Читать книгу The Devil in Britain and America - Ashton John - Страница 4

Attend good Christian people all,

Mark what I say, both old and young,

Unto the general Judgment day,

I think it is not very long.

A Wonder strange I shall relate,

I think the like was never shown,

In Westmoreland at Tredenton,

Of such a thing was never known.

One Gabriel Harding liv’d of late,

As may to all men just appear,

Whose yearly Rent, by just account,

Came to five hundred pound a year.

This man he had a Virtuous Wife,

In Godly ways her mind did give:

Yet he, as rude a wicked wretch,

As in this sinful Land did live.

Much news of him I will relate,

The like no Mortal man did hear;

’Tis very new, and also true,

Therefore, good Christians, all give ear.

One time this man he came home drunk,

As he us’d, which made his wife to weep,

Who straightway took him by the hand,

Saying, Dear Husband, lye down and sleepe.

She lovingly took him by the arms,

Thinking in safety him to guide,

A blow he struck her on the breast,

The woman straight sank down and dy’d.

The Children with Mournful Cries

They ran into the open Street,

They wept, they wail’d, they wrung their hands,

To all good Christians they did meet.

The people then, they all ran forth,

Saying, Children, why make you such moan?

O, make you haste unto our house,

Our dear mother is dead and gone.

Our Father hath our Mother kill’d,

The Children they cryed then.

The people then they all made haste

And laid their hands upon the man.

He presently denied the same,

Said from Guilty Murder I am free,

If I did that wicked deed, he said,

Some example I wish to be seen by me.

Thus he forswore the wicked deed,

Of his dear Wife’s untimely end.

Quoth the people, Let’s conclude with speed,

That for the Coroner we may send.

Mark what I say, the door’s fast shut,

The People the Children did deplore,

But straight they heard a Man to speak,

And one stood knocking at the door.

One in the house to the door made haste,

Hearing a Man to Knock and Call,

The door was opened presently,

And in he came amongst them all.

By your leave, good people, then he said,

May a stranger with you have some talk?

A dead woman I am come to see;

Into the room, I pray, Sir, walk.

His eyes like to the Stars did shine,

He was clothed in a bright grass green,

His cheeks were of a crimson red,

For such a man was seldome seen.

Unto the people then he spoke,

Mark well these words which I shall say,

For no Coroner shall you send,

I’m Judge and Jury here this day.

Bring hither the Man that did the deed,

And firmly hath denied the same.

They brought him into the room with speed,

To answer to this deed with shame.

Now come, O wretched Man, quoth he,

With shame before thy neighbours all,

Thy body thou hast brought to Misery,

Thy soul into a deeper thrall.

Thy Chiefest delight was drunkeness,

And lewd women, O, cursed sin,

Blasphemous Oaths and Curses Vile

A long time thou hast wallowed in.

The Neighbours thou wouldst set at strife,

And alwaies griping of the poor,

Besides, thou hast murdered thy wife,

A fearful death thou dy’st therefore.

Fear nothing, good people, then he said,

A sight will presently appear,

Let all your trust be in the Lord,

No harm shall be while I am here.

Then in the Room the Devil appear’d,

Like a brave Gentleman did stand,

Satan (quoth he that was the Judge)

Do no more than thou hast command.

The Devil then he straight laid hold

On him that had murdered his wife,

His neck in Sunder then he broke,

And thus did end his wretched life.

The Devil then he vanished

Quite from the People in the Hall,

Which made the people much afraid,

Yet no one had no hurt at all.

Then straight a pleasant Melody

Of Musick straight was heard to sound,

It ravisht the hearts of those stood by,

So sweet the Musick did abound.

Now, (quoth this gallant Man in green)

With you I can no longer stay,

My love I leave, my leave I take,

The time is come, I must away.

Be sure to love each other well,

Keep in your breast what I do say.

It is the way to go to Heaven,

When you shall rise at Judgment day.

The people to their homes did go,

Which had this mighty wonder seen,

And said, it was an Angel sure

That thus was clothed all in green.

And thus the News from Westmoreland

I have related to you o’er,

I think it is as strange a thing,

As ever man did hear before.

Of all the plagues upon the earth,

That e’er poor man befal,

It’s hunger and a scolding wife,

These are the worst of all:

There was a poor man in our country

Of a poor and low degree,

And with both these plagues he was troubled,

And the worst of luck had he.

