Preludes To A Penny Reading Poem Rhyme Scheme and Analysis
Rhyme Scheme: A B C D E FG HI J KL MN OP Q R P S B T U VWX B W Y ZP A2B2C2D2E2RG F2G2 X H2TI2J2VK2 L2A2KVM2L2 J2 J2 N2 O2 PP2KP Q2R2 S2O2T2 IU2V2W2X2 Y2C Z2A3B3 IC3G W GD3PE3P A W F3G3H3I3RJ3L2E3 E2O2P D3 PK3PL3 M3 N3 O3P3 PSQ3R3FS3T3R3L2A3U3V 3G3 W3X3Y3Z3A4FB4V2 IG3U3O2C4D4E4F F4IG4 H4 M3 D2 I4KI4KJ4KKJ4PK4PK4PR RR D2 VL4VL4IM4IM4 D2 XD2N4 N4D2XD2N4RRR M3R A2J2B4H4 O4Z3PO2P4Q4IFS2 R2 H4VM3R4IP4R J2X3S4T4IU4 V4 B3W4B3 X4Y4 Y4 Z4Z4 T3T3 O2TO2T I VM3 R4 N2R4PPW E2E2FM2Y4D2E2L2PR E2 PIPI Z3K2Z3K2PE2M4E2 D2O2D2O2O2R4O2R4 PE2M4E2 J2M4RS2 P E2V4 PE2F4I V4 M3 D2 XPPK2A4E2A4PPPA4 D2 M4IO2V4V4T3PPPT3 D2 E2VIVO2A4Y3A4PPPA4 PE2 P E2E2 L2 V4 A4Y3 N3 U4 D2 O2O2O2M4M4M4T3T3T3B3 B3B3PPP D2 IIE2IE2M4M4M4VVVPPPF 4F4 E2 U4 E2E2E2E2R4 F4O2F4O2 Y4O2F4O2 VR4F4R4 R4R4R4R4R4 F4E2 J2PPE2 U4 PPI2PP PPP P PPPPP PT4P E2XF V VSE2G2 E2 P PPHHHF4F4F4E2F4 P E2E2E2F4F4F4E2F4 P PPZ3Z3Z3F4F4F4E2F4 E2 PVH4 E2 E2 F4Z4YN3 A3E2 PE2R4P E2 F4A Schoolroom | A |
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SCHOOLMASTER not certificated VICAR and CHILD | B |
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VICAR Why did you send for me I hope all's right | C |
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Schoolmaster Well sir we thought this end o' the room was dark | D |
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V Indeed So 't is There's my new study lamp | E |
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S 'T would stand sir well beside yon laurel wreath | F |
Shall I go fetch it | G |
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V Do we must not fail | H |
Bring candles also | I |
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Exit Schoolmaster Vicar arranges chairs | J |
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Now small six years old | K |
And why may you be here | L |
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Child I'm helping father | M |
But father why d'you take such pains | N |
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V Sweet soul | O |
That's what I'm for | P |
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C What and for nothing else | Q |
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V Yes I'm to bring thee up to be a man | R |
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C And what am I for | P |
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V There I'm busy now | S |
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C Am I to bring you up to be a child | B |
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V Perhaps Indeed I have heard it said thou art | T |
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C Then when may I begin | U |
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V I'm busy I say | V |
Begin to morrow an thou canst my son | W |
And mind to do it well | X |
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Exit Vicar and Child | B |
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Enter a group of women and some children | W |
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Mrs Thorpe Fine lot o' lights | Y |
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Mrs Jillifer Should be Would folk put on their Sunday best I' the week unless they looked to have it seen | Z |
What you here neighbour | P |
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Mrs Smith Ay you may say that | A2 |
Old Madam called said she 'My son would feel | B2 |
So sorry if you did not come ' and slipped | C2 |
The penny in my hand she did said I | D2 |
'Ma'am that's not it In short some say your last | E2 |
Was worth the penny and more I know a man | R |
A sober man who said and stuck to it | G |
Worth a good twopence But I'm strange I'm shy ' | - |
'We hope you'll come for once ' said she In short | F2 |
I said I would to oblige 'em | G2 |
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Mrs Green Ah 't was well | X |
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Mrs S But I feel strange and music gets i' my throat | H2 |
It always did And singers be so smart | T |
Ladies and folk from other parishes | I2 |
Candles and cheering greens and flowers and all | J2 |
I was not used to such in my young day | V |
We kept ourselves at home | K2 |
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Mrs J Never say 'used ' | - |
The most of us have many a thing to do | L2 |
We were not used to If you come to that | A2 |
Why none of us are used to growing old | K |
It takes us by surprise as one may say | V |
That work when we begin 't and yet 't is work | M2 |
That all of us must do | L2 |
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Mrs G Nay nay not all | J2 |
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Mrs J I ask your pardon neighbour you be right Not all | J2 |
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Mrs G And my sweet maid scarce three months dead | N2 |
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Mrs J I ask your pardon truly | O2 |
