It would
also serve to illustrate innumerable passages in our ancient classic
poets, which without their help must be for ever obscure. For, not
to mention Chaucer and Spencer, who abound with perpetual allusions
to them, I shall give an instance or two from Shakespeare, by way of
specimen of their use.
In his play of _King John_ our great dramatic poet alludes to an
exploit of Richard I. which the reader will in vain look for in any
true history. Faulconbridge says to his mother, act i. sc. 1.
"Needs must you lay your heart at his dispose ...
Against whose furie and unmatched force,
The awlesse lion could not wage the fight,
Nor keepe his princely heart from Richard's hand:
He that perforce robs Lions of their hearts
May easily winne a woman's:"
The fact here referred to, is to be traced to its source only in the
old romance of _Richard Ceur["C[oe]ur"?] de Lyon_[507], in which
his encounter with a lion makes a very shining figure. I shall give a
large extract from this poem, as a specimen of the manner of these old
rhapsodists, and to shew that they did not in their fictions neglect
the proper means to produce the ends, as was afterwards so childishly
done in the prose books of chivalry.
The poet tells us, that Richard, in his return from the Holy Land,
having been discovered in the habit of "a palmer in Almayne," and
apprehended as a spy, was by the king thrown into prison. Wardrewe,
the king's son, hearing of Richard's great strength, desires the
jailor to let him have a sight of his prisoners. Richard being the
foremost, Wardrewe asks him, "if he dare stand a buffet from his
hand?" and that on the morrow he shall return him another. Richard
consents, and receives a blow that staggers him. On the morrow, having
previously waxed his hands, he waits his antagonist's arrival. Wardrewe
accordingly, proceeds the story, "held forth as a trewe man," and
Richard gave him such a blow on the cheek, as broke his jawbone, and
killed him on the spot. The king, to revenge the death of his son,
orders, by the advice of one Eldrede, that a lion, kept purposely from
food, shall be turned loose upon Richard. But the king's daughter
having fallen in love with him, tells him of her father's resolution,
and at his request procures him forty ells of white silk "kerchers;"
and here the description of the combat begins:
"The kever-chefes[508] he toke on honde,
And aboute his arme he wonde;
And thought in that ylke while,
To slee the lyon with some gyle.
And syngle in a kyrtyll he stode,
And abode the lyon fyers and wode,
With that came the jaylere,
And other men that wyth him were,
And the lyon them amonge;
His pawes were stiffe and stronge.
The chambre dore they undone,
And the lyon to them is gone.
Rycharde sayd, Helpe lorde Jesu!
The lyon made to hym venu,
And wolde hym have all to rente:
Kynge Rycharde besyde hym glente[509]
The lyon on the breste hym spurned,
That aboute he tourned.
The lyon was hongry and megre,
And bette his tayle to be egre;
He loked aboute as he were madde;
Abrode he all his pawes spradde.
He cryed lowde, and yaned[510] wyde.
Kynge Rycharde bethought hym that tyde
What hym was beste, and to hym sterte,
In at the throte his honde he gerte,
And hente out the herte with his honde,
Lounge and all that he there fonde.
The lyon fell deed to the grounde:
Rycharde felte no wem[511], ne wounde.
He fell on his knees on that place,
And thanked Jesu of his grace."
* * * * *
What follows is not so well, and therefore I shall extract no more
of this poem.--For the above feat the author tells us, the king was
deservedly called
"Stronge Rycharde Cure de Lyowne."
That distich which Shakespeare puts in the mouth of his madman in _K.
Lear_, act iii. sc. 4.
"Mice and Rats and such small deere
Have been Tom's food for seven long yeare,"
has excited the attention of the critics. Instead of _deere_, one
of them would substitute _geer_; and another _cheer_[512]. But the
ancient reading is established by the old romance of Sir Bevis, which
Shakespeare had doubtless often heard sung to the harp. This distich is
part of a description there given of the hardships suffered by Bevis,
when confined for seven years in a dungeon:
"Rattes and myse and such small dere
Was his meate that seven yere."--Sign. F. iii.
III. In different parts of this work, the reader will find various
extracts from these old poetical legends; to which I refer him for
farther examples of their style and metre. To complete this subject,
it will be proper at least to give one specimen of their skill in
distributing and conducting their fable, by which it will be seen that
nature and common sense had supplied to these old simple bards the want
of critical art, and taught them some of the most essential rules of
epic poetry.--I shall select the romance of _Libius Disconius_[513],
as being one of those mentioned by Chaucer, and either shorter or more
intelligible than the others he has quoted.
If an epic poem may be defined,[514] "A fable related by a poet, to
excite admiration, and inspire virtue, by representing the action of
some one hero, favoured by heaven, who executes a great design, in
spite of all the obstacles that oppose him:" I know not why we should
withold the name of Epic Poem from the piece which I am about to
analyse.
My copy is divided into IX. Parts or Cantos, the several arguments of
which are as follows.
PART I.
Opens with a short exordium to bespeak attention: the hero is
described; a natural son of Sir Gawain a celebrated knight of king
Arthur's court, who being brought up in a forest by his mother, is
kept ignorant of his name and descent. He early exhibits marks of
his courage, by killing a knight in single combat, who encountered
him as he was hunting. This inspires him with a desire of seeking
adventures: therefore cloathing himself in his enemy's armour, he goes
to K. Arthur's court, to request the order of knighthood. His request
granted, he obtains a promise of having the first adventure assigned
him that shall offer.--A damsel named Ellen, attended by a dwarf, comes
to implore K. Arthur's assistance, to rescue a young princess, "the
Lady of Sinadone" their mistress, who is detained from her rights, and
confined in prison. The adventure is claimed by the young knight Sir
Lybius: the king assents; the messengers are dissatisfied, and object
to his youth; but are forced to acquiesce. And here the first book
closes with a description of the ceremony of equipping him forth.