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69; and also in Cunningham's SONGS OF ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND; London; 1835。 We cannot venture to give an opinion as to which is the original; but the English set is of unquestionable antiquity。 Our copy was obtained from Yorkshire。 It has been collated with one printed at the Aldermary press; and preserved in the third volume of the Roxburgh Collection。 The tune is peculiar to the song。'
O! I went into the stable; and there for to see; (49) And there I saw three horses stand; by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'O! what do these three horses here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three milking cows my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! milking cows with saddles on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
O! I went into the kitchen; and there for to see; And there I saw three swords hang; by one; by two; quoth she; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' 'O! what do these three swords do here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three roasting spits my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! roasting spits with scabbards on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
O! I went into the parlour; and there for to see; And there I saw three cloaks hang; by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'O! what do these three cloaks do here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three mantuas my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! mantuas with capes on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
O! I went into the pantry; and there for to see; And there I saw three pair of boots; (50) by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'O! what do these three pair of boots here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three pudding…bags my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! pudding…bags with spurs on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
O! I went into the dairy; and there for to see; And there I saw three hats hang; by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'Pray what do these three hats here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; These are three skimming…dishes my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! skimming…dishes with hat…bands on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
O! I went into the chamber; and there for to see; And there I saw three men in bed; by one; by two; and by three; O! I called to my loving wife; and 'Anon; kind sir!' quoth she; 'O! what do these three men here; without the leave of me?'
'Why; you old fool! blind fool! can't you very well see; They are three milking…maids my mother sent to me?' 'Ods bobs! well done! milking…maids with beards on! The like was never known!' Old Wichet a cuckold went out; and a cuckold he came home!
Ballad: THE JOLLY WAGGONER。
'THIS country song can be traced back a century at least; but is; no doubt; much older。 It is very popular in the West of England。 The words are spirited and characteristic。 We may; perhaps; refer the song to the days of transition; when the waggon displaced the packhorse。'
WHEN first I went a…waggoning; a…waggoning did go; I filled my parents' hearts full of sorrow; grief; and woe。 (51) And many are the hardships that I have since gone through。 And sing wo; my lads; sing wo! Drive on my lads; I…ho! (52) And who wouldn't lead the life of a jolly waggoner?
It is a cold and stormy night; and I'm wet to the skin; I will bear it with contentment till I get unto the inn。 And then I'll get a drinking with the landlord and his kin。 And sing; &c。
Now summer it is coming; … what pleasure we shall see; The small birds are a…singing on every green tree; The blackbirds and the thrushes are a…whistling merrilie。 And sing; &c。
Now Michaelmas is coming; … what pleasure we shall find; It will make the gold to fly; my boys; like chaff before the wind; And every lad shall take his lass; so loving and so kind。 And sing; &c。
Ballad: THE YORKSHIRE HORSE…DEALER。
'THIS ludicrous and genuine Yorkshire song; the production of some unknown country minstrel; obtained considerable popularity a few years ago from the admirable singing of Emery。 The incidents actually occurred at the close of the last century; and some of the descendants of 'Tommy Towers' were resident at Clapham till within a very recent period; and used to take great delight in relating the laughable adventure of their progenitor。 Abey Muggins is understood to be a SOBRIQUET for a then Clapham innkeeper。 The village of Clapham is in the west of Yorkshire; on the high road between Skipton and Kendal。'
BANE (53) ta Claapam town…gate (54) lived an ond Yorkshire tike; Who i' dealing i' horseflesh hed ne'er met his like; 'Twor his pride that i' aw the hard bargains he'd hit; He'd bit a girt monny; but nivver bin bit。
This ond Tommy Towers (bi that naam he wor knaan); Hed an oud carrion tit that wor sheer skin an' baan; Ta hev killed him for t' curs wad hev bin quite as well; But 'twor Tommy opinion (55) he'd dee on himsel!
Well! yan Abey Muggins; a neighborin cheat; Thowt ta diddle ond Tommy wad be a girt treat; Hee'd a horse; too; 'twor war than ond Tommy's; ye see; Fort' neet afore that hee'd thowt proper ta dee!
Thinks Abey; t' oud codger 'll nivver smoak t' trick; I'll swop wi' him my poor deead horse for his wick; (56) An' if Tommy I nobbut (57) can happen ta trap; 'Twill be a fine feather i' Aberram cap!
Soa to Tommy he goas; an' the question he pops: 'Betwin thy horse and mine; prithee; Tommy; what swops? What wilt gi' me ta boot? for mine's t'better horse still!' 'Nout;' says Tommy; 'I'll swop ivven hands; an' ye will。'
Abey preaached a lang time about summat ta boot; Insistin' that his war the liveliest brute; But Tommy stuck fast where he first had begun; Till Abey shook hands; and sed; 'Well; Tommy; done!
'O! Tommy;' sed Abey; 'I'ze sorry for thee; I thowt thou'd a hadden mair white i' thy ee; Good luck's wi' thy bargin; for my horse is deead。' 'Hey!' says Tommy; 'my lad; soa is min; an it's fleead?'
Soa Tommy got t' better of t' bargin; a vast; An' cam off wi' a Yorkshireman's triumph at last; For thof 'twixt deead horses there's not mitch to choose; Yet Tommy war richer by t' hide an' fower shooes。
Ballad: THE KING AND THE COUNTRYMAN。
'THIS popular favourite is a mere abridgment and alteration of a poem preserved in the Roxburgh Collection; called THE KING AND NORTHERN MAN; SHEWING HOW A POOR NORTHUMBERLAND MAN (TENANT TO THE KING) BEING WRONGED BY A LAWYER (HIS NEIGHBOUR) WENT TO THE KING HIMSELF TO MAKE KNOWN HIS GRIEVANCE。 TO THE TUNE OF SL