The Merrie Days of England: Sketches of the Olden Time |
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Page 5
... cheerful village inn ; But pass we first the village elm . It stands beside the village green , And there has stood three hundred years ; ' Mid change of time , and men , and scene , Alone , unchanged the look it wears : Though ...
... cheerful village inn ; But pass we first the village elm . It stands beside the village green , And there has stood three hundred years ; ' Mid change of time , and men , and scene , Alone , unchanged the look it wears : Though ...
Page 15
... cheerful difpofition of many well - tuned birds ; each pasture stored with sheep feeding with fober security , while the pretty lambs , with bleating oratory , craved the dam's comfort ; here a fhepherd's boy piping as though he should ...
... cheerful difpofition of many well - tuned birds ; each pasture stored with sheep feeding with fober security , while the pretty lambs , with bleating oratory , craved the dam's comfort ; here a fhepherd's boy piping as though he should ...
Page 17
... cheerful lark wakes him with early songs , And birds ' sweet whistling notes unlock his eyes : In country plays is all the strife he uses ; Or sing , or dance unto the rural muses ; And but in music's sports all difference refuses . His ...
... cheerful lark wakes him with early songs , And birds ' sweet whistling notes unlock his eyes : In country plays is all the strife he uses ; Or sing , or dance unto the rural muses ; And but in music's sports all difference refuses . His ...
Page 36
... cheerful , while Little John reads the " articles , " and these ordain that no man prefume to call our master by name of earle , lorde , baron , knight , or fquire , but fimply by the name of Robin Hood ; that faire Matilda be only ...
... cheerful , while Little John reads the " articles , " and these ordain that no man prefume to call our master by name of earle , lorde , baron , knight , or fquire , but fimply by the name of Robin Hood ; that faire Matilda be only ...
Page 53
... cheerful red , -and as for mistletoe , The finest bush that grew in the country round Was marked for Madam . Then her old ale went So bountiful about ! A Christmas cask , And ' t was a noble one , -God help me , Sir ! But I shall never ...
... cheerful red , -and as for mistletoe , The finest bush that grew in the country round Was marked for Madam . Then her old ale went So bountiful about ! A Christmas cask , And ' t was a noble one , -God help me , Sir ! But I shall never ...
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Common terms and phrases
abbeys abbot Adam Bell againſt alſo amid anceſtors arrow bagpipes ballads barons beſt birds Biſhop brave Canterbury caſtle cauſe Charles Mackay charms cheerful Christmas church cloſe cottage days of England defcribed diſh doth Earl faid fair fays feftive feven fing fome fong fport fquire fuch fword golden green hall harp harvest hath hawk heart himſelf hofpitality holy honour horfes horſe hounds houſe hunting Izaak Walton Joseph Nash Juliana Berners king knights ladies gay Laft Little John lords and ladies manfions maſter May-pole merrie days merrie England minstrels mirth mistletoe moſt mufic muſt never noble o'er paſtimes perfon pilgrims play pleaſant pleaſure praiſe preferved preſent Queen Robin Hood ſays ſcene ſeaſon ſee ſhall ſhe shepherds ſhould ſhow sing Sir John Holland ſkill ſmall ſome song ſport ſtill ſtrange ſuch tell thee thefe themſelves theſe thofe thoſe thou tournament tree uſe village whoſe
Popular passages
Page 16 - O God! methinks, it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain; To sit upon a hill, as I do now, To carve out dials quaintly, point by point, Thereby to see the minutes how they run: How many make the hour full complete, How many hours bring about the day, How many days will finish up the year, How many years a mortal man may live.
Page 144 - THE way was long, the wind was cold, The Minstrel was infirm and old ; His withered cheek, and tresses gray. Seemed to have known a better day ; The harp, his sole remaining joy, Was carried by an orphan boy. The last of all the bards was he. Who sung of Border chivalry; For, well-a-day ! their date was fled, His tuneful brethren all were dead ; And he, neglected and oppressed, Wished to be with them, and at rest...
Page 16 - So many hours must I tend my flock ; So many hours must I take my rest ; So many hours must I contemplate ; So many hours must I sport myself; So many days my ewes have been with young; So many weeks ere the poor fools will...
Page 19 - Shepherds all, and maidens fair, Fold your flocks up, for the air 'Gins to thicken, and the sun Already his great course hath run. See the dew-drops how they kiss Every little flower that is; Hanging on their velvet heads, Like a rope of crystal beads...
Page 19 - Hovering o'er the wanton face Of these pastures, where they come, Striking dead both bud and bloom : Therefore, from such danger lock Every one his loved flock; And let your dogs lie loose without, Lest the wolf come as a scout From the mountain, and, ere day, Bear a lamb or kid away; Or the crafty thievish fox Break upon your simple flocks. To secure...
Page 3 - Through glowing orchards forth they peep, Each from its nook of leaves ; And fearless there the lowly sleep, As the bird beneath their eaves.
Page 85 - Come live with me, and be my love, And we will some new pleasures prove, Of golden sands, and crystal brooks, With silken lines, and silver hooks.
Page 146 - And, would the noble Duchess deign To listen to an old man's strain, Though stiff his hand, his voice though weak, He thought even yet, the sooth to speak, That, if she loved the harp to hear, He could make music to her ear.
Page 122 - Below me trees unnumbered rise, Beautiful in various dyes: The gloomy pine, the poplar blue, The yellow beech, the sable yew, The slender fir, that taper grows, The sturdy oak with broad-spread boughs; And beyond the purple grove, Haunt of Phillis, queen of love! Gaudy as the opening dawn, Lies a long and level lawn On which a dark hill, steep and high, Holds and charms the wandering eye!
Page 9 - Nay! not so much as out of bed; When all the birds have matins said, And sung their thankful hymns; 'tis sin, Nay, profanation to keep in, When as a thousand virgins on this day Spring, sooner than the lark, to fetch in May.