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Mrs G No my dear | P |
Thou'lt never see old days I cannot stint | P2 |
To fret the maiden was but twelve years old | K |
So toward such a scholar | P |
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Mrs S Ay when God | Q2 |
That knows comes down to choose He'll take the best | R2 |
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Mrs T But I'm right glad you came it pleases them | S2 |
My son that loves his book 'Mother ' said he | O2 |
'Go to the Reading when you have a chance | T2 |
For there you get a change and you see life ' | - |
But Reading or no Reading I am slow | I |
To learn When parson after comes his rounds | U2 |
'Did it ' to ask with a persuading smile | V2 |
'Open your mind ' the woman doth not live | W2 |
Feels more a fool | X2 |
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Mrs J I always tell him 'Yes ' | - |
For he means well Ay and I like the songs | Y2 |
Have you heard say what they shall read to night | C |
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Mrs S Neighbour I hear 'tis something of the East | Z2 |
But what I ask you is the East to us | A3 |
And where d'ye think it lies | B3 |
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Mrs J The children know | I |
At least they say they do there's nothing deep | C3 |
Nor nothing strange but they get hold on it | G |
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Enter Schoolmaster and a dozen children | W |
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S Now ladies ladies you must please to sit | G |
More close the room fills fast and all these lads | D3 |
And maidens either have to sing before | P |
The Reading or else after By your leave | E3 |
I'll have them in the front I want them here | P |
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The women make room | A |
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Enter ploughmen villagers servants and children | W |
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And mark me boys if I hear cracking o' nuts | F3 |
Or see you flicking acorns and what not | G3 |
While folks from other parishes observe | H3 |
You'll hear on it when you don't look to Tom | I3 |
And Jemmy and Roger sing as loud's ye can | R |
Sing as the maidens do are they afraid | J3 |
And now I'm stationed handy facing you | L2 |
Friends all I'll drop a word by your good leave | E3 |
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Young ploughman Do master do we like your words a vast | E2 |
Though there be nought to back 'em up ye see | O2 |
As when we were smaller | P |
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S Mark me then my lads | D3 |
When Lady Laura sang 'I don't think much ' | - |
Says her fine coachman 'of your manners here | P |
We drove eleven miles in the dark it rained | K3 |
And ruts in your cross roads are deep We're here | P |
My lady sings they sit all open mouthed | L3 |
And when she's done they never give one cheer ' | - |
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Old man Be folks to clap if they don't like the song | M3 |
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S Certain for manners | N3 |
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Enter VICAR wife various friends with violins and a flute | O3 |
They come to a piano and one begins softly to tune his violin while the Vicar speaks | P3 |
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V Friends since there is a place where you must hear | P |
When I stand up to speak I would not now | S |
If there were any other found to bid | Q3 |
You welcome Welcome then these with me ask | R3 |
No better than to please and in good sooth | F |
I ever find you willing to be pleased | S3 |
When I demand not more but when we fain | T3 |
Would lead you to some knowledge fresh and ask | R3 |
Your careful heed I hear that some of you | L2 |
Have said 'What good to know what good to us | A3 |
He puts us all to school and our school days | U3 |
Should be at end Nay if they needs must teach | V3 |
Then let them teach us what shall mend our lot | G3 |
The laws are strict on us the world is hard ' | - |
You friends and neighbours may I dare to speak | W3 |
I know the laws are strict and the world hard | X3 |
For ever will the world help that man up | Y3 |
That is already coming up and still | Z3 |
And ever help him down that's going down | A4 |
Yet say 'I will take the words out of thy mouth | F |
O world being yet more strict with mine own life | B4 |
Thou law to gaze shall not be worth thy while | V2 |
On whom beyond thy power doth rule himself ' | - |
Yet seek to know for whoso seek to know | I |
They seek to rise and best they mend their lot | G3 |
Methinks if Adam and Eve in their garden days | U3 |
Had scorned the serpent and obediently | O2 |
Continued God's good children He Himself | C4 |
Had led them to the Tree of Knowledge soon | D4 |
And bid them eat the fruit thereof and yet | E4 |
Not find it apples of death | F |
