Cicely, the western lass, that tends the kee, “ Have I not sat with thee full many a night, The rival of the parson's maid was she. When dying embers were our only light, In dreary shade now Marian lies along, When every creature did in slumbers lie, And, mixt with sighs, thus wails in plaining song : Besides our cat, my Colin Clout, and I? 90 “Ah, woful day! ah, woful noon and morn! No troublous thoughts the cat or Colin move, When first by thee my younglings white were shorn; While I alone am kepi awake by love. Then first, I ween, I cast a lover's eye, " Remember, Colin! when at last year's wake My sheep were silly, but more silly I. I bought the costly present for thy sake; Beneath the shears they felt no lasting smart, Couldst thou spell o'er the posy on thy knife, They lost but fleeces, while I lost a heart. 30 And with another change thy state of life? “Ah, Colin! canst thou leave thy sweetheart If thou forgett'st, I wol, I can repeat, true ? My memory can tell the verse so sweet: What I have done for thee, will Cicely do ? · As this is grav'd upon this knife of thine, Will she thy linen wash, or hosen darn, So is thy image on this heart of mine.' 100 And knit thee gloves made of her own spun yarn? But woe is me! such presents luckless prove, Will she with huswife's hand provide thy meat? For knives, they tell me, always sever love." And every Sunday morn thy neckcloth plait, Thus Marian wailid, her eyes with tears brimful, Which o'er thy kersey doublet spreading wide, When Goody Dobbins brought her cow to bull. In service-time drew Cicely's eyes aside ? With apron blue to dry her tears she sought, ." Where'er I gad, I cannot hide my care, Then saw the cow wellserv'd, and took a groat. My new disasters in my look appear. 40 WEDNESDAY; OR, THE DUMPS. SPARABELLA. " Whilom with thee 'twas Marian's dear delight A maiden fair, that Sparabella hight. A while, O D'Urfey! lend an ear or twain, Lost in the music of the whirling flail, Nor, tho' in homely guise, my verse disdain ; 10 To gaze on thee I left the smoking pail : Whether thou seek'st new kingdoms in the Sun, In harvest, when the Sun was mounted high, Whether thy Muse does at Newmarket run, My leathern bottle did thy draught supply ; 60 Or does with gossips at a feast regale, Whene'er you mow'd, I follow'd with the rake, And heighten her conceits with sack and ale, And have full oft been sun-burnt for thy sake: Or else at wakes with Joan and Hodge rejoice, When in the welkin gathering showers were seen, Where D'Urfey's lyrics swell in every voice; I lagg'd the last with Colin on the green; And when at eve returning with thy car, Awaiting heard the jingling bells from far, Straight on the fire the sooty pot I plac'd, Dumps, or dumbs, made use of to express a fit of the To warm thy broth I burnt my hands for haste. sullens. Some have pretended that it is derived from When hungry thou stood'st staring, like an oaf, Dumops, a king of Egypt, that built a pyrainid, and died I slic'd the luncheon from the barley-loaf; 70 of melancholy. So mopes, after the same manner, is thought to have come from Merops, another Egyptian With crumbled bread I thicken'd well thy mess. king, that died of the same distemper. But our English Ah, love me more, or love thy potiage less ! antiquaries have conjectured that dumps, which is a “ Last Friday's eve, when as the Sun was set, grierous heaviness of spirits, comes from the word dump. I, near yon stile, three sallow gypsies met. ling, the heaviest kind of pudding that is eaten in this Upon my hand they cast a poring look, country, much used in Norfolk, and other counties of Bid me beware, and thrice their heads they shook : England. They said, that many crosses I must prove; Ver. 5. Some in my worldly gain, but most in love. Immemor herbarum quos est mirata juvenca Next morn I miss'd three hens and our old cock; Certantes, quorum stupefactæ carmine lynces, And off the hedge two pinners and a smock ; 80 Et mutata suos requierunt flumina cursus. I bore these losses with a Christian mind, Virg: And no mishaps could feel, while thou wert kind. Ver. 9. Tu mihi, seu magni superas jam saxa Timavi, Virg. Ver. 11. An opera written by this author, called The World in the Sun, or the Kingdom of Birds; he is also famous for his song on the Newmarket horse-race, and Ver. 21. Kee, a west-country word for kine, or cows. several others that are sung by the British swains. 