For that matter, sir, be ye squire, knight, or lord, I'll give you whate'er a good inn can afford : I should look on myself as unhappily sped, Did I yield to a sister, or living or dead; Derry down, &c.

'Of mutton, a delicate neck and a breast Shall swim in the water in which they were dress'd;

And because you great folks are with rarities taken, Addle-eggs shall be next course, toss'd up with Derry down, &c.

[rank bacon;'

Then supper was served, and the sheets they were

laid,

And Morley most lovingly whisper'd the maid:
'The maid! was she handsome?' why, truly, so, so:
But what Morley whisper'd we never shall know;
Derry down, &c.

Then up rose these heroes as brisk as the sun,
And their horses, like his, were prepared to run:
Now when in the morning Matt ask'd for the score,
John kindly had paid it the evening before,

Derry down, &c.

Their breakfast so warm, to be sure they did eat, (A custom in travellers mighty discreet ;) [on, And thus with great friendship and glee they went To find out the place you shall hear of anon;

Called Down, Down, hey derry down.

But what did they talk of from morning till noon? Why, of spots in the sun, and the man in the moon; Of the Czar's gentle temper, the stocks in the City, The wise men of Greece, and the Secret Committee, Derry down, &c.

So to Harlow they came; and 'Hey, where are

.

you all?

Show us into the parlour, and mind when I call: Why, your maids have no motion, your men have no life;

Well, master, I hear you have buried your wife,
Derry down, &c.

'Come this very instant, take care to provide
Tea, sugar, and toast, and a horse and a guide:
Are the Harrisons here, both the old and the young?
And where stands fair Down?' the delight of my
Derry down, &c.

[song, 'O Squire, to the grief of my heart I may say, I have buried two wives since you travelled this way; And the Harrisons both may be presently here; And Down stands, I think, where it stood the last Derry down, &c.

[year,' Then Joan brought the tea-pot, and Caleb the toast, And the wine was froth'd out by the hand of mine host;

But we clear'd our extempore banquet so fast, That the Harrisons both were forgot in the haste, Derry down, &c.

Now hey for Down Hall; for the guide he was got; The chariot was mounted: the horses did trot; The guide he did bring us a dozen miles round; But, oh! all in vain, for no Down could be found. Derry down, &c.

O thou Popish guide, thou hast led us astray:'Says he, 'How the devil should I know the way? I never yet travelled this road in my life; But Down lies on the left; I was told by my wife;' Derry down, &c.

Thy wife,' answer'd Matthew,' when she went

abroad,

Ne'er told thee of half the by-ways she had trod; Perhaps she met friends, and brought pence to thy house,

But thou shalt go home without ever a souse:
Derry down, &c.

• What is this thing, Morley, and how can you

mean it?

seen it?' We have lost our estate here, before we have Have patience,' soft Morley, in anger, replied; To find out our way, let us send off our guide. Derry down, &c.

"O here I spy Down; cast your eye to the west, Where a windmill so stately stands plainly con[find;

fess'd.'

'On the west!' replied Matthew, 'no windmill I As well thou may'st tell me I see the west wind. Derry down, &c.

Now pardon me, Morley, the windmill I spy, But, faithful Achates, no house is there nigh.' 'Look again,' says mild Morley, 'Gadzooks, you are blind;

The mill stands before, and the house lies behind; Derry down, &c.

O, now a low, ruin'd, white shed, I discern,

Untiled and unglazed, I believe 'tis a barn.'
'A barn! why you rave; 'tis a house for a squire,
A justice of peace, or a knight of our shire.
Derry down, &c.

'A house should be built or with brick or with

stone:'

[all one:

Why, 'tis a plaster and lath, and I think that's

And such as it is, it has stood with great fame,
Been called a Hall, and has given its name
To Down, Down, hey derry down.'

O Morley, O Morley, if that be a Hall,

The fame with the building will suddenly fall'With your friend Jemmy Gibbs' about buildings

agree,

My business is land, and it matters not me;

Derry down, &c.

'I wish you could tell what a deuce your head ails; I show'd you Down Hall; did you look for Ver

sailles?

[let ye, Then take house and farm as John Ballett will For better for worse, as I took my dame Betty, Derry down, &c.

And now, sir, a word to the wise is enough; You'll make very little of all your old stuff'; And to build at your age, by my troth, you grow simple;

Are you young and rich, like the master of Wimple"? Derry down, &c.

"If you have these whims of apartments and gar

dens,

[things; From twice fifty acres you'll ne'er see five farAnd in your's I shall find the true gentleman's fate, Ere you finish your house you'll have spent your Derry down, &c. [estate;

'Now let us touch thumbs, and be friends ere we

part.'

Here, John, is my thumb;' and 'Here, Mat, is my heart:

6 Architect of the Ratcliffe Library, Oxon, &c.

7 Edward, Earl of Oxford.

To Halstead I speed, and you go back to Town:'Thus ends the first part of the ballad of Down, Derry down, down, hey derry down.

SONG.

If wine and music have the power
To ease the sickness of the soul,
Let Phoebus every string explore,
And Bacchus fill the sprightly bowl:
Let them their friendly aid employ
To make my Chloe's absence light,
And seek for pleasure to destroy
The sorrows of this livelong night.
But she to-morrow will return:

Venus, be thou to-morrow great;
Thy myrtles strow, thy odours burn,
And meet thy favourite nymph in state.
Kind goddess, to no other powers

Let us to-morrow's blessings own ;
Thy darling Love shall guide the hours,
And all the day be thine alone.

SONGS.

SET TO MUSIC BY THE MOST EMINENT MASTERS.

SET BY ABEL.

READING ends in melancholy,

Wine breeds vices and diseases,
Wealth is but care, and love but folly,
Only friendship truly pleases.

My wealth, my books, my flask, my Molly,
Farewell all, if friendship ceases.