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BARLEY-BREAK |
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Jamieson calls this "a game generally played by young people in a corn-yard. Hence called barla-bracks about the stacks, S. B." (i.e., in the North of Scotland). " One stack is fixed on as the dule or goal; and one person is appointed to catch the rest of the company, who run out from the dule. He does not leave it till they are all out of sight. Then he sets off to catch them. Any one who is taken cannot run out again with his former associates, being accounted a prisoner; but is obliged to assist his captor in pursuing the rest. When all are taken the game is finished; and he who was first taken is bound to act as catcher in the next game. This innocent sport seems to be almost entirely forgotten in the South of Scotland. It is also falling into desuetude in the North."
(b) The following description of Barley-break, written by Sir Philip Sidney, is taken from the song of Lamon, in the first volume of the Arcadia, where he relates the passion of Claius and Strephon for the beautiful Urania:—
She went abroad, thereby, At barley-brake her sweet, swift foot to try. . . . Afield they go, where many lookers be.
Then couples three be straight allotted there, They of both ends, the middle two, do fly;
The two that in mid-place Hell called were Must strive, with waiting foot and watching eye,
To catch of them, and them to hell to bear, That they, as well as they, may hell supply;
Like some that seek to salve their blotted name
Will others blot, till all do taste of shame.
There may you see, soon as the middle two Do, coupled, towards either couple make,
They, false and fearful, do their hands undo ; Brother his brother, friend doth friend forsake,
Heeding himself, cares not how fellow do, But of a stranger mutual help doth take;
As perjured cowards in adversity,
With sight of fear, from friends to friends do fly. |
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