Читать книгу Merrie England in the Olden Time - George Daniel - Страница 17

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A merry morning, Eugenio. Did not soft slumbers and pleasant dreams follow the heart-stirring lucubrations of Uncle Timothy? I am mistaken if you rose not lighter and happier, and in more perfect peace with yourself and the world.”

“My dreams were of ancient minstrelsy, Christmas gambols, May-day games, and merriments. Methought Uncle Timothy was a portly Apollo, Mr. Bosky a rosy Pan—”

“And you and I, Eugenio?”

“Foremost in the throng—”

“Of capering satyrs! Well, though our own dancing * days are over, we still retain a relish for that elegant accomplishment.

* There were rare dancing doings at The original dancing

room at the field-end of King-Street, Bloomsbury,.

in the year 1742

Hickford's great room, Panton-Street, Haymarket, 1743

Mitre Tavern, Charing-Cross, … 1743

Barber's Hall, … 1745

Richmond Assembly, … 1745

Lambeth Wells, … .1747

Duke's long room, Paternoster-Row,.. 1748

Large Assembly Room at the Two Green Lamps, near Exeter

Change, (at the particular desire of Jubilee Diekey!) … in

the year 1749 The large room next door to the Hand and

Slippers, Long-Lane, West Smithfield, … 1750 Lambeth Wells,

where a Penny Wedding, in the Scotch manner, was celebrated

for the benefit of a young couple, … … 1752 Old Queen's

Head, in Cock-Lane, Lambeth,. 1755 and at Mr. Bell's, at the

sign of the Ship, in the Strand, where, in 1755, a Scotch

Wedding was kept. The bride “to be dressed without any

linen; all in ribbons, and green flowers, with Scotch masks.

There will be three bag-pipes; a band of Scotch music, &c.

&c. To begin precisely at two o'clock. Admission, two

shillings and sixpence.”

As antiquaries, we have a reverence for dancing. Noah danced before the ark. The boar's head and the wine and wassail were crowned with a dance to the tune of 'The Black Almayne,' 'My Lorde Marques Galyarde,' and 'The firste Traces of due Passa.'

'Merrily danc'd the Quaker's wife,

And merrily danc'd the Quaker!'

Why not? Orpheus charmed the four-footed family with his fiddle: shall it have less effect on the two?

“The innocent and the happy, while the dews of youth are upon them, dance to the music of their own hearts. 'See the blind beggar dance, the cripple sing!' The Irishman has his lilt; the Scotchman his reel, which he not unfrequently dances to his own particular fiddle! and the Englishman his country-dance.