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Vicar's wife aside Now dearest John | F4 |
We're ready Lucky too you always go | I |
Above the people's heads | G4 |
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Young farmer stands forward Vicar presenting him | H4 |
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SONG | M3 |
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I | D2 |
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Sparkle of snow and of frost | I4 |
Blythe air and the joy of cold | K |
Their grace and good they have lost | I4 |
As print o' her foot by the fold | K |
Let me back to yon desert sand | J4 |
Rose lipped love from the fold | K |
Flower fair girl from the fold | K |
Let me back to the sultry land | J4 |
The world is empty of cheer | P |
Forlorn forlorn and forlorn | K4 |
As the night owl's sob of fear | P |
As Memnon moaning at morn | K4 |
For love of thee my dear | P |
I have lived a better man | R |
O my Mary Anne | R |
My Mary Anne | R |
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II | D2 |
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Away away and away | V |
To an old palm land of tombs | L4 |
Washed clear of our yesterday | V |
And where never a snowdrop blooms | L4 |
Nor wild becks talk as they go | I |
Of tender hope we had known | M4 |
Nor mosses of memory grow | I |
All over the wayside stone | M4 |
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III | D2 |
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Farewell farewell and farewell | X |
As voice of a lover's sigh | D2 |
In the wind let yon willow wave | N4 |
'Farewell farewell and farewell ' | - |
The sparkling frost stars brave | N4 |
On thy shrouded bosom lie | D2 |
Thou art gone apart to dwell | X |
But I fain would have said good bye | D2 |
For love of thee in thy grave | N4 |
I have lived a better man | R |
O my Mary Anne | R |
My Mary Anne | R |
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Mrs Thorpe aside O hearts why what a song | M3 |
To think on it and he a married man | R |
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Mrs Jillifer aside Bless you that makes for nothing nothing at | A2 |
all | J2 |
They take no heed upon the words His wife | B4 |
Look you as pleased as may be smiles on him | H4 |
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Mrs T aside Neighbours there's one thing beats me We've enough | O4 |
O' trouble in the world I've cried my fill | Z3 |
Many and many a time by my own fire | P |
Now why I'll ask you should it comfort me | O2 |
And ease my heart when pitiful and sweet | P4 |
One sings of other souls and how they mourned | Q4 |
A body would have thought that did not know | I |
Songs must be merry full of feast and mirth | F |
Or else would all folk flee away from them | S2 |
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Mrs S aside 'Tis strange and I too love the sad ones best | R2 |
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Mrs T aside Ay how they clap him | H4 |
'Tis as who should say | V |
Sing we were pleased sing us another song | M3 |
As if they did not know he loves to sing | R4 |
Well may he not an organ pipe they blow | I |
On Sunday in the church is half so sweet | P4 |
But he's a hard man | R |
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Mrs J aside Mark me neighbours all | J2 |
Hard though he be ay and the mistress hard | X3 |
If he do sing 'twill be a sorrowful | S4 |
Sad tale of sweethearts that shall make you wish | T4 |
Your own time would come over again although | I |
Were partings in 't and tears Hist now he sings | U4 |
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Young farmer sings again | V4 |
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'Come hither come hither ' The broom was in blossom all over yon rise | B3 |
There went a wide murmur of brown bees about it with songs from the wood | W4 |
'We shall never be younger O love let us forth for the world 'neath our eyes | B3 |
Ay the world is made young e'en as we and right fair is her youth and right good ' | - |
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Then there fell the great yearning upon me that never yet went into words | X4 |
While lovesome and moansome thereon spake and falter'd the dove to the dove | Y4 |
And I came at her calling 'Inherit inherit and sing with the birds ' | - |
I went up to the wood with the child of my heart and the wife of my love | Y4 |
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O pure O pathetic Wild hyacinths drank it the dream light apace | Z4 |
Not a leaf moved at all 'neath the blue they hung waiting for messages kind | |
Tall cherry trees dropped their white blossom that drifted no whit from its place | Z4 |
For the south very far out to sea had the lulling low voice of the wind | |
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And the child's dancing foot gave us part in the ravishment almost a pain | T3 |
An infinite tremor of life a fond murmur that cried out on time | |
