ancient poems-第2部分

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The　value　of　this　volume　consists　in　the　genuineness　of　its　　contents；　and　the　healthiness　of　its　tone。　　While　fashionable　life　　was　masquerading　in　imaginary　Arcadias；　and　deluging　theatres　and　　concert　rooms　with　shams；　the　English　peasant　remained　true　to　the　　realities　of　his　own　experience；　and　produced　and　sang　songs　which　　faithfully　reflected　the　actual　life　around　him。　　Whatever　these　　songs　describe　is　true　to　that　life。　　There　are　no　fictitious　　raptures　in　them。　　Love　here　never　dresses　its　emotions　in　　artificial　images；　nor　disguises　itself　in　the　mask　of　a　Strephon　　or　a　Daphne。　　It　is　in　this　particular　aspect　that　the　poetry　of　　the　country　possesses　a　permanent　and　moral　interest。

R。　B。



ANCIENT　POEMS；　BALLADS；　AND　SONGS　OF　THE　PEASANTRY。




Contents

Poems：

The　plain…dealing　man。　The　vanities　of　life。　The　life　and　age　of　man。　The　young　man's　wish。　The　midnight　messenger；　or；　a　sudden　call　from　an　earthly　glory　to　　the　cold　grave。　A　dialogue　betwixt　an　exciseman　and　death。　The　messenger　of　mortality；　or　life　and　death　contrasted　in　a　　dialogue　betwixt　death　and　a　lady。　England's　alarm；　or　the　pious　christian's　speedy　call　to　repentance　Smoking　spiritualized。　The　masonic　hymn。　God　speed　the　plow；　and　bless　the　corn…mow。　　A　dialogue　between　the　　husbandman　and　servingman。　A　dialogue　between　the　husbandman　and　the　servingman。　The　Catholick。　The　three　knights。　The　blind　beggar　of　Bednall　Green。

Ballads：

The　bold　pedlar　and　Robin　Hood。　The　outlandish　knight。　Lord　Delaware。　Lord　Bateman。　The　golden　glove；　or；　the　squire　of　tamworth。　King　James　I。　And　the　tinkler。　The　Keach　i'　the　Creel。　The　Merry　Broomfield；　or；　the　west　country　wager。　Sir　John　Barleycorn。　Blow　the　winds；　i…ho！　The　beautiful　lady　of　Kent；　or；　the　seaman　of　Dover。　The　Berkshire　lady's　garland。　The　nobleman's　generous　kindness。　The　drunkard's　legacy。　The　Bowes　tragedy。　The　crafty　lover；　or；　the　lawyer　outwitted。　The　death　of　Queen　Jane。　The　wandering　young　gentlewoman；　or；　Catskin。　The　brave　Earl　Brand　and　the　King　of　England's　Daughter。　The　Jovial　Hunter　of　Bromsgrove；　or；　the　old　man　and　his　three　　sons。　Lady　Alice。　The　felon　sewe　of　rokeby　and　the　freeres　of　Richmond。　Arthur　o'Bradley's　wedding。　The　painful　plough。　The　useful　plow；　or；　the　plough's　praise。　The　farmer's　son。　The　farmer's　boy。　Richard　of　Taunton　Dean；　or；　dumble　dum　deary。　Wooing　song　of　a　yeoman　of　Kent's　sonne。　The　clown's　courtship。　Harry's　courtship。　Harvest…home　song。　Harvest…home。　The　mow。　The　barley…mow　song。　The　barley…mow　song。　　（Suffolk　version。）　The　craven　churn…supper　song。　The　rural　dance　about　the　may…pole。　The　Hitchin　may…day　song。　The　Helstone　furry…day　song。　Cornish　midsummer　bonfire　song。　Suffolk　harvest…home　song。　The　haymaker's　song。　The　sword…dancers'　song。　The　sword…dancers'　song　and　interlude。　The　maskers'　song。　Gloucestershire　wassailers'　song。　The　mummers'　song；　or；　the　poor　old　horse。　Fragment　of　the　hagmena　song。　The　greenside　wakes　song。　The　swearing…in　song　or　rhyme。　Fairlop　fair　song。　As　Tom　was　a…walking。　The　miller　and　his　sons。　Jack　and　Tom。　Joan's　ale　was　new。　George　Ridler's　oven。　The　carrion　crow。　The　leathern　bottel。　The　farmer's　old　wife。　Old　Wichet　and　his　wife。　The　Jolly　Waggoner。　The　Yorkshire　horse…dealer。　The　King　and　the　countryman。　Jone　o'　Greenfield's　ramble。　Thornehagh…moor　woods。　The　Lincolnshire　poacher。　Somersetshire　hunting　song。　The　trotting　horse。　The　seeds　of　love。　The　garden…gate。　The　new…mown　hay。　The　praise　of　a　dairy。　The　milk…maid's　life。　The　milking…pail。　The　summer's　morning。　Old　Adam。　Tobacco。　The　Spanish　Ladies。　Harry　the　Tailor。　Sir　Arthur　and　Charming　Mollee。　There　was　an　old　man　came　over　the　lea。　Why　should　we　quarrel　for　riches。　The　merry　fellows；　or；　he　that　will　not　merry；　merry　be。　The　old　man's　song。　Robin　Hood's　hill。　Begone　dull　care。　Full　merrily　sings　the　cuckoo。　Jockey　to　the　fair。　Long　Preston　Peg。　The　sweet　nightingale；　or；　down　in　those　valleys　below。　The　old　man　and　his　three　sons。　A　begging　we　will　go。




