KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT. AN ancient story I'll tell you anon1 Of a notable prince, that was called King John; And I'll tell you a story, a story so merry, 6 An hundred men, the king did hear say," abbot, "I would it were known, "My liege,10" quoth the true gotten geere.12" b "Yes, yes, father abbot, thy fault it is high,13 "And first," quoth the king, "when I'm in this stead,14 With my crown of gold so fair on my head, Thou must tell me to one penny what I am worth. 66 Secondly tell me, without any doubt, How soon I may ride the whole world about; And at the third question thou must not shrink, "O these are hard questions for my shallow wit,16 thou hast to live; my questions three," are forfeit to me.” 131 Away rode the abbot all sad at that word, e Then home rode the abbot of comfort so cold,22 "Sad news, sad news, That I have but three days from good King John?" shepherd, I must give, more to live; questions three, My head will be smitten from my bodie. "The first is to tell him there in that stead, "The second, to tell him without any doubt, Nay, frown not, if it hath been told unto me, I am like your lordship as ever may be; And if you will but lend me your gown There is none shall know us in fair London town." "Now horses and serving men thou shalt have, 32 "Now welcome, Sir Abbot," the king he did say, "And first, when thou seest me here in this stead, KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT. "For thirty pence our Saviour was sold For I think thou art one penny worser than He." The king he laughed, and swore by St. Bittel,34 so little ! "You must rise with the sun, and ride with the same, And then your grace need not make any doubt The king he laughed, and swore by St. Jone, "Yea, that I shall do and make your grace merry; The king he laughed, and swore by the mass, "I'll make thee lord abbot this day in his place! 66 For, alack! I can neither write nor read." "Four nobles36 a week, then, I will give thee, For this merry jest thou hast shewn unto me; 133 Thou hast brought him a pardon from good King John." Old Ballad. CAUTIONS: a. Many of the lines in this old ballad have not the proper number of syllables; and this defect must be hid by the style of reading. It will, on this account, be often necessary to make longer pauses at the points than usual, and also to read out each word and each syllable with the greatest distinctness. The tone throughout is that of dry level narrative. b. This is a very difficult line. It should be read in an easy conversational way: For-spending-of my own true-gotten-geere. c. The accent must be put on the last syllable of bodie-in the old fashion. d. The danger is here of putting an accent upon thou, which would spoil the sense. The emphasis or sense-accent is on dost. e. The emphasis is on so. f. This line has not the sufficient number of syllables; but this can be made up for by the length of the pause after back. MEANINGS: 1. Anon, at once. 2. Notable, well known. 3. Main, force. 4. Maintained, kept un. 5. Housekeeping, way of living. 6. Renown, fame. 7. Post, in haste. 8. And fifty gold chains, without any doubt, in velvet coats, waited the abbot about, fifty men wearing velvet coats and gold chains waited upon the abbot. 9. Work'st treason, makest plots; treason is any attempt to overthrow the government of a country. 10. Liege, sovereign. 11. Deere, harm. 12. True gotten geere, wealth fairly come-by. 13. High, great. 14. Stead, place. 15. Liegemen, subjects. 16. Shallow wit, poor powers of mind. 17. Your grace, title of respect. 18. Do my endeavour, do my best. 19. Livings, church offices. 20. Oxenford, Oxford. 21. Devise, find out. 22. Of comfort so cold, without finding any comfort. 23. A-going to fold, going to put the sheep in the fold. 24. Learn, teach. 25. Wit, wisdom. 26. Apparel, clothes. 27. Answer your quarrel, make your peace with the king. 28. With sumptuous array, most gallant and brave, with a splendid retinue of attendants. 29. Crozier, the staff of a bishop or abbot. 30. Mitre, cap worn by a bishop or abbot. 31. Rochet, a surplice with narrow sleeves worn by bishops. 32. Cope, a short cloak. 33. 'Fore, before. 34. St. Bittel, old form of St. Botolph. 35. Speed, a hurry. 36. Nobles, an old coin worth 6s. 8d. 0 WRECK OF THE GOLDEN BEE. The Golden Bee, a ship in the China trade, sets sail with every prospect of a pleasant voyage; but fire breaks but, and her crew and passengers have to take to the boats. LADEN with precious merchandise, the growth of Chinese soil, Blithe was the captain's gallant heart, Soon should he reach his home on shore for things had prospered with much good news to tell; Good news for his Parsee merchants, and for the fair young wife, Whose sweet affection made the joy and beauty of his life. Soon should he kiss his bonny boy, and hold him on his knee, Soon should he kiss his latest-born; and then the captain smiled, (A long pause.) of horror and affright, Hark! what terrific cry was that night, Oh, captain, wake! 'Tis but a dream-the harbour is not won, THE SAILOR'S MOTHER. "FIRE!"-'twas an awful sound to hear on solitary seas, into the darksome night. the captain gave command, 135 Foremost and calm amid his crew now. "Get out the boats!" with firm quick voice the short command was said, And no man spoke, but straight and swift the order was obeyed; Then one by one the crew stepped forth—but all looked back with tears, Upon the bonny Golden Bee, their home of many years. But first the captain snatched from flame, and pressed within his breast, his heart loved best: now, a gift in early life, A relic1 of departed days, of all Then out upon a lonely sea, six hundred miles from land, Sailed forth CAUTIONS: a. Beware of allowing the accent to touch the into. The only way to avoid this is to lengthen the pause after dropped. b. "Get out the boats! This must be spoken with the short, earnest, and clear articulation of a military command. MEANINGS: 1. Relic, something left. 2. Tide, poetic word for sea. THE SAILOR'S MOTHER. This is a short poem, by WORDSWORTH, recording a perfectly simple incident. Wordsworth meets one morning, on a country road, a woman who carries a cage in her hand. He feels sympathy with her and with a certain noble look which he observes in her, and stops to converse. ONE morning (raw it was and wet-" A foggy day in winter time) A woman on the road I met, Not old, though something past her prime: Majestic in her person, tall and straight; And like a Roman matron's was her mien and gait." |