He had seven children by one wife,

And the times were poor and hard,

And his poor toil was grown so bad,

He scarce could get him bread:

Being discontented in his mind,

One day his house he left,

And wandered down by a forest side,

Of his senses quite bereft.

As he was wandering up and down,

Betwixt hope and despair,

The Devil started out of a bush,

And appeared unto him there:

O what is the matter, the Devil he said,

You look so discontent?

Sure you want some money to buy some bread,

Or to pay your landlord’s rent.

Indeed, kind sir, you read me right,

And the grounds of my disease,

Then what is your name, said the poor man,

Pray, tell me, if you please?

My name is Dumkin the Devil, quoth he,

And the truth to you I do tell,

Altho’ you see me wandering here,

Yet my dwelling it is in hell.

Then what will you give me, said the Devil,

To ease you of your want,

And you shall have corn and cattle enough,

And never partake of scant?

I have nothing to give you, said the poor man,

Nor nothing here in hand,

But all the service that I can do,

Shall be at your command.

Then, upon the condition of seven long years,

A bargain with you I will frame,

You shall bring me a beast unto this place,

That I cannot tell his name:

But, if I tell its name full right,

Then mark what to you I tell,

Then you must go along with me

Directly unto Hell.

This poor man went home joyfully,

And thrifty he grew therefore,

For he had corn and cattle enough,

And every thing good store.

His neighbours who did live around,

Did wonder at him much,

And thought he had robb’d or stole,

He was grown so wondrous rich.

Then for the space of seven long years

He lived in good cheer,

But when the time of his indenture grew near,

He began to fear:

O what is the matter, said his wife,

You look so discontent?

Sure you have got some maid with child,

And now you begin to repent.

Indeed, kind wife, you judge me wrong,

To censure so hard of me,

Was it for getting a maid with child,

That would be no felony:

But I have made a league with the Devil,

For seven long years, no more,

That I should have corn and cattle enough,

And everything good store.

Then for the space of seven long years

A bargain I did frame,

I should bring him a beast unto that place,

He could not tell its name:

But if he tell his name full right,

Then mark what to you I tell,

Then I must go along with him,

Directly unto Hell.

Go, get you gone, you silly old man,

Your cattle go tend and feed,

For a woman’s wit is far better than a man’s,

If us’d in time of need:

Go fetch me down all the birdlime you have,

And set it down on the floor,

And when I have pulled my cloathes all off,

You shall anoint me all o’er.

Now when he had anointed her

From the head unto the heel,

Zounds! said the man, methinks you look

Just like the very De’el.

Go, fetch me down all the feathers thou hast,

And lay them down by me,

And I will roll myself therein,

’Till never a place go free.

Come, tie a string about my neck,

And lead me to this place,

And I will save you from the Devil,

If I have but so much grace.

The Devil, he stood roaring out,

And looked both fierce and bold;

Thou hast brought me a beast unto this place,

And the bargain thou dost hold.

Come, shew me the face of this beast, said the Devil,

Come, shew it me in a short space;

Then he shewed him his wife’s buttocks,

And swore it was her face:

She has monstrous cheeks, the Devil he said,

As she now stands at length,

You’d take her for some monstrous beast

Taken by Man’s main strength.

How many more of these beasts, said the Devil,

How many more of this kind?

I have seven more such, said the poor man,

But have left them all behind.

If you have seven more such, said the Devil,

The truth unto you I tell,

You have beasts enough to cheat me

And all the Devils in Hell.

Here, take thy bond and indenture both,

I’ll have nothing to do with thee:

So the man and his wife went joyfully home

And lived full merrily.

O, God send us good merry long lives,

Without any sorrow or woe,

Now here’s a health to all such wives

Who can cheat the Devil so.

‘A Pleasant new Ballad you here may behold

How the Devill, though subtle, was guld by a Scold.’

‘Goe leade, sir Knave, quoth she,

and wherefore not, Goe ride?

She took the Devill by the reines,

and up she goes astride.’

‘Here, take her (quoth the Devill)

to keep her here be bold,

For Hell would not be troubled

with such an earthly scold.

When I come home, I may

to all my fellowes tell,

I lost my labour and my bloud,

to bring a scold to Hell.’

‘That shall be try’d, the Devil then he cry’d,

then up the Devil he did start,

Then the Tinker threw his staff about,

and he made the Devil to smart:

There against a gate, he did break his pate,

and both his horns he broke;

And ever since that time, I will make up my rhime,

it was called “The Devil’s Oak.”’