 | Lyrical Poems |  |
49
THE SONG OF MRS JENNY GEDDES.
See Chambers' Annals of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 103, year and date as in the text. The learned author says, on the authority of Wodrow, that the name of this mettlesome dame was not Geddes, but Mean. But, however this be, Fame has baptized her into Geddes, and with that appellation she must live through the ages, and will be famous as long as Scotland and Scotsmen are remembered.
Some praise the fair Queen Mary, and some the good Queen Bess,
And some the wise Aspasia, beloved by Pericles;
But o'er all the world's brave women, there's one that bears the rule,
The valiant Jenny Geddes, that flung the three legged stool,
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny fling the stool!
And some the wise Aspasia, beloved by Pericles;
But o'er all the world's brave women, there's one that bears the rule,
The valiant Jenny Geddes, that flung the three legged stool,
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny fling the stool!
'Twas the twenty-third of July, in the sixteen thirty-seven,
On Sabbath morn from high St Giles' the solemn peal was given:
King Charles had sworn that Scottish men should pray by printed rule;
He sent a book, but never dreamt of danger from a stool.
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—there's danger in a stool!
On Sabbath morn from high St Giles' the solemn peal was given:
50
He sent a book, but never dreamt of danger from a stool.
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—there's danger in a stool!
The Council and the Judges, with ermined pomp elate,
The Provost and the Bailies in gold and crimson state,
Fair silken-vested ladies, grave Doctors of the school,
Were there to please the King, and learn the virtue of a stool.
With a row-dow—yes,I trow!—there's virtue in a stool!
The Provost and the Bailies in gold and crimson state,
Fair silken-vested ladies, grave Doctors of the school,
Were there to please the King, and learn the virtue of a stool.
With a row-dow—yes,I trow!—there's virtue in a stool!
The Bishop and the Dean came in wi' mickle gravity,
Right smooth and sleek, but lordly pride was lurking in their e'e;
Their full lawn sleeves were blown and big, like seals in briny pool;
They bore a book, but little thought they soon should feel a stool.
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—they'll feel a three legged stool!
Right smooth and sleek, but lordly pride was lurking in their e'e;
Their full lawn sleeves were blown and big, like seals in briny pool;
They bore a book, but little thought they soon should feel a stool.
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—they'll feel a three legged stool!
51
The Dean he to the altar went, and, with a solemn look,
He cast his eyes to heaven, and read the curious-printed book:
In Jenny's heart the blood upwelled with bitter anguish full;
Sudden she started to her legs, and stoutly grasped the stool!
With a row-dow—at them now! firmly grasp the stool!
He cast his eyes to heaven, and read the curious-printed book:
In Jenny's heart the blood upwelled with bitter anguish full;
Sudden she started to her legs, and stoutly grasped the stool!
With a row-dow—at them now! firmly grasp the stool!
As when a mountain wild-cat springs on a rabbit small,
So Jenny on the Dean springs, with gush of holy gall;
Wilt thou say the mass at my lug, thou Popish-puling fool?
No! no! she said, and at his head she flung the three legged stool.
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny fling the stool!
So Jenny on the Dean springs, with gush of holy gall;
Wilt thou say the mass at my lug, thou Popish-puling fool?
No! no! she said, and at his head she flung the three legged stool.
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny fling the stool!
A bump, a thump! a smash, a crash! now gentle folks beware!
Stool after stool, like rattling hail, came tirling through the air,
With, Well done, Jenny! bravo, Jenny! that's the proper tool!
When the Deil will out, and shows his snout, just meet him with a stool!
With a row-dow—at them now!—there's nothing like a stool!
Stool after stool, like rattling hail, came tirling through the air,
With, Well done, Jenny! bravo, Jenny! that's the proper tool!
52
With a row-dow—at them now!—there's nothing like a stool!
The Council and the Judges were smitten with strange fear,
The ladies and the Bailies their seats did deftly clear,
The Bishop and the Dean went, in sorrow and in dool,
And all the Popish flummery fled, when Jenny showed the stool!
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny show the stool!
The ladies and the Bailies their seats did deftly clear,
The Bishop and the Dean went, in sorrow and in dool,
And all the Popish flummery fled, when Jenny showed the stool!
With a row-dow—at them now!—Jenny show the stool!
And thus a mighty deed was done by Jenny's valiant hand,
Black Prelacy and Popery she drave from Scottish land;
King Charles he was a shuffling knave, priest Laud a meddling fool,
But Jenny was a woman wise, who beat them with a stool!
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—she conquered by the stool!
Black Prelacy and Popery she drave from Scottish land;
King Charles he was a shuffling knave, priest Laud a meddling fool,
But Jenny was a woman wise, who beat them with a stool!
With a row-dow—yes, I trow!—she conquered by the stool!
| Lyrical Poems | |