Subject: RE: Origins: Child Ballads: US Versions Part 6
From:
Richie
Date: 06 Jun 13 - 12:52 PM
TY Mick, also we see that Child did not mention it in his narrative but in the Additions and Corrections later.
I assume "How the Divell was guld by a scould" is a different printed broadside. Where is that? Does anyone have the date for The Devill and the Scold (below)?
Here's the text:
The Devill and the Scold
Of this ballad there are two extant editions, the earlier being in
the Roxburghe Collection. The second is in the Rawlinson Collection, No. 169, published by Coles, Vere, and other stationers-- a trade edition, of the reign of Charles II.
Mr. Payne Collier includes "The Devil and the Scold" in his
volume of Eoxburghe Ballads, and says: " This is certainly an
early ballad: the allusion, in the second stanza, to Tom Thumb
and Robin Goodfellow (whose 'Mad Pranks' had been published
before 1588) is highly curious, and one proof of its antiquity,
although it has reached us only in an impression, 'Printed at
London for Henry Gosson, dwelling upon London-Bridge, neare
to the Gate.'"
At the end of Mr. Payne Collier's edition of the ballad, he
gives a copy of the woodcut which appeared on the title-page of
that early edition of Robin Goodfellow.
[Roxb. Coll. I. 340, 341.]
A peasant new Ballad You Here may behold,
How the Devil, though subtle, was gul'd by a scold
To the tune or The Seminary Priest.
Give care, my loving countrey-men,
that still desire newes,
Nor passe not while you heare it sung,
or else the song peruse ;
For, ere you heare it, I must tell,
my newes it is not common ;
But He unfold a trueth betwixt
a Devill and a woman.
Tom Thumb is not my subject,
whom fairies oft did aide ;
Nor that mad spirit Robin,
that plagues both wife and maid ;
Nor is my song satyricke like,
invented against no man ;
But onely of a pranke betwixt
a Devill and a woman. 16
Then widdowes, wives and maides,
give eare, as well as men,
And by this woman learne
to gull the world agen:
You may by this turne artists,
or masters of your art ;
And when the Devill comes for you,
you need not care a fart. 24
A woman well in yeares
liv'd with a husband kinde,
Who had a great desire
to live content in minde:
But 'twas a thing unpossible
to compasse his desire;
For night and day with scolding
she did her husband tire. 32
With "Roughish lowtish clowne !
despight thee He be wilde ;
Doest thou think I marryed thee
to use thee like a childe,
And set thee on my lap,
or humour what you speake?
Before He be so fond
thy very heart He breake!" 40
"Why, loving wife," quoth he,
"He never doe thee wrong,
So thoul't be rul'd by me,
and onely hold thy tongue:
And when I come from worke,
wilt please at boord and bed?
Doe this, my loving wife,
and take all, being dead." 48
"Marke well," quoth she, "my words!
what ere you speak me to,
By faire meanes or by foule,
the contrary He doe!"
According to her speech,
this man led such a life,
That oft he wish't the Devill
to come and fetch his wife. 56
Had he bid her goe homely,
why then she would goe brave ;
Had he cal'd her "Good wife!"
she cal'd him "Rogue and slave!"
Bade he, "Wife, goe to church,
and take the fairest pew,"
Shee'd goe unto an alehouse,
and drinke, lye downe, and spew.
The Devill, being merry
with laughing at this mirth,
Would needs from hell come trotting
to fetch her from the earth;
And coming like a horse,
did tell this man his minde,
Saying, " Set her bvut astride my backe,
He hurry her through the winde."
---The second part--
To THE SAME TUNE.
" Kinde Devill! " quoth the man,
"if thou a while wilt wait,
He bid her doe that thing
shall make her backe thee straight:
And here He make a vow--
for all she is my wife--
He never send for her againe
whilest I have breath or life." 80
"Content," the Devill cry'd;
then to his wife goes he :
"Good wife, goe leade that horse
so black and fair you see."
"Goe leade, Sir Knave!" quoth she,
" and wherefore not goe ride?"
She took the Devill by the reines,
and up she goes astride. 88
The Devill neighed lowd,
and threw his heeles i' th' ayre:
"Kick, in the Devill's name!" quoth she;
"a shrew doth never fear."
Away to hell he went
with this most wicked scold ;
But she did curbe him with the bit,
and would not loose her hold. 96
The more he cry'd, " Give way!"
the more she kept him in,
And kickt him so with both her heeles,
that both his sides were thin.
"Alight!" the Devill cry'd,
"and quicke the bridle loose!"
"No! I will ride," quoth she,
"whiles thou hast breath or shooes." 104
Againe she kickt and prickt,
and sate so stiffe and well,
The Devill was not [half] so plagu'd
a hundred yeares in hell.
"For pitty, light!" quoth he,
"thou put'st me to much paine!"
"I will not light," quoth she,
"till I come home againe." 112
The Devill shew'd her all
the paines within that place,
And told her that they were
ordain'd for Scolds so base.
"Being bereft of breath,
for scolding 'tis my due;
But whilest I live on earth
Ile be reveng'd on you!" 120
Then did she draw her knife,
and gave his eare a slit:
The Devill never felt
the like from mortall yet.
So, fearing further danger,
he to his heeles did take,
And faster than he came,
he poast-haste home did make. 128
"Here, take her!" quoth the Devill,
"to keep her here be bold ;
For hell will not be troubled
with such an earthly scold.
When I come home, I may
to all my fellowes tell,
I lost my labour, and my bloud,
to bring a scold to hell." 136
The man halfe dead did stand;
away the Devill hyde.
Then, since the world, nor hell,
can well a scold abide,
To make a saile of ships
let husbands fall to worke,
And give their free consents
to send them to the Turke. 144
Then, honest wives and maides,
and widdowes of each sort
Might live in peace and rest,
and Silence keep her court:
Nor would I have a scold
one penny here bestow ;
But, honest men and wives,
buy these before you goe. Finis. 152
Printed at London for Henry Gosson, dwelling upon London-Bridge neare to the Gate.
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