English Songs and Ballads Part 24

Upon a mushroome's head Our table-cloth we spread; A grain of rye, or wheat, Is manchet, which we eat; Pearly drops of dew we drink In acorn cups fill'd to the brink.

The brains of nightingales, With unctuous fat of snailes, Between two c.o.c.kles stew'd, Is meat that's easily chew'd; Tailes of wormes, and marrow of mice, Do make a dish that's wondrous nice.

The gra.s.shopper, gnat, and fly, Serve for our minstrelsie; Grace said, we dance a while, And so the time beguile: And if the moon doth hide her head, The gloe-worm lights us home to bed.

On tops of dewie gra.s.se So nimbly do we pa.s.se; The young and tender stalk Ne'er bends when we do walk: Yet in the morning may be seen Where we the night before have been.

THE PRAISE OF A COUNTRYMAN'S LIFE

JOHN CHALKHILL

Oh, the sweet contentment The countryman doth find, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; That quiet contemplation Possesseth all my mind: Then care away, and wend along with me.

For courts are full of flattery, As hath too oft been tried, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; The city full of wantonness, And both are full of pride; Then care away, and wend along with me.

But, oh! the honest countryman Speaks truly from his heart, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; His pride is in his tillage, His horses and his cart: Then care away, and wend along with me.

Our clothing is good sheep-skins, Grey russet for our wives, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; 'Tis warmth and not gay clothing That doth prolong our lives: Then care away, and wend along with me.

The ploughman, though he labour hard, Yet on the holy day, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; No emperor so merrily Does pa.s.s his time away: Then care away, and wend along with me.

To recompense our tillage The heavens afford us showers, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee And for our sweet refreshments The earth affords us bowers; Then care away, and wend along with me.

The cuckoo and the nightingale Full merrily do sing, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; And with their pleasant roundelays Bid welcome to the spring: Then care away, and wend along with me.

This is not half the happiness The countryman enjoys, High trolollie, lollie, lol; high trolollie, lee; Though others think they have as much, Yet he that says so lies: Then care away, and wend along with me.

HERE'S A HEALTH

ANONYMOUS

Here's a health unto His Majesty, _With a fa, la, la, la, la, la, la!_ Confusion to his enemies, _With a fa, la, la, la, la, la, la!_ And he that will not drink his health, I wish him neither wit nor wealth, Nor yet a rope to hang himself, _With a fa, la, la, la, la, la, la!_

BLACK-EYED SUSAN

JOHN GAY

All in the Downs the fleet was moor'd, The streamers waving in the wind, When black-eyed Susan came on board, 'Oh, where shall I my true-love find?

Tell me, ye jovial sailors, tell me true, Does my sweet William sail among your crew?'

William, who high upon the yard Rock'd by the billows to and fro, Soon as the well-known voice he heard, He sigh'd and cast his eyes below; The cord flies swiftly through his glowing hands, And quick as lightning on the deck he stands.

'O Susan, Susan, lovely dear, My vows shall always true remain, Let me kiss off that falling tear,-- We only part to meet again; Change as ye list, ye winds, my heart shall be The faithful compa.s.s that still points to thee.

'Believe not what the landsmen say, Who tempt with doubts thy constant mind; They tell thee sailors, when away, In every port a mistress find; Yes, yes, believe them when they tell you so, For thou art present wheresoe'er I go.'

The boatswain gave the dreadful word, The sails their swelling bosom spread; No longer she must stay on board,-- They kiss'd, she sigh'd, he hung his head: Her lessening boat unwilling rows to land, 'Adieu!' she cried, and wav'd her lily hand.

ANNIE LAURIE

ANONYMOUS

Maxwellton braes are bonnie, Where early fa's the dew, And 'twas there that Annie Laurie Gied me her promise true; Gied me her promise true, Which ne'er forgot shall be, And for bonnie Annie Laurie, I'd lay me doon and dee.

Her brow is like the snaw-flake, Her neck is like the swan, Her face it is the fairest That e'er the sun shone on; That e'er the sun shone on, And dark blue is her e'e; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doon and dee.

Like dew on the gowan lying, Is the fa' of her fairy feet; And like winds in summer sighing, Her voice is low and sweet; Her voice is low and sweet, And she's a' the world to me; And for bonnie Annie Laurie I'd lay me doon and dee.

RULE BRITANNIA

JAMES THOMSON

When Britain first at Heaven's command Arose from out the azure main, This was the charter of her land, And guardian angels sang the strain:

Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves!

Britons never shall be slaves!

The nations not so blest as thee Must in their turn to tyrants fall, Whilst thou shalt flourish great and free-- The dread and envy of them all!

Still more majestic shalt thou rise, More dreadful from each foreign stroke; As the last blast which tears the skies Serves but to root thy native oak.

Thee haughty tyrants ne'er shall tame; All their attempts to bend thee down Will but arouse thy generous flame, And work their woe and thy renown.

To thee belongs the rural reign; Thy cities shall with commerce s.h.i.+ne; All thine shall be the subject main, And every sh.o.r.e it circles thine

The Muses, still with Freedom found, Shall to thy happy coast repair; Blest Isle, with matchless beauty crown'd, And manly hearts to guard the fair:--

Rule Britannia! Britannia rules the waves!

Britons never shall be slaves!