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103
THE SONG OF THE PLOUGH.
All ye who love good cheer to prove,
And hold ye to the toast,
Through good and ill, with a gallant will,
That mirth should rule the roast,
With generous hearts now take your parts,
As ever ye hope to wive,
And join with me this song in glee,
God make the plough to thrive!
And hold ye to the toast,
Through good and ill, with a gallant will,
That mirth should rule the roast,
With generous hearts now take your parts,
As ever ye hope to wive,
And join with me this song in glee,
God make the plough to thrive!
Ere we were born, when wholesome corn
Was hard to get and grind,
Our sires that wrought, this maxim taught,
For us to keep in mind:
If you would gain from toil and pain,
Or ever you sow and mow,
Be up and away at break of day,
And learn to follow the plough.
Was hard to get and grind,
Our sires that wrought, this maxim taught,
For us to keep in mind:
If you would gain from toil and pain,
Or ever you sow and mow,
Be up and away at break of day,
And learn to follow the plough.
Here's ploughman John, a merrier one
You will not readily find,
As he follows the plough, his cares, I trow,
Are left in the furrow behind.
He doth discern, and wisely learn,
How lords at last must bow,
And soon or late must meet their fate,
As the stubble by the plough.
You will not readily find,
As he follows the plough, his cares, I trow,
Are left in the furrow behind.
104
How lords at last must bow,
And soon or late must meet their fate,
As the stubble by the plough.
His purse is small, for his hands were all
The wealth at birth he got;
But he has a house and a faithful spouse,
With something to put in the pot:
And Heaven hath sent him sweet content,
That he might teach us how
One happy may be as poor as he,
As he whistles behind the plough.
The wealth at birth he got;
But he has a house and a faithful spouse,
With something to put in the pot:
And Heaven hath sent him sweet content,
That he might teach us how
One happy may be as poor as he,
As he whistles behind the plough.
Your bustling cit he counts no whit
Of worthier metal made,
Though he may be more rich than he
Who follows the ploughman's trade:
For though he bear more costly wear
And equipage enow,
He doth not stand so firm in land
As he who follows the plough.
Of worthier metal made,
Though he may be more rich than he
Who follows the ploughman's trade:
For though he bear more costly wear
And equipage enow,
He doth not stand so firm in land
As he who follows the plough.
The king may groan upon his throne,
The statesman care may take:
When labour is done, we sleep with the sun,
And with the sun awake.
Says gaffer, Arise! and gammer she cries,
'Tis milking-time I vow;
And John must go, with Peter also,
To follow the thrifty plough!
The statesman care may take:
When labour is done, we sleep with the sun,
And with the sun awake.
105
'Tis milking-time I vow;
And John must go, with Peter also,
To follow the thrifty plough!
This pledge I vow, Success to the plough:
With ribbons it shall be tied,
And Kenneth and Hugh, with Kate and Sue,
Shall bravely dance beside:
And Joan and Ann, with Bess and Nan,
Shall join and lightly go,
Each with her lad to make her glad,
And sing, God speed the plough!
With ribbons it shall be tied,
And Kenneth and Hugh, with Kate and Sue,
Shall bravely dance beside:
And Joan and Ann, with Bess and Nan,
Shall join and lightly go,
Each with her lad to make her glad,
And sing, God speed the plough!
Now have ye grace, each in his place,
Scorn not this song of mine:
Abundant cheer, with home-brewed beer,
Be every day to dine:
And ye who love good hap to prove,
Come carol my chorus now:
A witch's ban light on the man
Sings not, God speed the plough!
Scorn not this song of mine:
Abundant cheer, with home-brewed beer,
Be every day to dine:
And ye who love good hap to prove,
Come carol my chorus now:
A witch's ban light on the man
Sings not, God speed the plough!
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