Ah short must all end in the doing and spend itself sweetly in vain | T3 |
And the promise be only fulfilment to lean from the height of its prime | |
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'We shall never be younger ' nay mock me not fancy none call from yon tree | O2 |
They have thrown me the world they went over went up and alas For my part | T |
I am left to grow old and to grieve and to change but they change not with me | O2 |
They will never be older the child of my love and the wife of my heart | T |
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Mrs J I told you so | I |
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Mrs T aside That did you neighbour Ay | V |
Partings said you and tears I liked the song | M3 |
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Mrs G Who be these coming to the front to sing | R4 |
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Mrs J aside Why neighbour these be sweethearts so 'tis said | N2 |
And there was much ado to make her sing | R4 |
She would and would not and he wanted her | P |
And mayhap wanted to be seen with her | P |
'Tis Tomlin's pretty maid his only one | W |
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Mrs G aside I did not know the maid so fair she looks | |
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Mrs J aside He's a right proper man she has at last | E2 |
Walks over many a mile and counts them nought | E2 |
To court her after work hours that he doth | F |
Not like her other why he'd let his work | M2 |
Go all to wrack and lay it to his love | Y4 |
While he would sit and look and look and sigh | D2 |
Her father sent him to the right about | E2 |
'If love ' said he 'won't make a man of you | L2 |
Why nothing will 'Tis mainly that love's for | P |
The right sort makes ' said he 'a lad a man | R |
The wrong sort makes ' said he 'a man a fool ' | - |
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Vicar presents a young man and a girl | |
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DUET | E2 |
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She While he dreams mine old grand sire | P |
And yon red logs glow | I |
Honey whisper by the fire | P |
Whisper honey low | I |
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He Honey high's yon weary hill | Z3 |
Stiff's yon weary loam | K2 |
Lacks the work o' my goodwill | Z3 |
Fain I'd take thee home | K2 |
O how much longer and longer and longer | P |
An' how much longer shall the waiting last | E2 |
Berries red are grown April birds are flown | M4 |
Martinmas gone over ay and harvest past | E2 |
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She Honey bide the time's awry | D2 |
Bide awhile let be | O2 |
He Take my wage then lay it by | D2 |
Till 't come back with thee | O2 |
The red money the white money | O2 |
Both to thee I bring | R4 |
She Bring ye ought beside honey | O2 |
He Honey ay the ring | R4 |
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Duet But how much longer and longer and longer | P |
O how much longer shall the waiting last | E2 |
Berries red are grown April birds are flown | M4 |
Martinmas gone over and the harvest past | E2 |
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Applause | |
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Mrs S aside O she's a pretty maid and sings so small | J2 |
And high 'tis like a flute And she must blush | |
Till all her face is roses newly blown | M4 |
How folks do clap She knows not where to look | |
There now she's off he standing like a man | R |
To face them | S2 |
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Mrs G aside Makes his bow and after her | P |
But what's the good of clapping when they're gone | |
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Mrs T aside Why 'tis a London fashion as I'm told | E2 |
And means they'd have 'em back to sing again | V4 |
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Mrs J aside Neighbours look where her father red as fire | P |
Sits pleased and 'shamed smoothing his Sunday hat | E2 |
And Parson bustles out Clap on clap on | F4 |
Coming Not she There comes her sweetheart though | I |
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Vicar presents the young man again | V4 |
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SONG | M3 |
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I | D2 |
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Rain clouds flew beyond the fell | X |
No more did thunders lower | P |
Patter patter on the beck | |
Dropt a clearing shower | P |
Eddying floats of creamy foam | K2 |
Flecked the waters brown | A4 |
As we rode up to cross the ford | E2 |
Rode up from yonder town | A4 |
Waiting on the weather | P |
She and I together | P |
Waiting on the weather | P |
Till the flood went down | A4 |
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II | D2 |
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The sun came out the wet leaf shone | M4 |
Dripped the wild wood vine | |
Betide me well betide me woe | I |