66 Yet suffer me, thou bard of wond'rous meed, “Sooner shall cats disport in waters clear, And speckled mack'rel graze the meadows fair; Now the Sun drove adown the western road, Sooner shall screech-owls bask in sunny day, And oxen, laid at rest, forgot the goad, 20 And the slow ass on trees, like squirrels, play; 70 The clown, fatigu'd, trudg'd homeward with his Sooner shall snails on insect pinions rove; spade, Than I forget my shepherd's wonted love. Across the meadows stretch'd the lengthen'd shade; My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, When Sparabella, pensive and forlorn, 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' Alike with yearning love and labor worn, Ah! didst thou know what proffers I withstood, Lean'd on her rake, and straight with doleful guise When late I met the squire in yonder wood! Did this sad plaint in mournful notes devise : To me he sped, regardless of his game, “Come Night, as dark as pitch, surround my head, While all my cheek was glowing red with shame; From Sparabella Bumkinet is fed; My lip he kiss'd, and prais'd my healthful look, The ribbon that his valorous cudgel won, Then from his purse of silk a guinea look, 80 Last Sunday bappier Clumsilis put on. 30 into my hand he forc'd the tempting gold, Sure if he'd eyes (but Love, they say, has none) While I with modest struggling broke his hold. I whilom by that ribbon had been known. He swore that Dick, in livery strip'd with lace, Ah, well-a-day! I'm shent with baneful smart, Should wed me soon, to keep me from disgrace ; For with the ribbon he bestow'd his heart. But I nor footman priz'd, nor golden fee; “My plaint, ye lasses, with this burihen aid, For what is lace or gold, compar'd to thee ? • 'Tis hard su true a damsel dies a maid.' “My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, “ Shall heavy Clumsilis with me coinpare ? • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' View this, ye lovers, and like me despair. “ Now plain I ken whence Love his rise begun Her blubber'd lip by smutty pipes is worn, Sure he was born some bloody butcher's son, 90 And in her breath tobacco whiffs are borne! 40 Bred up in shambles, where our younglings slain The cleanly cheese-press she could never turn, Erst taught him mischief, and to sport with pain. Her awkward fist did ne'er employ the churn; The father only silly sheep annoys, If e'er she brew'd, the drink would straight go sour, The son the sillier shepherdess destroys. Before it ever felt the thunder's power; Does son or father greater mischief do? No huswifery the dowdy creature knew; The sire is cruel, so the son is too. To sum up all, her tongue confess'd the shrew. "My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, “ My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' • 'Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' " Farewell, ye woods, ye meads, ye streams tha “I've often seen my visage in yon lake, Nor are my features of the homeliest make : 50 A sudden death shall rid me of my woe. 100 Though Clumsilis may boast a whiter dye, This penknife keen my wind pipe shall divide. Yet the black sloe turns in my rolling eye; What! shall I fall as squeaking pigs have died ? And fairest blossoms drop with every blast, No–To some tree this carcass I'll suspend. But the brown beauty will like hollies last. But worrying curs find such untimely end ! Her wan complexion 's like the wither'd leek, I'll speed me to the pond, where the high stool While Katharine pears adorn my ruddy cheek. On the long plank hangs o'er the muddy