English Songs and Ballads Part 68

Says gorging Jack to guzzling Jimmy, 'I am extremely hungaree.'

To gorging Jack says guzzling Jimmy, 'We've nothing left; us must eat we.'

Says gorging Jack to guzzling Jimmy, 'With one another we shouldn't agree!

'There's little Bill, he's young and tender, We're old and tough, so let's eat he.'

'Oh, Bill, we're going to kill and eat you, So undo the b.u.t.ton of your chemie.'

When Bill received this information He used his pocket handkerchie.

'First let me say my catechism, Which my poor mammy taught to me.'

'Make haste, make haste,' says guzzling Jimmy, While Jack pulled out his snickersnee.

So Billy went up to the main-top gallant mast, And down he fell on his bended knee,

He scarce had come to the twelfth commandment When up he jumps. 'There's land I see:

'There's Jerusalem and Madagascar, And North and South Amerikee:

'There's the British flag a-riding at anchor, With Admiral Napier, K.C.B.'

So when they got aboard of the Admiral's, He hanged fat Jack and flogged Jimmee:

But as for little Bill, he made him The Captain of a Seventy-three.

GREEN FIELDS OF ENGLAND

ARTHUR HUGH CLOUGH

Green fields of England! wheresoe'er Across this watery waste we fare, One image at our hearts we bear, Green fields of England, everywhere.

Sweet eyes in England, I must flee Past where the waves' last confines be, Ere your loved smile I cease to see, Sweet eyes in England, dear to me.

Dear home in England, safe and fast, If but in thee my lot lie cast, The past shall seem a nothing past To thee, dear home, if won at last; Dear home in England, won at last.

HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX

ROBERT BROWNING

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; 'Good speed!' cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; 'Speed!' echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right, Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.

'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the c.o.c.ks crew, and twilight dawned clear; At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Duffeld, 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half chime, So Joris broke silence with 'Yet there is time!'

At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And against him the cattle stood black every one, To stare through the mist at us galloping past, And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last, With resolute shoulders, each b.u.t.ting away The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray.

And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back For my voice, and the other p.r.i.c.ked out on his track; And one eye's black intelligence--ever that glance O'er its white edge at me, his own master askance!

And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on.

By Ha.s.selt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, 'Stay spur!

Your Ross galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, We'll remember at Aix'--for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw her stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank.

So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And 'Gallop,' gasped Joris, 'for Aix is in sight!'

'How they'll greet us!' and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and crop over; lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye-socket's rim.

Then I cast loose my buff-coat, each holster let fall, Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood.

And all I remember is, friends flocking round As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent.

MARCHING ALONG

I

Kentish Sir Byng stood for his King, Bidding the crop-headed Parliament swing: And, pressing a troop unable to stoop And see the rogues flourish and honest folk droop, Marched them along, fifty-score strong, Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.

II

G.o.d for King Charles! Pym and such carles To the Devil that prompts 'em their treasonous parles.

Cavaliers, up! Lips from the cup, Hands from the pasty, nor bite take nor sup Till you're-- Marching along, fifty-score strong, Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.

III

Hampden to h.e.l.l, and his obsequies' knell Serve Hazelrig, Fiennes, and young Harry as well!

England, good cheer! Rupert is near!

Kentish and loyalists, keep we not here, Marching along, fifty-score strong, Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song!

IV

Then, G.o.d for King Charles! Pym and his snarls To the Devil that p.r.i.c.ks on such pestilent carles!