| a. |
There are some slight verbal differences in
the three copies, but none worthy of notice. |
| b. |
| 1 |
A song I will sing unto you,
A song of a merry intent,
It is of a silly old man
That went to pay his rent.
That went to pay his rent. |
| 2 |
And as he was riding along,
A riding along the highway,
A gentleman-thief steps before the old man
And thus unto him he did say.
And thus unto him he did say. |
| 3 |
'My friend, how dare you ride alone?
For so many thieves there now be;
If any should but light on you,
They 'd rob you of all your money.'
They 'd rob you of all your money.' |
| 4 |
'If that they should light upon me,
I'm sure they 'd be very ill-sped,
For, to tell you the truth, my kind sir,
In my saddle my money I've hid.'
In my saddle my money I've hid.' |
| 5 |
So as they were riding along,
And going down a steep hill,
The gentleman-thief slipped before the old man
And quickly he bid him stand still.
And quickly he bid him stand still. |
| 6 |
The old man, however, being cunning,
As in this world there are many,
He threw the saddle right over the hedge,
Saying, Fetch it if thou wouldst have any.
Saying, Fetch it if thou wouldst have any. |
| 7 |
The thief being so greedy of money
He thought that of it there'd been bags
Whipt out a rusty old sword
And chopped the saddle to rags.
And chopped the saddle to rags. |
| 8 |
The old man put his foot in the stirrup
And presently he got astride;
He put the thief's horse to the gallop,
You need not bid the old man ride.
You need not bid the old man ride. |
| 9 |
'Nay, stay! nay, stay!' says the thief,
'And half the money thou shalt have;'
'Nay, by my troth,' says the old man,
'For once I have cheated a knave.'
'For once I have cheated a knave.' |
| 10 |
And so the old man rode along,
And went with a merry devotion,
Saying, If ever I live to get home,
'T will enlarge my daughter's portion.
'T will enlarge my daughter's portion. |
| 11 |
And having arrived at home,
And got there with merry intent,
Says he, Landlord, show me a room,
And I'll pay you your half-year's rent.
And I'll pay you your half-year's rent. |
| 12 |
They opened the thief's portmanteau,
And from it they took out so bold
A hundred pounds in silver
And a hundred pounds in gold.
And a hundred pounds in gold. |
|
| c-f. |
the traditional copies, were beyond doubt all
derived originally from print, c is from a;
d-f are from another edition, not recovered,
resembling b. This had variations, especially
at the beginning and end, of which some specimens will
suffice. |
| d. |
| 1 |
Oh 't is I that will sing you a song,
A song of merry intent;
'T is about a silly old man
That was going to pay his rent. |
| 2 |
And as he was riding along,
Along and alone in a lane,
A gentleman-thief overtook him,
And said, Well overtaken, old man! |
| 3 |
'You're well overtaken, old man,
You're well overtaken by me;'
'Nay, further go,' said the old man,
'I'm not for thy company.' |
4, 6 are wanting, as also in e, f,
(and in b).
| 82-4 |
'He shall but poorly speed,
For all the money I have
In my old saddle 't is hid.' |
| 19, 20 |
Oh, when that he came home,
His daughter she looked like a duchess,
And his old woman capered for joy,
And danced him a gig on her crutches. |
|
| e. |
| 1 |
Aw come now, I'll sing you a song,
'T is a song of right merry intent,
Concerning a silly old man
Who went for to pay his rent. |
| 2 |
And as this here silly old man
Was riding along the lane,
A gentleman-thief overtook him,
Saying, Well overtaken, old man! |
| 3 |
'What, well overtaken, do'y say?'
'Yes, well overtaken,' quoth he;
'No, no,' said the silly old man,
'I don't want thy company.' |
| 82-4 |
'Why, badly the thief would be sped,
For the money I carry about me
In the quilt o my saddle is hid.' |
| 19, 20 |
Aw, when to his home he were come,
His daughter he dressd like a duchess,
And his ol woman kicked and she capered for joy,
And at Christmas danced jigs on her crutches. |
|
| f. |
Resembles d, e in
the passages cited. |
