Read Ebook: The Mirror of Literature Amusement and Instruction. Volume 19 No. 551 June 9 1832 by Various

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THE MIRROR OF LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.

Its establishment is stated to have cost the Duke of Marlborough ten thousand guineas.

SONG,

LE ROI D'YVETOT.

There once was a King, as they say, Though history says naught about it, Who slept sound by night and by day, And for glory--who just did without it; A night cap his diadem was, Which his maid used to air at the fire, And then put it on him, Such was his Coronation attire.

CHORUS.

"Lack-a-day, well-a-day!" then let us sing, And mourn for the loss of this good little King.

In a cottage his banquets were given, He lived upon four meals a-day, sir, On which diet he seems to have thriven: And an ass was his charger they say, sir, A dog was his life-guard, we're told, And many a peregrination Thus attended, he must have been bold, He made step and step through the nation.

CHORUS.

"Lack-a-day, well-a-day!" then let us sing, And mourn for the loss of this good little King.

His taste, for a monarch, was queer, But his motto was "live and let live, sir," He was thirsty, and fond of good beer, Which his subjects were happy to give, sir; He levied his taxes himself, A quart or a pint for his dinner, No exciseman went snacks in the pelf, No clerks had this jolly old sinner.

CHORUS.

"Lack-a-day, well-a-day!" then let us sing, And mourn for the loss of this good little King.

Except just by way of a lark, His militia he never would call out, He then made them shoot at a mark Till they had shot all their powder and ball out.

CHORUS.

"Lack-a-day, well-a-day!" then let us sing, And mourn for the loss of this good little King.

To his neighbours he always was kind, He never extended his boundaries, For disputes and contentions, I find, He never saw any just ground arise: Pleasure's code being his statute law He ne'er caused a tear to be shed, sir, Though I swear not a dry eye I saw, When his subjects first heard he was dead, sir.

CHORUS.

"Lack-a-day, well-a-day!" well might they sing, When they mourned the sad loss of their good little King.

His portrait you must have observed, In remarkably good preservation, For his eminent virtues deserved You'll allow, a conspicuous station: "The King's Head" still continues his name, Where full often the people on holidays As they tipple, still talk of his name, In lamenting the end of his jolly days.

CHORUS.

"Lack a-day, well-a-day!" thus do they sing. And mourn for the loss of their good little King.

TO A LADY WHO SAID SHE WAS THE SAME AGE AS HIMSELF.

FROM THE FRENCH OF BERANGER.

Our ages are the same, you say, But know that love believes it not; The Fates, a wager I would lay, Our tangled threads shared out by lot; What part to each they did assign The world, fair dame, can plainly see; The Spring and Summer days were thine, Autumn and Winter came to me. H.

ENGLISH BALLAD SINGING.

The suppression of "the order" of minstrels, gave rise to that of the Ballad-singers, who relied upon the quality of their voices for success. The subjects of many of the songs handed down by the minstrels were still held in honour by the ballad-singers. The feats of "Elym of the Clough," "Randle of Chester," and "Sir Topaz," which had faded under the kind keeping of the minstrels, were now refreshed and brought more boldly in the new version before the sense. Robin Hood and Friar Tuck had their honours enlarged by the new dynasty; more maidens and heroes were inspired by their misfortunes. Drayton's allusions to the propagation of Robin's fame may give an idea of the diffusion of the ballad-singers:

"In this our spacious isle I think there is not one, But he hath heard some talk of him and Little John; But to the end of time the tales shall ne'er be done, Of Scarlock, George-a-Green and Much the Miller's son."

The new race started in the field with the full tide of popularity; they had the glory of being opposed to and triumphing over the votaries of the muses. The poets of the first class confessed their uneasiness at the success of the innovators. Of this fact we have abundant instances in Spencer's "Tears of the Muses," and the mighty Shakspeare would bring the calling into contempt.

The most universally esteemed singer of his age was Mat. Nash, who had a vehement style; his "Hunts-up," a song which obtained him "much favor," was one of his most celebrated efforts. However, it happened that the great Secretary Cecil was so captivated with his singing, that he soon enabled him to retire from his profession.

