8.The farmer’s curst wife

There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,

(Chorus of whistlers)

There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell.

And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.

(Chorus of whistlers)

Then Satan came to the old man at the plow:

"One of your family I must have now.

"It is not your eldest son that I crave,

But it is your old wife, and she I will have."

"O, welcome, good Satan, with all my heart!

I hope you and she will never more part "

Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,

And he lugged her along like a pedlar s pack.

He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate;

Says he, "Here take in an old Sussex chap's mate."

О then she did kick the young imps about;

Says one to the other, " Let s try turn her out."

She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,

She up with her patterns and beat out their brains.

She knocked the old Satan against the wall:

“Let’s turn her out, or she’ll murder us all.”

Now he’s bundled her up on his back amain,

And to her old husband he took her again.

“I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,

But I ne’er was tormented so as with your wife”.

10. Robin hood and little john

¹ When Robin Hood was about eighteen years old

He chanced to meet Little John,

A jolly brisk blade just fit for his trade

For he was a sturdy young man.

² Altho he was little his limbs they were large,

His stature was seven feet high.

Wherever he came, he soon quickened his name

And presently caused them to fly.

³ One day these two met on a long narrow bridge,

And neither of them would give way,

When Robin stepped up to the stranger and said,

"I'll show you brave Nottingham play."

⁴ "You speak like a coward," the stranger he said,

"As there with your long-bow you stand;

I vow and protest you may shoot at my breast

While I have but a staff in my hand."

⁵ "The name of a coward," said Robin, "I scorn,

And so my long-bow I lay by

And then for your sake a staff I will take

The strength of your manhood to try."

⁶ Then Robin he stepped out into a grove

And pulled up a staff of green oak,

And this being done straight back he did come,

And thus to the stranger he spoke:

⁷ "Behold thou my staff, it is lusty and tough,

On this long narrow bridge let us play;

Then he who falls in, the other shall win

The battle and then we'll away."

⁸ Then Robin hit the stranger a crack on the crown

That caused the blood to appear

And thus so enraged they more closely engaged

And laid on the blows most severe.

⁹ The stranger gave Robin a crack on the crown

That was a most terrible stroke,

The very next blow laid Robin below

And tumbled him into the brook.

¹⁰ "Oh where are you now?" the stranger he cried;

With a hearty laugh in reply,

"Oh, faith, in the flood," quoth bold Robin Hood.

"And floating away with the tide."

¹¹ Then Robin he waded all out of the deep

And pulled himself up by a thorn,

Then just at the last he blew a loud blast

So merrily on his bugle horn.

¹² The hills they did echo, the valley did ring

Which caused his gay men to appear,

All dressed in green most fair to be seen

Straight up to the master they steer.

¹³ "What aileth thee, master?" quoth William Stutely,

"You seem to be wet to the skin."

"No matter," quoth he, "This villain you see

In fighting hath tumbled me in."

¹⁴ "We'll pluck out his eyes and duck him likewise,"

Then seized they the stranger right there,

"Nay, let him go free," quoth bold Robin Hood,

"For he's a brave fellow. Forbear!

¹⁵ "Cheer up jolly blade and don't be afraid

Of all these gay men that you see,

There are four-score and nine and if you will be mine

You may wear of my own liverie."

¹⁶ A brace of fat deer was quickly brought in,

Good ale and strong liquor likewise.

The feast was so good, all in the greenwood

Where this jolly babe was baptised.