Robert Browning: How to Know Him Part 10

Shakespeare was indeed of the common people, but so far as we can conjecture, certainly not for them; Milton was not of them, but was wholly for them, being indeed regarded as an anarchist; Burns was a peasant, and Sh.e.l.ley a blue-blood, but both were with the popular cause. Browning himself, as we happen to know from one of his personal sonnets, was an intense Liberal in feeling.

CAVALIER TUNES

1842

I. MARCHING ALONG

I

Kentish Sir Byng stood for his King, Bidding the crop-headed Parliament swing: And, pressing a troop unable to stoop And see the rogues flourish and honest folk droop, Marched them along, fifty-score strong, Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song.

II

G.o.d for King Charles! Pym and such carles To the Devil that prompts 'em their treasonous parles!

Cavaliers, up! Lips from the cup, Hands from the pasty, nor bite take nor sup Till you're-- CHORUS.--_Marching along, fifty-score strong_, _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song_.

III

Hampden to h.e.l.l, and his obsequies' knell Serve Hazelrig, Fiennes, and young Harry as well!

England, good cheer! Rupert is near!

Kentish and loyalists, keep we not here CHORUS.--_Marching along, fifty-score strong_, _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song_?

IV

Then, G.o.d for King Charles! Pym and his snarls To the Devil that p.r.i.c.ks on such pestilent carles!

Hold by the right, you double your might; So, onward to Nottingham, fresh for the fight, CHORUS.--_March we along, fifty-score strong_, _Great-hearted gentlemen, singing this song_!

II. GIVE A ROUSE

I

King Charles, and who'll do him right now?

King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here's, in h.e.l.l's despite now, King Charles!

II

Who gave me the goods that went since?

Who raised me the house that sank once?

Who helped me to gold I spent since?

Who found me in wine you drank once?

CHORUS.--_King Charles, and who'll do him right now?

King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here's, in h.e.l.l's despite now, King Charles_!

III

To whom used my boy George quaff else, By the old fool's side that begot him?

For whom did he cheer and laugh else, While Noll's d.a.m.ned troopers shot him?

CHORUS.--_King Charles, and who'll do him right now?

King Charles, and who's ripe for fight now?

Give a rouse: here's, in h.e.l.l's despite now, King Charles_!

III. BOOT AND SADDLE

I

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!

Rescue my castle before the hot day Brightens to blue from its silvery grey, CHORUS.--_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away_!

II

Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say; Many's the friend there, will listen and pray "G.o.d's luck to gallants that strike up the lay--"

CHORUS.--"_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away_!"

III

Forty miles off, like a roebuck at bay, Flouts Castle Brancepeth the Roundheads' array: Who laughs, "Good fellows ere this, by my fay,"

CHORUS.--"_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away_!"

IV

Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay, Laughs when you talk of surrendering, "Nay!

I've better counsellors; what counsel they?"

CHORUS.--"_Boot, saddle, to horse, and away_!"