pool ; Yet she, alas! the witless lout hath won, That stool, the dread of every scolding quean; And by her gain poor Sparabell's undone ! Yet, sure a lover should not die so mean! Let hares and hounds in coupling straps unite, There plac'd aloft, I'll rave and rail by fits, The clucking hen make friendship with the kite; Though all the parish say I've lost my wits; 110 Let the fox simply wear the nuptial noose, 61 And thence, if courage holds, myself I'll throw, And join in wedlock with the waddling goose ; And quench my passion in the lake below. For love hath brought a stranger thing to pass, “Ye lasses, cease your burthen, cease to moan, The fairest shepherd weds the foulest lass. | And, by my case forewarn'd, go mind your own.” · My plaint, ye lasses, with this burthen aid, " "Tis hard so true a damsel dies a maid.' Ver. 67. Ver. 17. Meed, an old word for fame, or renown. Ante leves ergo pascentur in æthere cervi, Ver. 18. --Hanc sine tempora circum Et freta destituent nudos in littore pisces- Quàm nostro illius labatur pectore vultus. Virg. Ver. 25. Ver. 89. To ken. Scire. Chaucer, to kon, and kende; Incumbens tereti Damon sic cæpit olive. Virg. notus A. S. cunnam. Goth. kunnam. Germanis kennen. Ver. 33. Shent, an old word, signifying hurt, or harmed. Danis kiende. Iblandis kunna. Belgis kennen. This word Ver. 37. is of general use, but not very common, though not un. Mopso Nisa datur, quid non speremus amantes ? known to the vulgar. Ken, for prospicere, is well known, Virg. and used to discover by the eye. Ray, F. R. S. Ver. 49, Nunc scio quid sit amor, &c. Nec sum adeo informis, nuper me in littore vidi. Virg. Crudelis mater magis an puer improbus ille ? Ver. 53. Inprobus ille puer, crudelis tu quoque mater. Virg Alba ligustra cadunt, vaccinis nigra leguntur. Virg. Ver. 59. Ver. 99. Jungentur jam gryphes equis; ævoque sequenti -vivite sylve: Cum canibus timidi venient ad pocula dane. Praceps aërii speculá de montis in undas Virg. flow; HOBNELIA. The Sun was set; the night came on a pace, • With my sharp heel I three times mark the And falling dews bewet around the place; ground, The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And turn me thrice around, around, around.' And the hoarse owl his woful dirges sings; “ Last May-day fair 1 search'd 10 find a snail, The prudent maiden deems it now too late, That might my secret lover's name reveal. 50 And, till 10-morrow comes, defers her fate. 120 Upon a gooseberry-bush a snail I found, (For always snails near sweetest fruit abound). I seiz'd the vermin, whom I quickly sped, And on the earth the milk-white embers spread. Oh, may this wondrous omen lucky prove! For L is found in Lubberkin and Love. In pensive mood rehears'd her piteous tale; With my sharp heel I three times mark the Her piteous tale the winds in sighs bemoan, ground, And pining echo answers groan for groan. And turn me thrice around, around, around.' “I rue the day, a rueful day, I trow, The woful day, a day indeed of woe! “ Two hazel-nuts I threw into the flame, When Lubberkin to town his catile drove, And 10 each nut I gave a sweetheart's name; A maiden fine bedight he hapt to love ; This with the loudest bounce me sore amaz'd, The maiden fine bedight his love retains, That in a flame of brightest color blaz’d. And for the village he forsakes the plains. 10 As blaz'd the nut, so may thy passion grow; Return, my Lubberkin, these ditties hear; For 'twas thy nut that did so brightly glow. Spells will I try, and spells shall ease my care. With my sharp heel I three times mark the With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground, ground, 68 And turn me thrice around, around, around.' And turn me thrice around, around, around.' “As peascods once I pluck'd, I chanc'd to see When first the year I heard the cuckoo sing, One that was closely fill'd with three times three: And call with welcome note the budding spring, Which, when I cropp'd, I safely home convey'd, And o'er the door the spell in secret laid ; My wheel I turn'd, and sung a ballad new, While from the spindle I the fleeces drew; 20 The latch mov'd up, when, who should first come in, Then doff'd my shoe, and, by my troth, I swear, But, in his proper person—Lubberkin. Therein / spied this yellow frizzled hair, I broke my yarn, surpris'd the sight to see; As like to Lubberkin's in curl and hue, Sure sign that he would break his word with me. As if upon his comely pate it grew. Eftsoons I join'd it with my wonted sleight: So may again his love with mine unite! 