That hour's for ever mine | |
With thee Mary with thee Mary | O2 |
Full oft I pace again | V4 |
Asleep awake up yonder glen | V4 |
And hold thy bridle rein | T3 |
Waiting on the weather | P |
Thou and I together | P |
Waiting on the weather | P |
Till the flood shall wane | T3 |
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III | D2 |
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And who though hope did come to nought | E2 |
Would memory give away | V |
I lighted down she leaned full low | I |
Nor chid that hour's delay | V |
With thee Mary with thee Mary | O2 |
Methought my life to crown | A4 |
But we ride up but we ride up | Y3 |
No more from yonder town | A4 |
Waiting on the weather | P |
Thou and I together | P |
Waiting on the weather | P |
Till the flood go down | A4 |
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Mrs J aside Well very well but what of fiddler Sam | |
I ask you neighbours if't be not his turn | |
An honest man and ever pays his score | P |
Born in the parish old blind as a bat | E2 |
And strangers sing before him 't is a shame | |
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Mrs S aside Ay but his daughter | P |
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Mrs J aside Why the maid's a maid | E2 |
One would not set to guide the chant in church | |
But when she sings to earn her father's bread | E2 |
The mildest mother's son may cry 'Amen ' | - |
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Mrs S aside They say he plays not always true | L2 |
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Mrs J aside What then | V4 |
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Mrs T aside Here comes my lady She's too fat by half | |
For love songs O the lace upon her gown | A4 |
I wish I had the getting of it up | Y3 |
'T would be a pretty penny in my pouch | |
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Mrs J aside Be quiet now for manners | N3 |
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Vicar presents a lady who sings | U4 |
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I | D2 |
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Dark flocks of wildfowl riding out the storm | |
Upon a pitching sea | O2 |
Beyond grey rollers vex'd that rear and form | |
When piping winds urge on their destiny | O2 |
To fall back ruined in white continually | O2 |
And I at our trysting stone | M4 |
Whereto I came down alone | M4 |
Was fain o' the wind's wild moan | M4 |
O welcome were wrack and were rain | T3 |
And beat of the battling main | T3 |
For the sake of love's sweet pain | T3 |
For the smile in two brown eyes | B3 |
For the love in any wise | B3 |
To bide though the last day dies | B3 |
For a hand on my wet hair | P |
For a kiss e'en yet I wear | P |
For bonny Jock was there | P |
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II | D2 |
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Pale precipices while the sun lay low | I |
Tinct faintly of the rose | |
And mountain islands mirror'd in a flow | I |
Forgotten of all winds their manifold | E2 |
Peaks reared into the glory and the glow | I |
Floated in purple and gold | E2 |
And I o'er the rocks alone | M4 |
Of a shore all silent grown | M4 |
Came down to our trysting stone | M4 |
And sighed when the solemn ray | V |
Paled in the wake o' the day | V |
'Wellaway wellaway | V |
Comfort is not by the shore | P |
Going the gold that it wore | P |
Purple and rose are no more | P |
World and waters are wan | F4 |
And night will be here anon | F4 |
And bonny Jock's gone ' | - |
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Moderate applause and calls for fiddler Sam | |
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Mrs Jillifer aside Now neighbours call again and be not shamed | E2 |
Stand by the parish and the parish folk | |
Them that are poor I told you here he comes | |
Parson looks glum but brings him and his girl | |
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The fiddler Sam plays and his daughter sings | U4 |
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Touch the sweet string Fly forth my heart | E2 |
Upon the music like a bird | E2 |
The silvery notes shall add their part | E2 |
And haply yet thou shalt be heard | E2 |
Touch the sweet string | R4 |
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The youngest wren of nine | F4 |
Dimpled dark and merry | O2 |
Brown her locks and her two eyne | F4 |
Browner than a berry | O2 |
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When I was not in love | Y4 |
Maidens met I many | O2 |
Under sun now walks but one | F4 |
Nor others mark I any | O2 |
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Twin lambs a mild eyed ewe | V |
That would her follow bleating | R4 |
A heifer white as snow | F4 |
I'll give to my sweet sweeting | R4 |
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Touch the sweet string If yet too young | R4 |
O love of loves for this my song | R4 |
I'll pray thee count it all unsung | R4 |
