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III. JEPHTHAH JUDGE OF ISRAEL.

[_]

In Shakespeare's Hamlet, A. II. sc. 7. the Hero of the Play takes occasion to banter Polonius with some scraps of an old Ballad, which has never appeared yet in any collection: for which reason, as it is but short, it will not perhaps be unacceptable to the Reader; who will also be diverted with the pleasant absurdities of the composition. It was retrieved from utter oblivion by a lady, who wrote it down from memory as she had formerly heard it sung by her father. I am indebted for it to the friendship of Mr. Steevens.

177

The Banter of Hamlet is as follows:“

Hamlet.

“O Jephta, Judge of Israel,” what a treasure hadst thou?


Polonius.

What a treasure had he, my Lord?


Ham.

Why, “One faire daughter, and no more, the which he loved passing well.”


Pol.

Still on, my daughter.


Ham.

Am not I i'th' right, old Jephta?


Polon.

If you call me Jephta, my Lord; I have a daughter, that I love passing well.


Ham.

Nay, that followes not.


Polon.

What followes then, my Lord?


Ham.

Why, “As by lot, God wot:” and then you know, “It came to passe, As most like it was.” The first row of the Pont chanson will shew you more.”


First fol. Edit. p. 263.

Have you not heard these many years ago,
Jephta was judge of Israel?
He had one only daughter and no mo,
The which he loved passing well:
And, as by lott,
God wot,
It so came to pass,
As Gods will was,
That great wars there should be,
And none should be chosen chief but he.
178

And when he was appointed judge,
And chieftain of the company,
A solemn vow to God he made;
If he returnd with victory,
At his return
To burn
The first live thing,
[OMITTED]
That should meet with him then,
Off his house, when he shoud return agen.
It came to pass, the wars was oer,
And he returnd with victory;
His dear and only daughter first of all
Came to meet her father foremostly:
And all the way
She did play
On tabret and pipe
Full many a stripe,
With note so high,
For joy that her father is come so nigh.
But when he saw his daughter dear
Coming on most foremostly,
He wrung his hands, and tore his hair,
And cryed out most piteously;
Oh! its thou, said he,
That have brought me very low,
179

And troubled me so,
That I know not what to do.
For I have made a vow, he sed,
The which must be replenished:
[OMITTED]
“What thou hast spoke
Do not revoke:
What thou hast said,
Be not affraid;
Altho' it be I;
Keep promises to God on high.
But, dear father, grant me one request,
That I may go to the wilderness,
Three months there with my friends to stay;
There to bewail my virginity;
And let there be,
Said she,
Some two or three
Young maids with me.”
So he sent her away,
For to mourn, for to mourn, till her dying day.
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