Reliques of Ancient English Poetry: Consisting of Old Heroic Ballads, Songs, & Other Pieces of Our Earlier Poets, Together with Some Few of Later Date, & a Copious GlossaryH.G. Bohn, 1851 - 307 pages |
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Page ix
... probably made from de- fective copies , or the imperfect recitation of illite- rate singers ; so that a considerable portion of the sung or narrative is sometimes omitted ; and mi- serable trash or nonsense not unfrequently intro- duced ...
... probably made from de- fective copies , or the imperfect recitation of illite- rate singers ; so that a considerable portion of the sung or narrative is sometimes omitted ; and mi- serable trash or nonsense not unfrequently intro- duced ...
Page xiii
... probably invent a few stanzas on occasion . I have no doubt but most of the old heroic Ballads in this collection Torfæi Præfat . ad Orcad . Hist . - Pref . to " Five Pieces of Runic Poetry , " & c . were composed by this order of men ...
... probably invent a few stanzas on occasion . I have no doubt but most of the old heroic Ballads in this collection Torfæi Præfat . ad Orcad . Hist . - Pref . to " Five Pieces of Runic Poetry , " & c . were composed by this order of men ...
Page xiv
... probably composed by the minstrels who sang them . From the amazing variations which occur in different copies of the old pieces , it is evi- dent they made no scruple to alter each others pro- ductions ; and the reciter added or ...
... probably composed by the minstrels who sang them . From the amazing variations which occur in different copies of the old pieces , it is evi- dent they made no scruple to alter each others pro- ductions ; and the reciter added or ...
Page xv
... probably confined to such of their own country- men as excelled in the Minstrel arts ; and in the first ages after the conquest no other songs would be listened to by the great nobility , but such as were composed in their own Norman ...
... probably confined to such of their own country- men as excelled in the Minstrel arts ; and in the first ages after the conquest no other songs would be listened to by the great nobility , but such as were composed in their own Norman ...
Page xvi
... probably did the one , and some the other and it would have been wonderful indeed if men whose peculiar profession it was , and who devoted their time and talents to entertain their hearers with poetical compositions , were peculiarly ...
... probably did the one , and some the other and it would have been wonderful indeed if men whose peculiar profession it was , and who devoted their time and talents to entertain their hearers with poetical compositions , were peculiarly ...
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Common terms and phrases
Adam Bell ancient Anglo-Saxon appears awaye ballad Bards barons called castle Child Waters copy Cotton Library daughter daye dear death doth Douglas dragon Du Cange Earl edition Editor Editor's folio Edward England English Erle fair fast father fayre Garland Gawaine gold hand harp Harper hart hast hath heart heire of Linne Henry Hist honour intitled John king King Arthur knight kyng lady ladye land Lord manner Mary Ambree Minstrels never noble Northumberland Percy play poem poet poetry praye prince printed Queen quoth reader reign Richard Robin Robin Hood romance sayd sayes Scotland Scots Scottish shee shold sing Sir Aldingar slaine slayne song sonne stanzas sweet sword tell thee ther unto willow wold word writer written wyfe wyll wyth youth zour
Popular passages
Page 82 - Who God doth late and early pray, More of his grace than gifts to lend, And entertains the harmless day, With a religious book or friend. This man is freed from servile bands Of hope to rise, or fear to fall ; Lord of himself, though not of lands, And having nothing, yet hath all.
Page 52 - My mother had a maid call'd Barbara : She was in love ; and he she lov'd prov'd mad, And did forsake her : she had a song of " willow ;" An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune, And she died singing it...
Page 264 - Tell me not, Sweet, I am unkind That from the nunnery Of thy chaste breast and quiet mind, To war and arms I fly. True, a new mistress now I chase, The first foe in the field; And with a stronger faith embrace A sword, a horse, a shield. Yet this inconstancy is such As you too shall adore; I could not love thee, dear, so much, Loved I not honour more.
Page 1 - I never heard the old song of Percy and Douglas that I found not my heart moved more than with a trumpet...
Page 58 - The shepherd swains shall dance and sing For thy delight each May morning: If these delights thy mind may move, Then live with me and be my love.
Page 169 - Collection, compared with another printed among some miscellaneous "poems and songs" in a book intitled, " Le Prince d'Amour," 1660, Svo. AN old song made by an aged old pate, Of an old worshipful gentleman, who had a greate estate, That kept a brave old house at a bountiful rate, And an old porter to relieve the poor at his gate ; Like an old courtier of the queen's, And the queen's old courtier.
Page 177 - Why so pale and wan, fond lover? Prithee, why so pale? Will, when looking well can't move her. Looking ill prevail? Prithee, why so pale?
Page 243 - Think what with them they would do That without them dare to woo ; And unless that mind I see, What care I how great she be ? Great, or good, or kind, or fair, I will ne'er the more despair: If she love me, this believe, I will die ere she shall grieve : If she slight me when I woo, I can scorn and let her go ; For if she be not for me, What care I for whom she be ? George Wither.
Page 169 - You meaner beauties of the night, That poorly satisfy our eyes More by your number than your light ; You common people of the skies ; What are you when the moon shall rise?
Page 65 - His cheek was redder than the rose, The comeliest youth was he. But he is dead, and laid in his grave, Alas ! and woe is me ! Sigh no more, lady, sigh no more, Men were deceivers ever ; One foot on sea, and one on land, To one thing constant never.