And wait thy leisure wait it long | R4 |
Touch the sweet string | R4 |
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Much applause | |
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Vicar You hear them Sam You needs must play again | F4 |
Your neighbours ask it | E2 |
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Fiddler Thank ye neighbours all | J2 |
I have my feelings though I be but poor | P |
I've tanged the fiddle here this forty year | P |
And I should know the trick on 't | E2 |
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The fiddler plays and his daughter sings | U4 |
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For Exmoor | P |
For Exmoor where the red deer run my weary heart doth cry | P |
She that will a rover wed far her foot shall his | I2 |
Narrow narrow shows the street dull the narrow sky | P |
Buy my cherries whiteheart cherries good my masters buy | P |
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For Exmoor | P |
O he left me left alone aye to think and sigh | P |
'Lambs feed down yon sunny coombe hind and yearling shy | P |
Mid the shrouding vapours walk now like ghosts on high ' | - |
Buy my cherries blackheart cherries lads and lassies buy | P |
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For Exmoor | P |
Dear my dear why did ye so Evil days have I | P |
Mark no more the antler'd stag hear the curlew cry | P |
Milking at my father's gate while he leans anigh | P |
Buy my cherries whiteheart blackheart golden girls O buy | P |
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Mrs T aside I've known him play that Exmoor song afore | P |
'Ah me and I'm from Exmoor I could wish | T4 |
To hear 't no more | P |
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Mrs S aside Neighbours 't is mighty hot | E2 |
Ay now they throw the window up that's well | X |
A body could not breathe | F |
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The fiddler and his daughter go away | V |
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Mrs Jillifer aside They'll hear no parson's preaching no not they | V |
But innocenter songs I do allow | S |
They could not well have sung than these to night | E2 |
That man knows just so well as if he saw | |
They were not welcome | G2 |
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The Vicar stands up on the point of beginning to read when the tuning and twang of the fiddle is heard close outside the open window and the daughter sings in a clear cheerful voice A little tittering is heard in the room and the Vicar pauses discomfited | E2 |
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I | P |
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O my heart what a coil is here | P |
Laurie why will ye hold me dear | P |
Laurie Laurie lad make not wail | H |
With a wiser lass ye'll sure prevail | H |
For ye sing like a woodland nightingale | H |
And there's no sense in it under the sun | F4 |
For of three that woo I can take but one | F4 |
So what's to be done what's to be done | F4 |
And | E2 |
There's no sense in it under the sun | F4 |
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II | P |
- | |
Hal brave Hal from your foreign parts | |
Come home you'll choose among kinder hearts | |
Forget forget you're too good to hold | E2 |
A fancy 't were best should faint grow cold | E2 |
And fade like an August marigold | E2 |
For of three that woo I can take but one | F4 |
And what's to be done what's to be done | F4 |
There's no sense in it under the sun | F4 |
And | E2 |
Of three that woo I can take but one | F4 |
- | |
III | P |
- | |
Geordie Geordie I count you true | P |
Though language sweet I have none for you | P |
Nay but take me home to the churning mill | Z3 |
When cherry boughs white on yon mounting hill | Z3 |
Hang over the tufts o' the daffodil | Z3 |
For what's to be done what's to be done | F4 |
Of three that woo I must e'en take one | F4 |
Or there's no sense in it under the sun | F4 |
And | E2 |
What's to be done what's to be done | F4 |
- | |
V aside What's to be done indeed | E2 |
- | |
Wife aside Done nothing love | P |
Either the thing has done itself or they | V |
Must undo Did they call for fiddler Sam | |
Well now they have him | H4 |
- | |
- | |
More tuning heard outside | E2 |
- | |
Mrs J aside Live and let live's my motto | E2 |
- | |
Mrs T So 't is mine | F4 |
Who's Sam that he must fly in Parson's face | Z4 |
He's had his turn He never gave these lights | Y |
Cut his best flowers | N3 |
- | |
Mrs S aside He takes no pride in us | A3 |
Speak up good neighbour get the window shut | E2 |
- | |
Mrs J rising I ask your pardon truly that I do | P |
La but the window there's a parlous draught | E2 |
The window punishes rheumatic folk | R4 |
We'd have it shut sir | P |
- | |
Others Truly that we would | E2 |
- | |
V Certainly certainly my friends you shall | |
- | |
The window is shut and the Reading begins amid marked attention | F4 |
Jean Ingelow
(1)
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