Ancient Poems, Ballads, and Songs of the Peasantry of England Part 5

[From the cl.u.s.ter of 'ornaments' alluded to in the ninth verse of the following poem, we are inclined to fix the date about 1653.

The present reprint is from an old broadside, without printer's name or date, in possession of Mr. J. R. Smith.]

You sober-minded christians now draw near, Labour to learn these pious lessons here; For by the same you will be taught to know What is the cause of all our grief and woe.

We have a G.o.d who sits enthroned above; He sends us many tokens of his love: Yet we, like disobedient children, still Deny to yield submission to His will.

The just command which He upon us lays, We must confess we have ten thousand ways Transgressed; for see how men their sins pursue, As if they did not fear what G.o.d could do.

Behold the wretched sinner void of shame, He values not how he blasphemes the name Of that good G.o.d who gave him life and breath, And who can strike him with the darts of death!

The very little children which we meet, Amongst the sports and pastimes in the street, We very often hear them curse and swear, Before they've learned a word of any prayer.

'Tis much to be lamented, for I fear The same they learn from what they daily hear; Be careful then, and don't instruct them so, For fear you prove their dismal overthrow.

Both young and old, that dreadful sin forbear; The tongue of man was never made to swear, But to adore and praise the blessed name, By whom alone our dear salvation came.

Pride is another reigning sin likewise; Let us behold in what a strange disguise Young damsels do appear, both rich and poor; The like was ne'er in any age before.

What artificial ornaments they wear, Black patches, paint, and locks of powdered hair; Likewise in lofty hoops they are arrayed, As if they would correct what G.o.d had made.

Yet let 'em know, for all those youthful charms, They must lie down in death's cold frozen arms!

Oh think on this, and raise your thoughts above The sin of pride, which you so dearly love.

Likewise, the wilful sinners that transgress The righteous laws of G.o.d by drunkenness, They do abuse the creatures which were sent Purely for man's refres.h.i.+ng nourishment.

Many diseases doth that sin attend, But what is worst of all, the fatal end: Let not the pleasures of a quaffing bowl Destroy and stupify thy active soul.

Perhaps the jovial drunkard over night, May seem to reap the pleasures of delight, While for his wine he doth in plenty call; But oh! the sting of conscience, after all,

Is like a gnawing worm upon the mind.

Then if you would the peace of conscience find, A sober conversation learn with speed, For that's the sweetest life that man can lead.

Be careful that thou art not drawn away, By foolishness, to break the Sabbath-day; Be constant at the pious house of prayer, That thou mayst learn the christian duties there.

For tell me, wherefore should we carp and care For what we eat and drink, and what we wear; And the meanwhile our fainting souls exclude From that refres.h.i.+ng sweet celestial food?

Yet so it is, we, by experience, find Many young wanton gallants seldom mind The church of G.o.d, but scornfully deride That sacred word by which they must be tried.

A tavern, or an alehouse, they adore, And will not come within the church before They're brought to lodge under a silent tomb, And then who knows how dismal is their doom!

Though for awhile, perhaps, they flourish here, And seem to scorn the very thoughts of fear, Yet when they're summoned to resign their breath, They can't outbrave the bitter stroke of death!

Consider this, young gallants, whilst you may, Swift-winged time and tide for none will stay; And therefore let it be your christian care, To serve the Lord, and for your death prepare.

There is another crying sin likewise: Behold young gallants cast their wanton eyes On painted harlots, which they often meet At every creek and corner of the street,

By whom they are like dismal captives led To their destruction; grace and fear is fled, Till at the length they find themselves betrayed, And for that sin most sad examples made.

Then, then, perhaps, in bitter tears they'll cry, With wringing hands, against their company, Which did betray them to that dismal state!

Consider this before it is too late.

Likewise, sons and daughters, far and near, Honour your loving friends, and parents dear; Let not your disobedience grieve them so, Nor cause their aged eyes with tears to flow.

