Ancient Poems [3]
song or rhyme. Fairlop fair song. As Tom was a-walking. The miller and his sons. Jack and Tom. Joan's ale was new. George Ridler's oven. The carrion crow. The leathern bottel. The farmer's old wife. Old Wichet and his wife. The Jolly Waggoner. The Yorkshire horse-dealer. The King and the countryman. Jone o' Greenfield's ramble. Thornehagh-moor woods. The Lincolnshire poacher. Somersetshire hunting song. The trotting horse. The seeds of love. The garden-gate. The new-mown hay. The praise of a dairy. The milk-maid's life. The milking-pail. The summer's morning. Old Adam. Tobacco. The Spanish Ladies. Harry the Tailor. Sir Arthur and Charming Mollee. There was an old man came over the lea. Why should we quarrel for riches. The merry fellows; or, he that will not merry, merry be. The old man's song. Robin Hood's hill. Begone dull care. Full merrily sings the cuckoo. Jockey to the fair. Long Preston Peg. The sweet nightingale; or, down in those valleys below. The old man and his three sons. A begging we will go.
Poem: THE PLAIN-DEALING MAN.
[THE oldest copy of the PLAIN DEALING MAN with which we have been able to meet is in black letter, printed by T. Vere at the sign 'Of the Angel without Newgate.' Vere was living in 1609.]
A CROTCHET comes into my mind Concerning a proverb of old, Plain dealing's a jewel most rare, And more precious than silver or gold: And therefore with patience give ear, And listen to what here is penned, These verses were written on purpose The honest man's cause to defend. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
Yet some are so impudent grown, They'll domineer, vapour, and swagger, And say that the plain-dealing man Was born to die a beggar: But men that are honestly given Do such evil actions detest, And every one that is well-minded Will say that plain dealing is best. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
For my part I am a poor man, And sometimes scarce muster a shilling, Yet to live upright in the world, Heaven knows I am wondrous willing. Although that my clothes be threadbare, And my calling be simple and poor, Yet will I endeavour myself To keep off the wolf from the door. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
And now, to be brief in discourse, In plain terms I'll tell you my mind; My qualities you shall all know, And to what my humour's inclined: I hate all dissembling base knaves And pickthanks whoever they be, And for painted-faced drabs, and such like, They shall never get penny of me. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
Nor can I abide any tongues That will prattle and prate against reason, About that which doth not concern them; Which thing is no better than treason. Wherefore I'd wish all that do hear me Not to meddle with matters of state, Lest they be in question called for it, And repent them when it is too late. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
O fie upon spiteful neighbours, Whose malicious humours are bent, And do practise and strive every day To wrong the poor innocent. By means of such persons as they, There hath many a good mother's son Been utterly brought to decay, Their wives and their children undone. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
O fie upon forsworn knaves, That do no conscience make To swear and forswear themselves At every third word they do speak: So they may get profit and gain, They care not what lies they do tell; Such cursed dissemblers as they Are worse than the devils of hell. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the
Poem: THE PLAIN-DEALING MAN.
[THE oldest copy of the PLAIN DEALING MAN with which we have been able to meet is in black letter, printed by T. Vere at the sign 'Of the Angel without Newgate.' Vere was living in 1609.]
A CROTCHET comes into my mind Concerning a proverb of old, Plain dealing's a jewel most rare, And more precious than silver or gold: And therefore with patience give ear, And listen to what here is penned, These verses were written on purpose The honest man's cause to defend. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
Yet some are so impudent grown, They'll domineer, vapour, and swagger, And say that the plain-dealing man Was born to die a beggar: But men that are honestly given Do such evil actions detest, And every one that is well-minded Will say that plain dealing is best. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
For my part I am a poor man, And sometimes scarce muster a shilling, Yet to live upright in the world, Heaven knows I am wondrous willing. Although that my clothes be threadbare, And my calling be simple and poor, Yet will I endeavour myself To keep off the wolf from the door. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
And now, to be brief in discourse, In plain terms I'll tell you my mind; My qualities you shall all know, And to what my humour's inclined: I hate all dissembling base knaves And pickthanks whoever they be, And for painted-faced drabs, and such like, They shall never get penny of me. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
Nor can I abide any tongues That will prattle and prate against reason, About that which doth not concern them; Which thing is no better than treason. Wherefore I'd wish all that do hear me Not to meddle with matters of state, Lest they be in question called for it, And repent them when it is too late. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
O fie upon spiteful neighbours, Whose malicious humours are bent, And do practise and strive every day To wrong the poor innocent. By means of such persons as they, There hath many a good mother's son Been utterly brought to decay, Their wives and their children undone. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the world To be a plain-dealing man.
O fie upon forsworn knaves, That do no conscience make To swear and forswear themselves At every third word they do speak: So they may get profit and gain, They care not what lies they do tell; Such cursed dissemblers as they Are worse than the devils of hell. For this I will make it appear, And prove by experience I can, 'Tis the excellen'st thing in the