80 * With my sharp heel I three times mark the . With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground, ground, And turn me thrice around, around, around.' And turn me thrice around, around, around.' “At eve last Midsummer no sleep I sought, “ This lady-fly I take from off the grass, But to the field a bag of hemp-seed brought; Whose spotted back might scarlet red surpass : I scatter'd round the seed on every side, · Fly, lady-bird, North, South, or East, or West, And three times in a trembling accent cried, 30 Fly where the man is found that I love best. • This hemp-seed with my virgin hand I sow, He leaves my hand ; see, to the West he's flown, Who shall my true-love be, the crop shall mow.' To call my true-love from the faithless town. I straight look'd back, and, if my eyes speak truth, With his keen scythe behind me came the youth. With my sharp heel I three times mark the ground, With my sharp heel I three times mark the And turn me thrice around, around, around.' 90 ground, "I pare this pippin round and round again, And turn me thrice around, around, around.' My shepherd's name to flourish on the plain, Yet on my heart a fairer L is seen 40 Than what the paring makes upon the green. A-field I went, amid the morning dew, . With my sharp heel I three times mark the To milk my kine (for so should huswives do); ground, Ver. 64.-εγώ δ' επί Λέλφιδι δάφναν Theoc. Ver. 66. Ver. 8. Dight, or bedight, from the Saxon word dighlan, Daphnis me malus urit, ego hanc in Daphnide. which signifies lo set in order. Virg. Ver. 21. Doff and don, contracted from the words do off Ver. 93. Transque caput jace; ne respexeris. and do on Virg. ܪ This pippin shall another trial make, From the tall elm a shower of leaves is borne, See from the core two kernels brown I take; 100 And their lost beauty riven beeches mourn. This on my cheek for Lubberkin is worn; Yet ev'n this season pleasance blithe affords, And Boobyclod on t'other side is borne. Now the squeez'd press foams with our apple hoards. But Boobyclod soon drops upon the ground, Come, let us hie, and quaff a cheery bowl, À certain token that his love's unsound; Let cider new “wash sorrow from thy soul." 10 While Lubberkin sticks firmly to the last; Oh, were his lips to mine but join'd so fast ! GRUBBINOL. • With my sharp heel I three times mark the Ah, Bumkinet! since thou from hence wert gone, ground, And turn me thrice around, around, around.' From these sad plains all merriment is flown; Should I reveal my grief, 'twould spoil thy cheer, BUMKINET. Hang sorrow!" Let's to yonder hut repair, And while I knit ihe knot repeat this strain : And with trim sonnets “cast away our care." • Three times a true-love's knot I tie secure, “Gillian of Croydon” well ihy pipe can play: Firm be the knot, firm may his love endure ! Thou sing'st most sweet, “O'er hills and far away." "With my sharp heel I three times mark the Of Patient Grissel” I devise to sing, ground, And catches quaint shall make the valleys ring. 20 And turn me thrice around, around, around.' Come, Grubbinol, beneath this shelter, come ; From hence we view our flocks securely roam. “As I was wont, I trudg'd last market-day To town, with new-laid eggs preserv'd in hay, 120 GRUBBINOL. Yes, blithesome lad, a tale I mean to sing, But with my woe shall distant valleys ring. The tale shall make our kidlings droop their head, Behap what will, next Sunday, after prayers, For, wo is me-our Blouzelind is dead ! When to the alehouse Lubberkin repairs, These golden flies into his mug I'll throw, BUMKINET. And soon the swain with fervent love shall glow. Is Blouzelinda dead? farewell, my glee! With my sharp heel I three times mark the No happiness is now reserv'd for me. ground, As the wood-pigeon cooes without his mate, And turn me thrice around, around, around' 130 So shall my doleful dirge bewail her fate. 30 But hold !