Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2

Ancient Songs, Ballads, & Dance Tunes, Sheet Music & Lyrics - online book

	320	ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	Knight," already printed (i. 62). The second, entitled " The baffled Knight, or Lady's Policy," is reprinted by Percy, and commences— " There was Knight was drunk with wine.-' The third is contained in Pills to purge Melancholy, iii. 1707, or v. 1719; and in A Complete Collection of old and new English and Scotch Songs, 8vo, 1735. It has a separate tune (see Pills), and is in stanzas of eight lines, commencing— "There was a Knight and he was young." A copy of the fourth is in the Roxburghe Collection (i. 306), entitled "The politick Maid : Or—"A dainty new ditty, both pleasant and witty, Wherein you may see the Maid's policie." " To a pleasant new tune." Subscribed R[ichard] CQimsall], and " printed for Thomas Lambert, at the signe of the Horse-shoe, in Smithfield." " There was a Knight was wine-drunk,            Sing, lovd whistle in the wind, As he rode on the way,                                   JJlow merry, merry; And there he spied a bonny lasse                   Up and down in yonder dale, Among the cocks of hay.                                With hey tro, nonney, nonney. The tune here printed, belongs to the second of the above. In Silvia, the first line, " There was a Knight was drunk with wine," is given at full length. It is also referred to, under the title of The bdffled Knight, in a black-letter ballad of " The West Country Lawyer : Or The witty Maid's good fortune," &c, " to the tune of The baffled-Knight" (Rox..ii. 578) ; commencing— "A youthful lawyer, fine and gay,            ' Good morrow, then, the lawyer cried, Was riding unto the city,                        ' I prithee, where art thou going ?' Who met a damsel on the way,              Quoth she,' To yonder meadow's side, Eight beautiful, fair, and witty.              My father is there a mowing,'" &c.
	For continuation of the words, see Percy's Reliques of Ancient Poetry. THE WILLOW TREE. When I printed this tune among the National English Airs, in 1839, I was but imperfectly acquainted with its history. Mr. Macfarren had noted down the air from hearing an old ballad-singer in Lancashire, and could recollect but one stanza:—                   " 0 this willow tree will twist, And this willow tree will twine," &c.