What a heart-breaking sorrow it must be, To dear indulgent parents, when they see Their stubborn children wilfully run on Against the wholesome laws of G.o.d and man!

Oh! let these things a deep impression make Upon your hearts, with speed your sins forsake; For, true it is, the Lord will never bless Those children that do wilfully transgress.

Now, to conclude, both young and old I pray, Reform your sinful lives this very day, That G.o.d in mercy may his love extend, And bring the nation's troubles to an end.

Poem: SMOKING SPIRITUALIZED.

[The following old poem was long ascribed, on apparently sufficient grounds, to the Rev. Ralph Erskine, or, as he designated himself, 'Ralph Erskine, V.D.M.' The peasantry throughout the north of England always call it 'Erskine's song,' and not only is his name given as the author in numerous chap-books, but in his own volume of Gospel Sonnets, from an early copy of which our version is transcribed. The discovery however, by Mr. Collier, of the First Part in a MS. temp. Jac. I., with the initials G. W. affixed to it, has disposed of Erskine's claim to the honour of the entire authors.h.i.+p. G. W. is supposed to be George Withers; but this is purely conjectural; and it is not at all improbable that G. W.

really stands for W. G., as it was a common practice amongst anonymous writers to reverse their initials. The history, then, of the poem, seems to be this: that the First Part, as it is now printed, originally const.i.tuted the whole production, being complete in itself; that the Second Part was afterwards added by the Rev. Ralph Erskine; and that both parts came subsequently to be ascribed to him, as his was the only name published in connexion with the song. The Rev. Ralph Erskine was born at Monilaws, Northumberland, on the 15th March, 1685. He was one of the thirty- three children of Ralph Erskine of s.h.i.+eldfield, a family of repute descended from the ancient house of Marr. He was educated at the college in Edinburgh, obtained his licence to preach in June, 1709, and was ordained, on an unanimous invitation, over the church at Dunfermline in August, 1711. He was twice married: in 1714 to Margaret Dewar, daughter of the Laird of La.s.sodie, by whom he had five sons and five daughters, all of whom died in the prime of life; and in 1732 to Margaret, daughter of Mr. Simson of Edinburgh, by whom he had four sons, one of whom, with his wife, survived him.

He died in November, 1752. Erskine was the author of a great number of Sermons; a Paraphrase on the Canticles; Scripture Songs; a Treatise on Mental Images; and Gospel Sonnets.

Smoking Spiritualized is, at the present day, a standard publication with modern ballad-printers, but their copies are exceedingly corrupt. Many versions and paraphrases of the song exist. Several are referred to in Notes and Queries, and, amongst them, a broadside of the date of 1670, and another dated 1672 (both printed before Erskine was born), presenting different readings of the First Part, or original poem. In both these the burthen, or refrain, differs from that of our copy by the employment of the expression 'DRINK tobacco,' instead of 'SMOKE tobacco.' The former was the ancient term for drawing in the smoke, swallowing it, and emitting it through the nostrils. A correspondent of Notes and Queries says, that the natives of India to this day use the phrase 'hooka peue,' to DRINK the hooka.]

PART I.

This Indian weed, now withered quite, Though green at noon, cut down at night, Shows thy decay; All flesh is hay: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The pipe so lily-like and weak, Does thus thy mortal state bespeak; Thou art e'en such, - Gone with a touch: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the smoke ascends on high, Then thou behold'st the vanity Of worldly stuff, Gone with a puff: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And when the pipe grows foul within, Think on thy soul defiled with sin; For then the fire It does require: Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

And seest the ashes cast away, Then to thyself thou mayest say, That to the dust Return thou must.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

PART II.

Was this small plant for thee cut down?

So was the plant of great renown, Which Mercy sends For n.o.bler ends.

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

Doth juice medicinal proceed From such a naughty foreign weed?

Then what's the power Of Jesse's flower?

Thus think, and smoke tobacco.

The promise, like the pipe, inlays, And by the mouth of faith conveys, What virtue flows From Sharon's rose.