Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England Part 7

HUSBANDMAN.

While you eat goose and capon, I'll feed on beef and bacon, And piece of hard cheese now and than; We pudding have, and souse, always ready in the house, Which contents the honest husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

At the court you may have your garments fine and brave, And cloak with gold lace laid upon, A shirt as white as milk, and wrought with finest silk: That's pleasure for a servingman!

HUSBANDMAN.

Such proud and costly gear is not for us to wear; Amongst the briers and brambles many a one, A good strong russet coat, and at your need a groat, Will suffice the husbandman.

A proverb here I tell, which likes my humour well, And remember it well I can, If a courtier be too bold, he'll want when he is old.

Then farewell the servingman.

SERVINGMAN.

It needs must be confest that your calling is the best, No longer discourse with you I can; But henceforth I will pray, by night and by day, Heaven bless the honest husbandman.

Poem: A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN.

[This traditional version of the preceding ancient dialogue has long been popular at country festivals. At a harvest-home feast at Selborne, in Hampshire, in 1836, we heard it recited by two countrymen, who gave it with considerable humour, and dramatic effect. It was delivered in a sort of chant, or recitative.

Davies Gilbert published a very similar copy in his Ancient Christmas Carols. In the modern printed editions, which are almost identical with ours, the term 'servantman' has been subst.i.tuted for the more ancient designation.]

SERVINGMAN.

Well met, my brother friend, all at this highway end, So simple all alone, as you can, I pray you tell to me, what may your calling be, Are you not a servingman?

HUSBANDMAN.

No, no, my brother dear, what makes you to inquire Of any such a thing at my hand?

Indeed I shall not feign, but I will tell you plain, I am a downright husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

If a husbandman you be, then go along with me, And quickly you shall see out of hand, How in a little s.p.a.ce I will help you to a place, Where you may be a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

Kind sir! I 'turn you thanks for your intelligence, These things I receive at your hand; But something pray now show, that first I may plainly know The pleasures of a servingman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why a servingman has pleasure beyond all sort of measure, With his hawk on his fist, as he does stand; For the game that he does kill, and the meat that does him fill, Are pleasures for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

And my pleasure's more than that, to see my oxen fat, And a good stock of hay by them stand; My plowing and my sowing, my reaping and my mowing, Are pleasures for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why it is a gallant thing to ride out with a king, With a lord, duke, or any such man; To hear the horns to blow, and see the hounds all in a row, That is pleasure for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But my pleasure's more I know, to see my corn to grow, So thriving all over my land; And, therefore, I do mean, with my plowing with my team, To keep myself a husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why the diet that we eat is the choicest of all meat, Such as pig, goose, capon, and swan; Our pastry is so fine, we drink sugar in our wine, That is living for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

Talk not of goose nor capon, give me good beef or bacon, And good bread and cheese, now at hand; With pudding, brawn, and souse, all in a farmer's house, That is living for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why the clothing that we wear is delicate and rare, With our coat, lace, buckles, and band; Our shirts are white as milk, and our stockings they are silk, That is clothing for a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But I value not a hair your delicate fine wear, Such as gold is laced upon; Give me a good grey coat, and in my purse a groat, That is clothing for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Kind sir! it would be bad if none could be had Those tables for to wait upon; There is no lord, duke, nor squire, nor member for the shire, Can do without a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But, Jack! it would be worse if there was none of us To follow the plowing of the land; There is neither king, lord, nor squire, nor member for the shire, Can do without the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Kind sir! I must confess't, and I humbly protest I will give you the uppermost hand; Although your labour's painful, and mine it is so very gainful, I wish I were a husbandman.

HUSBANDMAN.

So come now, let us all, both great as well as small, Pray for the grain of our land; And let us, whatsoever, do all our best endeavour, For to maintain the good husbandman.

Poem: THE CATHOLICK.