Poems and Songs :: :: University of Virginia Library

It's of three jovial huntsmen, and a-hunting they did go;
And they hunted, and they halloo'd, and they blew their horns also;
Look you there!
And they all were very merry as they gathered in the vale,
For every man amongst them was as brisk as bottled ale;
Look you there!

II

They were staunch in wind and limb, and they were sound from top to toe;
Their eyes were bright as frosty stars, their hearts were in a glow;
Look you there!
And they chirruped, and they chuckled, and they tried their pleasant wits,
As they capered up and down, to show the mettle of their tits;
Look you there!

III

Then they snuffed the sweet fresh morning air, and gathered up their reins,
And the blood began to gallop through their healthy country veins;
Look you there!
Says one, “My lads, I'm fain I'm wick, to join the good old play;
For there's nought in all this world can lick a jolly hunting day;”
Look you there!

IV

“So mind your e'en,” said he, “an' keep your noses well i'th wind;
An' then, by scent or seet, yo'll leet o' something to your mind;
Look you there!
We shall range the bonny country, lads; an' if we miss the game,
Why, in a hundred years or so, you'll find it all the same;
Look you there!

V

Their horses they were eager, and the hunters they were keen;
And they longed to sweep the dew away that twinkled on the green;
Look you there!
And they fidgetted, and frisked about, until the horn did blow;
And then, away o'er hill and dale, these hearty lads did go;
Look you there!

VI

Then they hunted, an' they halloo'd, and the first thing they did find
Was an old corn-bogle in a field; and that they left behind;
Look you there!
One said it was a bogle, and another, he said, “Nay;
Its just a drunken tinker that has gone and lost his way!”
Look you there!

VII

Then they hunted, an' they halloo'd, and the next thing they did find
Was a turnip in a stubble-field, an' that they left behind;
Look you there!
One said it was a turnip, an' another he said, “Nay;
It's just a cannon-ball that old Noll Cromwell threw away.”
Look you there!

VIII

Then they hunted, an' they halloo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was a cratchinly old pig-trough, an' that, too, they left behind.
Look you there!
One said it was a pig-trough, but another he said, “Nay;
It's some poor craiter's coffin,” —an' that caused them much dismay.
Look you there!

IX

Then they hunted, an' they halloo'd, and the next thing they did find
Was a jackdaw, lyin' cold and still, an' that they left behind.
Look you there!
One said it was a jackdaw, and another he said, “Nay;
It's nought but an' owd blackin'-brush that someb'dy's thrown away.”
Look you there!

X

They hunted, an' they halloo'd, and the next thing they did find
Was a bull-calf in a pin-fowd, an' that, too, they left behind;
Look you there!
One said it wur a bull-calf, an' another he said “Nay;
It's just a painted jackass that has never larnt to bray:”
Look you there!

XI

They hunted, an' they halloo'd, an' the next thing they did find
Was two fond lovers in a lane, an' these they left behind;
Look you there!
One said that they were lovers, but another he said, “Nay;
They're two poor wanderin' lunatics—come let us go away.”
Look you there!

XII

So they hunted, an' they halloo'd, till the setting of the sun;
An' they'd nought to bring away at last, when th' huntin'-day was done;
Look you there!
Then one unto the other said, “This huntin' doesn't pay;
But we'n powler't up an' down a bit, an' had a rattlin' day;
Look you there!

This humorous old hunting song, which I introduced into my country story, called “Old Cronies,” was not commonly known until it attracted the attention of my friend, the late Randolph Caldecott; whose felicitous pencil enriched it with a series of quaintly-beautiful Illustrations; and, since then it has had the honour of riding down upon the wings of his artistic genius to a fame which it never would have achieved by any merit of its own. The verses in italic are mine; the rest belong to the old song.