The accident that led to this fortunate reconnoitre is not impertinent to our subject: in a time of dearth, which was severely felt in the city, the famous ballad-maker Delone composed a song reflecting on her Majesty. The ballad-maker and singer were both committed to the compter, but the poet defied government even while in the lion's den. In a letter to the Lord Mayor, he avowed the ballad, and justified it. Nash, in the meantime, in an interview with the Secretary, established his innocence, and laid the foundation of his future prosperity.

Gay and Swift had naturally a relish for low society, and were hailed by the fraternity as the most precious sources of profit. Amongst other songs which Swift sent into the world through the medium of ballad-singers, was a severe satire upon the Duke of Marlborough, beginning "Our Johnny is come from the wars:" it drew much attention, and excited the strongest resentment against the author in the breast of the Duchess, who remained implacable until the publication of Gulliver, when she offered her friendship to Swift, through his friend Gay.

There was a young creature among the ballad-singers known to the world by no other title than Clara, who drew much attention at this time by the sweetness and pathos of her tones. She was the original singer of "Black-eyed Susan," and one or two songs which were afterwards introduced into the "Beggar's Opera;" but her recommendation to particular notice was the circumstance of her being for many years the object of Bolingbroke's enthusiastic affection. The poor girl strayed for some time, during which his Lordship had not seen her: it was after this interval, that, meeting her, he addressed to her the tender lines, beginning,

"Dear, thoughtless Clara, to my verse attend, Believe for once the lover and the friend,"

And concluding thus:

A series of calamities totally ruined her vocal powers, and she afterwards subsisted by the sale of oranges at the Court of Requests.

The profession did not continue to maintain its rank. The disappointed author in "Roderick Random," who set about writing for ballad-singers, was introduced into one of their assemblies, and his testimony establishes their degeneracy.

In fact, the history of ballad-singing, during the remainder of last century, affords but an unsatisfactory subject of reflection to lovers of song; whether they have regenerated in the present age, we leave the reader to judge.

E.J.H.

LOVE AT COURT AND LOVE IN THE COUNTRY.

Loving 'mongst the aristocracy Is reckon'd positive hypocrisy; The noble votaries of fashion Are ignorant of the tender passion. A shepherd, if his nymph doth alter, Killeth woe by means of halter: But in high life, if ladies prove Indifferent to an ardent love, What does the enamour'd title do, But set about and alter too.

NOTES OF A READER.

CORRUPT STATE OF THE WESTERN CHURCH IN THE ELEVENTH CENTURY.

From the following facts an inference may be drawn of the tendency of the Western church to a system of externals, applying itself solely to continual discipline and fasting, instead of the improvement of the heart. For the perusal of the sacred writings and spiritual lessons of the ancient fathers of the church, was substituted that of legends and decretals, and the Book of Canons, by which the whole Western church was governed. Images and relics of the saints acquired an excessive adoration; and continual discoveries were being made of the bodies of miracle-working saints. Impostors were to be found, appearing every day under new names and with fresh miracles, imposing on the credulity of the public, and amassing wealth by defrauding the pious multitude. Some of these impostors, too insolent in their practices, were discovered and punished, whilst others derived from them their whole fortune and subsistence. It went to such a pass, that an arm of St. Augustine was found and sold to William, Duke of Aquitaine, for 100 talents. The head of St. John the Baptist was dug up, and attracted an immense multitude of spectators, amongst whom was Robert, King of France.

Erycius Puteanus added the seventh note to complete the octave, in the sixteenth century.

ODD DISPUTE.

Ibid.

AN INDIAN TALE, AND OTHER POEMS.

There is a time when naught on earth Can re-awake the chords of mirth, When joy with all its cherub wiles Is powerless in creating smiles; The sun of happiness is set, And naught remains but deep regret, And inward pangs and throbs severe, And disappointment's bitter tear! The magic charm that swayed the sense With strong resistless influence Is broken, and its votary left, Of the soul's talisman bereft! In vain the tones of music steal Upon the ear in soft appeal, Or friendship with its soothing voice Bids the hushed tongue again rejoice, So overwhelming is the grief-- Death only brings a late relief!

And one of the minor pieces:

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