May 24. 1851.] 



NOTES AND QUERIES. 



403 



of the well-known song on Robin Goodfellow 

 occurs. It is apparently by tbe same hand. I 

 give the English, as it contains but six stanzas, 

 and affords some variations from the copy printed 

 by Percy ; and indeed one stanza not given by 

 him. Peck attributes the song to Ben Jonson, 

 but we know not on what foundation. It must be 

 confessed that internal evidence is against it. The 

 publication of Percy's Reliqiies had a no less bene- 

 ficial influence on the literature of Germany than 

 it had on our own ; and Voss had given an admir- 

 able version of nine stanzas of this song as early 

 as the year 1793. The first stanza will afford some 

 notion of his manner : 



" Von Oberon in Feeidand, 

 Dem Konige der Geister, 

 Komm' ich, Kneclit Robert, abgesandt. 

 Von meinen\ Herrii und Rleister. 

 Als Kobolt und Pux, 

 Wohlkundig des Spuks, 

 Durchsclnvarm' ich Nacht vor Nacht. 

 Jezt inisch' ich mich ein 

 Zum poltenideii Reihn, 

 Wolilauf, ihr alle, gelacht, gelacht ! " 



Although the classic ear may be offended by the 

 " barbarous adjunct of rhyme," and by the sole- 

 cisms and fidse quantities which sometimes occur, 

 " et alia multa danma utque outragia," others may 

 be amused with these emulations of the cloistered 

 muse of tlie Middle Ages. The witty author of 

 Whistlecraft has shown that he had a true relish 

 for them, and has successfully tried his hand, ob- 

 serving at the same time : 



"_ Those monks were poor proficients in divinity, 

 And scarce knew more of Latin than myself; 



Corapar'd with theirs, tliey say that true Latinity 

 Appears like porcelain compar'd with delf." 



Honest Barnaby had no intention of rivalling 

 Horace : his humbler, but not less amusing, proto- 

 types were Walter de jMapes and his cotempo- 

 raries. We may accept his own defence, if any is 

 needed : 

 " That paltry Patcher is a bald translator, 



Whose awl bores at tlio words but not the matter ; 



But this TRANSLATOR inakcs good use of leather, 



By stitching rhyme and reason both together." 



S. W. SiNGKR. 

 A SONG ON ROBIN GOODFKLLOW. 



" From Oberon in faery-land, 



The king of ghosts and goblins there. 



Mad Robin I, at his command, 



Am sent to view the night-sports here.. 



What revel rout is here about,. 



In every corner wliere I go i 



I will it see, and merry be, 



And make good sport with ho, ho, ho I 



" As swift as lightning I do fly ^ ; 



Amidst the aery welkin soon, 

 And, in a minute's space, descry 

 What things are done below (he moon. 



Tliere's neither hag nor spirit shall wag, 

 In any corner where I go ; 

 But Robin I, their feats will spy, 

 And make good sport with ho, ho, ho ! 



" Sometimes you find me like a man. 

 Sometimes a hawk, sometimes a hound, 

 Then to a horse me turn I can, 

 And trip and troll about you round : 

 But if you stride my back to ride. 

 As swift as air I witli you go, 

 O'er hedge, o'er lands, o'er pool, o'er ponds, 

 I run out laughing ho, ho, ho ! 



" When lads and lasses merry be, 

 With possets and with junkets fine; 

 Unknown to all the company, 

 I eat their cake and drink their wine ; 

 Then to make sport, I snore and snort, 

 And all the candles out I blow ; 

 The maids I kiss; they ask who's this? 

 I answer, laughing, ho, ho, ho ! 



" If that my fellow elf and I 

 la circle dance do trip it round. 

 And if wo chance, by any eye 

 There present, to be seen or found. 

 Then if that they do speak or say. 

 But mnmmes continue as they go,"*" 

 Then night by night I them affright. 

 With pinches, dreams, and ho, ho, ho! 



" Since hag-bred Merlin's time have I 

 Continued night sports to and fro, 

 That, for my pranks, men call me by 

 The name of Robin Goodfellow. 

 There's neither hag nor spirit doth wag, 

 The fiends and goblins do me know ; 

 And beldames old my tales have told; 

 Sing Vale, Vale, ho, ho, ho I " 



The Laliae of the foregoing verses. 



" Ab Oberone lemurum 

 Ccemetriorum regulo, 

 Spectator veni lubricum, 

 Illius jussu, llobbio ; 

 Quodcunque joci, sit hie loci, 

 Quocunqiie vado in aiigulo, 

 Id speculabor, et conjocabor, 

 Sonorem boans, ho, ho, ho ! 



" Praeceps feror per aevem 

 Telo trisulco citius, 

 Et translunaria penetrem 

 Momento brevi ocyus; 

 Larvatus frater non vagatur 

 Quocunque vado in aiigulo. 

 Nam Robbio, huic obvio, 

 Et facta exploro, ho, ho, ho I 



" Nunc canis nunc accipiter, 

 Et homo nunc obambulo. 

 Nunc equi forma induor 

 Et Icvis circumcursito ; 



• This line is distinctly so written. We should 

 probably read or instead of but. Mummes may mean 

 mumbling, nmttering. 



