The Merrie Days of England: Sketches of the Olden Time |
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Page 6
... dance , and the merry milkmaid fupplies them with ribands her true love had given her . The tall young oak is cut down for a May - pole , and the frolic fry of the town prevent the rifing of the fun , and , with joy in their faces , and ...
... dance , and the merry milkmaid fupplies them with ribands her true love had given her . The tall young oak is cut down for a May - pole , and the frolic fry of the town prevent the rifing of the fun , and , with joy in their faces , and ...
Page 7
... dance by Colin led , To make this quite his holiday ? " Sylvia replied , " I ne'er from home Yet ventured till this first of May ; It is not fit for maids to roam , And make a shepherd's holiday . " " It is most fit , " replied the ...
... dance by Colin led , To make this quite his holiday ? " Sylvia replied , " I ne'er from home Yet ventured till this first of May ; It is not fit for maids to roam , And make a shepherd's holiday . " " It is most fit , " replied the ...
Page 10
... dancers , and other devices for paftime , all the day long , and toward the evening they had ftage plays and bonfires in the streets . Of these Mayings , we read in the reign of Henry VI . that the Aldermen and Sheriffs of London being ...
... dancers , and other devices for paftime , all the day long , and toward the evening they had ftage plays and bonfires in the streets . Of these Mayings , we read in the reign of Henry VI . that the Aldermen and Sheriffs of London being ...
Page 13
... dance the Morrice . But since the summer Poles were overthrown , And all good sports and merriments decayed , How times and men are changed , so well is knowne , It were but labour lost if more were said . SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERDESSES ...
... dance the Morrice . But since the summer Poles were overthrown , And all good sports and merriments decayed , How times and men are changed , so well is knowne , It were but labour lost if more were said . SHEPHERDS AND SHEPHERDESSES ...
Page 15
... perhaps may shake , But blustering care could never tempest make , Nor murmurs e'er come nigh us , Save of fountains that glide by us . Here's no fantastic masque or dance , But of our Shepherds and Shepherdeffes . 15.
... perhaps may shake , But blustering care could never tempest make , Nor murmurs e'er come nigh us , Save of fountains that glide by us . Here's no fantastic masque or dance , But of our Shepherds and Shepherdeffes . 15.
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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.