Poem：　THE　PLAIN…DEALING　MAN。



＇THE　oldest　copy　of　the　PLAIN　DEALING　MAN　with　which　we　have　been　　able　to　meet　is　in　black　letter；　printed　by　T。　Vere　at　the　sign　'Of　　the　Angel　without　Newgate。'　　Vere　was　living　in　1609。＇

A　CROTCHET　comes　into　my　mind　Concerning　a　proverb　of　old；　Plain　dealing's　a　jewel　most　rare；　And　more　precious　than　silver　or　gold：　And　therefore　with　patience　give　ear；　And　listen　to　what　here　is　penned；　These　verses　were　written　on　purpose　The　honest　man's　cause　to　defend。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

Yet　some　are　so　impudent　grown；　They'll　domineer；　vapour；　and　swagger；　And　say　that　the　plain…dealing　man　Was　born　to　die　a　beggar：　But　men　that　are　honestly　given　Do　such　evil　actions　detest；　And　every　one　that　is　well…minded　Will　say　that　plain　dealing　is　best。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

For　my　part　I　am　a　poor　man；　And　sometimes　scarce　muster　a　shilling；　Yet　to　live　upright　in　the　world；　Heaven　knows　I　am　wondrous　willing。　Although　that　my　clothes　be　threadbare；　And　my　calling　be　simple　and　poor；　Yet　will　I　endeavour　myself　To　keep　off　the　wolf　from　the　door。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

And　now；　to　be　brief　in　discourse；　In　plain　terms　I'll　tell　you　my　mind；　My　qualities　you　shall　all　know；　And　to　what　my　humour's　inclined：　I　hate　all　dissembling　base　knaves　And　pickthanks　whoever　they　be；　And　for　painted…faced　drabs；　and　such　like；　They　shall　never　get　penny　of　me。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

Nor　can　I　abide　any　tongues　That　will　prattle　and　prate　against　reason；　About　that　which　doth　not　concern　them；　Which　thing　is　no　better　than　treason。　Wherefore　I'd　wish　all　that　do　hear　me　Not　to　meddle　with　matters　of　state；　Lest　they　be　in　question　called　for　it；　And　repent　them　when　it　is　too　late。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　spiteful　neighbours；　Whose　malicious　humours　are　bent；　And　do　practise　and　strive　every　day　To　wrong　the　poor　innocent。　By　means　of　such　persons　as　they；　There　hath　many　a　good　mother's　son　Been　utterly　brought　to　decay；　Their　wives　and　their　children　undone。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　forsworn　knaves；　That　do　no　conscience　make　To　swear　and　forswear　themselves　At　every　third　word　they　do　speak：　So　they　may　get　profit　and　gain；　They　care　not　what　lies　they　do　tell；　Such　cursed　dissemblers　as　they　Are　worse　than　the　devils　of　hell。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　greedy　bribe　takers；　'Tis　pity　they　ever　drew　breath；　For　they；　like　to　base　caterpillars；　Devour　up　the　fruits　of　the　earth。　They're　apt　to　take　money　with　both　hands；　On　one　side　and　also　the　other；　And　care　not　what　men　they　undo；　Though　it　be　their　own　father　or　brother。　Therefore　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　show　very　good　reasons　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

O　fie　upon　cheaters　and　thieves；　That　liveth　by　fraud　and　deceit；　The　gallows　do　for　such　blades　groan；　And　the　hangmen　do　for　their　clothes　wait。　Though　poverty　be　a　disgrace；　And　want　is　a　pitiful　grief；　'Tis　better　to　go　like　a　beggar　Than　to　ride　in　a　cart　like　a　thief。　For　this　I　will　make　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

And　now　let　all　honest　men　judge；　If　such　men　as　I　have　here　named　For　their　wicked　and　impudent　dealings；　Deserveth　not　much　to　be　blamed。　And　now　here；　before　I　conclude；　One　item　to　the　world　I　will　give；　Which　may　direct　some　the　right　way；　And　teach　them　the　better　to　live。　For　now　I　have　made　it　appear；　And　many　men　witness　it　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。

1。　　I'　th'　first　place　I'd　wish　you　beware　What　company　you　come　in；　For　those　that　are　wicked　themselves　May　quickly　tempt　others　to　sin。

2。　　If　youths　be　induced　with　wealth；　And　have　plenty　of　silver　and　gold；　I'd　wish　them　keep　something　in　store；　To　comfort　them　when　they　are　old。

3。　　I　have　known　many　young　prodigals；　Which　have　wasted　their　money　so　fast；　That　they　have　been　driven　in　want；　And　were　forced　to　beg　at　the　last。

4。　　I'd　wish　all　men　bear　a　good　conscience；　And　in　all　their　actions　be　just；　For　he's　a　false　varlet　indeed　That　will　not　be　true　to　his　trust。

And　now　to　conclude　my　new　song；　And　draw　to　a　perfect　conclusion；　I　have　told　you　what　is　in　my　mind；　And　what　is　my　＇firm＇　resolution。　For　this　I　have　made　it　appear；　And　prove　by　experience　I　can；　'Tis　the　excellen'st　thing　in　the　world　To　be　a　plain…dealing　man。



Poem：　THE　VANITIES　OF　LIFE。



＇THE　following　verses　were　copi