Dixon, Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs, p. 210, Percy
Society, vol. xvii.
| 1 |
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
(chorus of whistlers)
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
(chorus of whistlers) |
| 2 |
Then Satan came to the old man at the plough:
'One of your family I must have now. |
| 3 |
'It is not your eldest son that I crave,
But it is your old wife, and she I will have.' |
| 4 |
'O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart!
I hope you and she will never more part.' |
| 5 |
Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,
And he lugged her along, like a pedlar's pack. |
| 6 |
He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate;
Says he, Here, take in an old Sussex chap's mate. |
| 7 |
O then she did kick the young imps about;
Says one to the other, Let's try turn her out. |
| 8 |
She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,
She up with her pattens and beat out their brains. |
| 9 |
She knocked the old Satan against the wall!
'Let's turn her out, or she'll murder us all.' |
| 10 |
Now he's bundled her up on his back amain,
And to her old husband he took her again. |
| 11 |
'I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,
But I neer was tormented so as with your wife.' |