-our Lightfoot barks, and cocks his of Blouzelinda fair I mean to tell, ears, The peerless maid that did all maids excel. O'er yonder stile see Lubberkin appears. Henceforth the morn shall dewy sorrow shed, Henceforth, as oft as Autumn shall return, The season quite shall strip the country's pride, 40 Where'er I gad, I Blouzelind shall view, Bumkinet, Grubbinol. Woods, dairy, barn, and mows, our passion knew, When I direct my eyes to yonder wood, Fresh rising sorrow curdles in my blood. Thither I've often been the damsel's guide, WAY, Grubbinol, dost thou so wistful seem? When rotten sticks our fuel have supplied ; There's sorrow in thy look, if right I deem. 'Tis true yon oaks with yellow tops appear, There I remember how her fago's large Were frequently these happy shoulders' charge. And stuff d her apron wide with nuts so brown; 50 Or when her feeding hogs had miss'd their way, Ver. 109. Or wallowing 'mid a feast of acorns lay; Virg. dirige in the popish hymn, dirige gressus meus, as some Has herbas, atque hæc Ponto mihi lecta venena pretend; but from the Teutonic dyrke, laudare, to praise Ipse dedit Meris. Virg. and extol. Whence it is possible their dyrke, and our dirge, was a laudatory song to commemorate and applaud Ver. 127.-Ποτών κακόν αύριον οισώ. Theoc. the dead. Cowell's Interpreter. Ver. 131. Ver. 15. Virg. Virg. * Dirge, or dyrge, a mournful ditty, or song of lamenta. Aut Alconis habes laudes, aut jurgia Codri. tion, over the dead; not a contraction of the Latin Ver. 27. Glee, joy; from the Dutch glooren, to recreata Th' untoward creatures to the sty I drove, The boding raven on her cottage sate, If by the dairy's hatch I chance to hie, The lambkin, which her wonted tendance bred, Dropp'd on the plains that fatal instant dead; When in the barn the sounding flail I ply, Yet ere I die-see, mother, yonder shelf, Be ten the parson's, for my sermon paid. My new straw hat, that's trimly lin'd with green, Let Peggy wear, for she's a damsel clean. 130 Ah, Blouzelind! that mow I ne'er shall see, Thus spoke the maiden, while the mother cried ; But thy memorial will revive in me. And peaceful, like the harmless lamb, she died. Lament, ye fields, and rueful symptoms show; To show their love, the neighbors far and near Follow'd with wistful look the damsel's bier. Sprig'd rosemary the lads and lasses bore, 90 That none could tell whose turn would be the next; “ Here Blouzelinda lies—Alas, alas! He said, that Heaven would take her soul, no Weep, shepherds and remember flesh is grass." doubt, And spoke the hour-glass in her praise-quite out. To her sweet memory, flowery garlands strung, O'er her now empty seat aloft were hung. With wicker rods we fenc'd her tomb around, Lest her new grave the parson's cattle raze, For both his horse and cow the church-yard graze. Now we trudg’d homeward to her mother's farm, Yet Blouzelinda's name shall tune my lay, To drink new cider mullid with ginger warm. 150 For Gaffer Treadwell told us, by the by, Excessive sorrow is exceeding dry." While bulls bear horns upon their curled brow, While paddling ducks the standing lake desire, While moles the crumbled earth in hillocks raise ; So long shall swains tell Blouzelinda's praise. Thus wail'd the louts in melancholy strain, Till bonny Susan sped across the plain. 160 Virg. They seiz'd the lass in apron clean array'd, And to the ale-house forc'd the willing maid ; Virg. And Susan Blouzelinda's loss repairs. Ver. 153. Dumque thymo pasceptur apes, dum rore cicadæ, Semper honos, nomenque tuum, laudesque manebunt. Virg |