Now surely this is better far Of a fine old English gentleman, &c. "The excellent song of the Old and Young Courtier," on which this is closely modelled, is, says Percy, in his Relics of Ancient English Poetry," from an ancient black-letter copy in the Pepy's Collection, compared with another printed among some miscellaneous poems and songs, in a book entitled 'The Prince d'Amour, 1660.'" FAIR ROSALIND. From "The Convivial Songster," 1782. FAIR Rosalind in woful wise SIR MARMADUKE. GEORGE COLMAN "the younger," born 1762, died 1836. The music by STEPHEN STORACE. SIR MARMADUKE was a hearty knight; Good man! old man! He's painted standing bolt upright, With his hose roll'd over his knee; His perriwig's as white as chalk, And on his fist he holds a hawk, Of an ancient family. His dining-room was long and wide His spaniels lay by the fire-side;— Of an ancient family. He never turned the poor from the gate; But was always ready to break the pate Of his country's enemy. What knight could do a better thing Of an ancient family. From the play of the "Iron Chest," founded upon Goodwin's novel of " Caleb Williams," WHAT IS'T TO US WHO GUIDES THE STATE? From "The Convivial Songster," 1782. WHAT is't to us who guides the state? Who vote for places or who buys? The world will still be ruled by knaves, Our youth runs out, occasion flies Kind Providence has us supplied Beneath this lime-tree's fragrant shade, ABRAHAM NEWLAND. Words by UPTON. The music adapted by W. REEVE, from the old English Melody popularly known as "The Rogue's March," usually played by military bands when a soldier is drummed out of a regiment. Published in the "Whim of the Day," a Collection of Songs for 1800. Mr. Abraham Newland was cashier at the Bank of England towards the close of the last century. THERE ne'er was a name so handed by fame Notified Abraham Newland! I have heard people say, sham Abraham you may, For fashion or arts should you seek foreign parts, Jew, Christian, or Greek, the same language they speak, O Abraham Newland! Wonderful Abraham Newland! Though with compliments cramm'd, you may die and be d―d, If you hav'n't an Abraham Newland. The world is inclin'd to think Justice is blind, O Abraham Newland! Magical Abraham Newland! Though Justice 'tis known can see through a millstone, Your patriots who bawl for the good of us all,- O Abraham Newland! Invincible Abraham Newland! No argument's found in the world half so sound The French say they're coming, but sure they are humming; I know what they want if they do land; We'll make their ears ring in defence of our king, Our country, and Abraham Newland. O Abraham Newland! Darling Abraham Newland! No tri-colour'd elf, nor the devil himself, THE GUINEA. From the "Whim of the Day," for 1801. MASTER Abraham Newland's a monstrous good man, With Newland's own letters of credit proceed, Then you lawyers, and doctors, and such sort of folks, The French would destroy all our credit and trade, From a picture like this we true Britons can't part, And our king and his picture, we must rule the roast. The music to which this song is generally sung, is known as "The Russian Dance tune. On beds of down our dandies lay, While our squires of old would raise the day And their wives took care The feast to prepare, *In the second part of Henry IV., act v. sc. 3, occur these lines : Mr. Warton, in his "History of English Poetry," observes that this rhyme is found in a poem by Adam Davie, called the "Life of Alexander: " "Merry swithe it is in halle, When the beards waveth alle." In the "Briefe Conceipts of English Policye," by William Stafford, 1581, it is asserted that it is a common proverb, " "Tis merry in hall when beards wag all." In the "Serving Man's Comfort," 1598,,occurs the passage, "which done, grace said, and the table taken up, a song is sung, the under-song or holding whereof is, 'It is merry in haull, where beards wag all."" The song as now given is modern, and was introduced to the public by Mr. Murray, of the Edinburgh Theatre, who sang it in the character of Sir Mark Chase, in "A Roland for an Oliver." L |