The English and Scottish Popular Ballads Edited by Francis James Child. |
I. |
II. |
III. |
IV. |
V. |
VI. |
VII. |
VIII. |
IX. |
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||
107
278
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE
108
The Farmer's Old Wife
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE—A
1
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,(Chorus of whistlers
There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,
And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
(Chorus of whistlers)And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.
2
Then Satan came to the old man at the plough:‘One of your family I must have now.
3
‘It is not your eldest son that I crave,But it is your old wife, and she I will have.’
4
‘O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart!I hope you and she will never more part.’
5
Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,And he lugged her along, like a pedlar's pack.
6
He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate;Says he, Here, take in an old Sussex chap's mate.
7
O then she did kick the young imps about;Says one to the other, Let's try turn her out.
8
She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,She up with her pattens and beat out their brains.
9
She knocked the old Satan against the wall:‘Let's turn her out, or she'll murder us all.’
10
Now he's bundled her up on his back amain,And to her old husband he took her again.
11
‘I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,But I neer was tormented so as with your wife.’
THE FARMER'S CURST WIFE—B
[_]
Macmath MS., p. 96. Taken down by Mr Macmath from the recitation of his aunt, Miss Jane Webster, Cross-michael, Kirkcudbrightshire, August 27th, 1892; learned many years ago, at Airds of Kells, from the singing of Samuel Galloway.
1
The auld Deil cam to the man at the pleugh,Rumchy ae de aidie
Saying, I wish ye gude luck at the making o yer sheugh.
Mushy toorin an ant tan aira.
2
‘It's neither your oxen nor you that I crave;It's that old scolding woman, it's her I must have.’
3
‘Ye're welcome to her wi a' my gude heart;I wish you and her it's never may part.’
4
She jumped on to the auld Deil's back,And he carried her awa like a pedlar's pack.
5
He carried her on till he cam to hell's door,He gaed her a kick till she landed in the floor.
6
She saw seven wee deils a sitting in a raw,She took up a mell and she murdered them a'.
7
A wee reekit deil lookit owre the wa:‘O tak her awa, or she'll ruin us a'.’
8
‘O what to do wi her I canna weel tell;She's no fit for heaven, and she'll no bide in hell.’
9
She jumpit on to the auld Deil's back,And he carried her back like a pedlar's pack.
10
She was seven years gaun, and seven years comin,And she cried for the sowens she left in the pot.
The English and Scottish Popular Ballads | ||