English Songs and Ballads Part 22

THE SPANISH ARMADO

Some years of late, in eighty-eight, As I do well remember, It was, some say, the middle of May, And some say in September, And some say in September.

The Spanish train launch'd forth amain, With many a fine bravado, Their (as they thought, but it prov'd not) Invincible Armado, Invincible Armado.

There was a man that dwelt in Spain Who shot well with a gun a, Don Pedro hight, as black a wight As the Knight of the Sun a, As the Knight of the Sun a.

King Philip made him Admiral, And bid him not to stay a, But to destroy both man and boy And so to come away a, And so to come away a.

Their navy was well victualled With bisket, pease, and bacon, They brought two ships, well fraught with whips, But I think they were mistaken, But I think they were mistaken.

Their men were young, munition strong, And to do us more harm a, They thought it meet to joyn their fleet All with the Prince of Parma, All with the Prince of Parma.

They coasted round about our land, And so came in by Dover: But we had men set on 'em then, And threw the rascals over, And threw the rascals over.

The Queen was then at Tilbury, What could we more desire a?

Sir Francis Drake for her sweet sake Did set them all on fire a, Did set them all on fire a.

Then straight they fled by sea and land, That one man kill'd threescore a, And had not they all run away, In truth he had kill'd more a, In truth he had kill'd more a.

Then let them neither bray nor boast, But if they come again a, Let them take heed they do not speed As they did you know when a, As they did you know when a.

A BALLAD UPON A WEDDING

SIR JOHN SUCKLING

I tell thee, d.i.c.k, where I have been; Where I the rarest things have seen; Oh, things without compare!

Such sights again can not be found In any place on English ground, Be it at wake or faer.

At Charing Cross, hard by the way Where we (thou know'st) do sell our hay, There is a house with stairs; And there did I see coming down Such folks as are not in our town; Vorty at least, in pairs.

Amongst the rest one pest'lent fine (His beard no bigger tho' than thine) Walk'd on before the rest; Our landlord looks like nothing to him; The King (G.o.d bless him), 'twould undo him, Should he go still so drest.

At Course-a-park, without all doubt, He should have first been taken out By all the maids i' the town: Though l.u.s.ty Roger there had been, Or little George upon the green, 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, He did not so much wish all past, Perchance as did the maid.

The maid (and thereby hangs a tale) For such a maid no Whitson-ale Could ever yet produce; No grape that's kindly ripe could be So round, so plump, so soft as she, Nor half so full of juyce.

Her finger was so small, the ring Would not stay on which they did bring; It was too wide a peck: And, to say truth (for out it must), It look'd like the great collar (just) About our young colt's neck.

Her feet beneath her petticoat, Like little mice stole in and out, As if they fear'd the light: But oh! she dances such a way; No sun upon an Easter day Is half as fine a sight.

Her cheeks so rare, a white was on, No daisie make comparison (Who sees them is undone); For streaks of red were mingled there, Such as are on a Kath'rine pear, The side that's next the sun.

Her lips were red; and one was thin, Compared to what was next her chin (Some bee had stung it newly); But, d.i.c.k, her eyes so guard her face, I durst no more upon them gaze, Than on a sun in July.

Her mouth so small, when she does speak, Thou'dst swear her teeth her words did break That they might pa.s.sage get; But she so handled still the matter, They came as good as ours, or better, And are not spent a whit.

Pa.s.sion, oh me! how I run on!

There's that that would be thought upon, I trow, beside 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, March'd boldly up like our train'd band, Presented, and away.

When all the meat was on the table, What man of knife, or teeth, was able To stay to be entreated?

And this the very reason was, Before the parson could say grace The company was seated.

Now hats fly off, and youths carouse; Healths first go round, and then the house, The bride's came thick and thick; And when 'twas named another's health, Perhaps he made it her's by stealth, (And who could help it, d.i.c.k?)

O' th' sudden up they rise and dance; Then sit again, and sigh, and glance: Then dance again, and kiss: Thus several ways the time did pa.s.s, Till ev'ry woman wish'd her place, And ev'ry man wish'd his.

By this time all were stolen aside To counsel and undress the bride; But that he must not know: But yet 'twas thought he guess'd her mind And did not mean to stay behind Above an hour or so.

WHY SO PALE AND WAN?

Why so pale and wan, fond lover?

Prithee, why so pale?

Will, when looking well can't move her, Looking ill prevail?

Prithee, why so pale?

Why so dull and mute, young sinner?

Prithee, why so mute?

Will, when speaking well can't win her, Saying nothing do 't?

Prithee, why so mute?

Quit, quit, for shame, this will not move, This cannot take her; If of herself she will not love, Nothing can make her.

The devil take her!

GO, LOVELY ROSE!

EDMUND WALLER

Go, lovely Rose!

Tell her, that wastes her time and me, That now she knows, When I resemble her to thee How sweet and fair she seems to be.