Twickenham Ferry "But," ses I, "would ye like it to meet Clancy's bull, Or the tinks poachin' rabbits above Slieve-na-coul? An' the ford at Kilmaddy is big wid the snows, 761 An' the whisht Little People that wear the green close, They'd run from the bog to be makin' a catch o' ye, The king o' them's wishful o' weddin' the match o' ye, "Twould be long, if they did, ere ye lifted the latch o' ye-" "What fairy's to touch her that sings as she goes!" "Ah, where are ye goin'," ses I, "wid the shawl, Ye'll be bate wid the wind on each back-breakin' bit on it, That's stepped wid a friend? Who did Bridgy intend? Still 'twas me that went wid her right on to the end! Patrick R. Chalmers [18 TWICKENHAM FERRY "AнOY! and O-ho! and it's who's for the ferry?” (The briar's in bud and the sun going down) "And I'll row ye so quick and I'll row ye so steady, And 'tis but a penny to Twickenham Town." The ferryman's slim and the ferryman's young, With just a soft tang in the turn of his tongue; And he's fresh as a pippin and brown as a berry, And 'tis but a penny to Twickenham Town. "Ahoy! and O-ho! and it's I'm for the ferry," (The briar's in bud and the sun going down) "And it's late as it is and I haven't a penny- Oh! how can I get me to Twickenham Town?" She'd a rose in her bonnet, and oh! she looked sweet 'As the little pink flower that grows in the wheat, With her cheeks like a rose and her lips like a cherryIt's sure but you're welcome to Twickenham Town. "Ahoy! and O-ho!"-You're too late for the ferry, (The briar's in bud and the sun has gone down) And he's not rowing quick and he's not rowing steady; It seems quite a journey to Twickenham Town. "Ahoy! and O-ho!" you may call as you will; The young moon is rising o'er Petersham Hill; And, with Love like a rose in the stern of the wherry, There's danger in crossing to Twickenham Town. Théophile Marzials [1850 THE HUMOR OF LOVE SONG I PRITHEE send me back my heart, For if from yours you will not part, Yet now I think on't, let it lie, To find it were in vain, For thou hast a thief in either eye Why should two hearts in one breast lie, O love, where is thy sympathy, But love is such a mystery, . I cannot find it out: For when I think I'm best resolved, I then am most in doubt. Then farewell care, and farewell woe! I will no longer pine; For I'll believe I have her heart, As much as she hath mine. John Suckling [1609-1642] A BALLAD UPON A WEDDING I TELL thee, Dick, where I have been, At Charing Cross, hard by the way And there did I see coming down Such folk as are not in our town, Amongst the rest, one pest'lent fine Our landlord looks like nothing to him; At Course-a-park, without all doubt, Or Vincent of the Crown. But wot you what? The youth was going To make an end of all his wooing; The parson for him staid: Yet by his leave (for all his haste), The maid (and thereby hangs a tale) No grape that's kindly ripe, could be Her finger was so small, the ring It was too wide a peck: And to say truth (for out it must) It looked like the great collar (just) About our young colt's neck. A Ballad upon a Wedding Her feet beneath her petticoat As if they feared the light: Her cheeks so rare a white was on, Who sees them is undone; For streaks of red were mingled there, Her lips were red; and one was thin Her mouth so small, when she does speak, That they might passage get; But she so handled still the matter, They came as good as ours, or better, Passion o' me! how I run on! There's that that would be thought upon, I trow, besides the bride: The business of the kitchen's great, For it is fit that men should eat; Nor was it there denied. Just in the nick the cook knocked thrice, And all the waiters in a trice His summons did obey; Each serving-man, with dish in hand, Marched boldly up, like our trained-band, Presented and away. 765 |