Chapter V: Introduction (3)

The Company floated, the Shares up paid,
The gold came flowing in.
He set up a whim, and began to sink
For the keenly lode of tin.
He had not burrowed but five foot six
'Ere he came to a buried hoss.
Said Uncle Pengerric, "No fault of mine,
Tho't turn out some one's loss."
CHORUS. Oh! the keenly lode, &c.

4

The shaft descended, but ne'er a grain
Of ore was brought to ground.
And presently Uncle Pengerric too,
Was not in Cornwall found.
But wherever he goes, and whenever he talks,
He says:--"The rod told true,
It brought to me luck, but it turn'd and struck
At nought but an old horse-shoe."
CHORUS. Oh! the keenly lode, &c.

Note: A Keenly Lode is a Lode that promises well.

A Bâll is the Cornish for a mine.

No. 47 MAY-DAY CAROL

C.J.S.

[Music]

1

Awake, ye pretty maids, awake,
Refreshed from drowsy dream,
And haste to dairy house, and take
For us a dish of cream.

2

If not a dish of yellow cream,
Then give us kisses three;
The woodland bower is white with flower,
And green is every tree.

3

A branch of May we bear about
Before the door it stands;
There's not a sprout unbudded out,
The work of God's own hands.

4

Awake, awake ye pretty maids,
And take the May-bush in,
Or 'twill be gone ere tomorrow morn,
And you'll have none within.

5

Throughout the night, before the light,
There fell the dew or rain,
It twinkles bright on May bush white,
It sparkles on the plain.

6

The heavenly gates are open wide
To let escape the dew,
And heavenly grace falls on each place
It drops on us and you.

7

The life of man is but a span,
He blossoms as a flower,
He makes no stay, is here to-day,
And vanish'd in an hour.[12]

8

My song is done, I must be gone,
Nor make a longer stay.
God bless you all, both great and small,
And send you gladsome May.

[Footnote 12: Verses 6 & 7, and there have been others of like moralising nature, were added when the character of the May-Day visit was altered from one of lovers to their sweet-hearts into one of children seeking May-Gifts. Then the 'Kisses three' were changed to 'Pennies one or three.']

No. 48 THE LOVER'S TASKS

C.J.S.

[Music]

1

_He:_ O buy me, my Lady, a cambric shirt
Whilst every grove rings with a merry antine
(_antienne anthem_)
And stitch it without any needle work
And thou shalt be a true lover of mine.

2

O thou must wash it in yonder well,
Whilst every grove &c.
Where never a drop of water in fell,
And thou shalt &c.

3

And thou must bleach it on yonder grass,
Whilst every grove &c.
Where never a foot or hoof did pass.
And thou shalt &c.

4

And thou must hang it upon a white thorn,
Whilst every grove &c.
That never blossom'd since Adam was born
And thou shalt &c.

5

And when these works are finished and done
Whilst every grove &c.
I'll take and marry thee under the sun.
And thou shalt &c.

6[13]

_She:_ Thou must buy for me an acre of land,
Whilst every grove &c.
Between the salt sea and the yellow sand
And thou shalt &c.

7

Thou must plough it o'er with a horses horn
Whilst every grove &c.
And sow it over with a pepper corn,
And thou shalt &c.

8

Thou must reap it, too, with a piece of leather,
Whilst every grove &c.
And bind it up with a peacock's feather,
And thou shalt &c.

9

Thou must take it up in a bottomless sack,
Whilst every grove &c.
And bear it to the mill on a butterfly's back.
And thou shalt &c.

10

And when these works are finished and done
Whilst every grove &c.
I'll take and marry thee under the sun.
And thou shalt &c.

[Footnote 13: All the second part may be omitted.]

No. 49 LULLABY

H.F.S.

[Music]

1

Sleep, baby sleep!
Dad is not nigh,
Tossed on the deep,
Lul-lul-a-by!
Moon shining bright,
Dropping of dew.
Owls hoot all night
To-whit! to-whoo!

2

Sleep, baby sleep!
Dad is away,
Tossed on the deep,
Looking for day.
In the hedge row
Glow-worms alight,
Rivulets flow,
All through the night.

3

Sleep, baby sleep!
Dad is afar,
Tossed on the deep,
Watching a star.
Clock going--tick,
Tack--in the dark.
On the hearth-brick,
Dies the last spark.

4

Sleep, baby sleep!
What! not a wink!
Dad on the deep,
What will he think?
Baby dear, soon
Daddy will come,
Bringing red shoon
For baby at home.

No. 50 THE GIPSY COUNTESS