登陆注册
14324100000031

第31章

[THIS very curious ballad, or, more properly, metrical romance, was originally published by the late Doctor Whitaker in his HISTORY OFCRAVEN, from an ancient MS., which was supposed to be unique.

Whitaker's version was transferred to Evan's OLD BALLADS, the editor of which work introduced some judicious conjectural emendations. In reference to this republication, Dr. Whitaker inserted the following note in the second edition of his HISTORY:-This tale, saith my MS., was known of old to a few families only, and by them held so precious, that it was never intrusted to the memory of the son till the father was on his death-bed. But times are altered, for since the first edition of this work, a certain bookseller [the late Mr. Evans] has printed it verbatim, with little acknowledgment to the first editor. He might have recollected that THE FELON SEWE had been already reclaimed PROPERTYVESTED. However, as he is an ingenious and deserving man, this hint shall suffice. - HISTORY OF CRAVEN, second edition, London, 1812.

When Sir Walter Scott published his poem of Rokeby, Doctor Whitaker discovered that THE FELON SEWE was not of such 'exceeding rarity'

as he had been led to suppose; for he was then made acquainted with the fact that another MS. of the 'unique' ballad was preserved in the archives of the Rokeby family. This version was published by Scott, who considered it superior to that printed by Whitaker; and it must undoubtedly be admitted to be more complete, and, in general, more correct. It has also the advantage of being authenticated by the traditions of an ardent family; while of Dr.

Whitaker's version we know nothing more than that it was 'printed from a MS. in his possession.' The readings of the Rokeby MS., however, are not always to be preferred; and in order to produce as full and accurate a version as the materials would yield, the following text has been founded upon a careful collation of both MSS. A few alterations have been adopted, but only when the necessity for them appeared to be self-evident; and the orthography has been rendered tolerably uniform, for there is no good reason why we should have 'sewe,' 'scho,' and 'sike,' in some places, and the more modern forms of 'sow,' 'she,' and 'such,' in others. If the MSS. were correctly transcribed, which we have no ground for doubting, they must both be referred to a much later period than the era when the author flourished. The language of the poem is that of Craven, in Yorkshire; and, although the composition is acknowledged on all hands to be one of the reign of Henry VII., the provincialisms of that most interesting mountain district have been so little affected by the spread of education, that the FELON SEWEis at the present day perfectly comprehensible to any Craven peasant, and to such a reader neither note nor glossary is necessary. Dr. Whitaker's explanations are, therefore, few and brief, for he was thoroughly acquainted with the language and the district. Scott, on the contrary, who knew nothing of the dialect, and confounded its pure Saxon with his Lowland Scotch, gives numerous notes, which only display his want of the requisite local knowledge, and are, consequently, calculated to mislead.

The FELON SEWE belongs to the same class of compositions as the HUNTING OF THE HARE, reprinted by Weber, and the TOURNAMENT OFTOTTENHAM, in Percy's RELIQUES. Scott says that 'the comic romance was a sort of parody upon the usual subjects of minstrel poetry.'

This idea may be extended, for the old comic romances were in many instances not merely 'sorts of parodies,' but real parodies on compositions which were popular in their day, although they have not descended to us. We certainly remember to have met with an old chivalric romance, in which the leading incidents were similar to those of the FELON SEWE.

It may be observed, also, in reference to this poem, that the design is twofold, the ridicule being equally aimed at the minstrels and the clergy. The author was in all probability a follower of Wickliffe. There are many sly satirical allusions to the Romish faith and practices, in which no orthodox Catholic would have ventured to indulge.

Ralph Rokeby, who gave the sow to the Franciscan Friars of Richmond, is believed to have been the Ralph who lived in the reign of Henry VII. Tradition represents the Baron as having been 'a fellow of infinite jest,' and the very man to bestow so valuable a gift on the convent! The Mistress Rokeby of the ballad was, according to the pedigree of the family, a daughter and heiress of Danby, of Yafforth. Friar Theobald cannot be traced, and therefore we may suppose that the monk had some other name; the minstrel author, albeit a Wickliffite, not thinking it quite prudent, perhaps, to introduce a priest IN PROPRIA PERSONA. The story is told with spirit, and the verse is graceful and flowing.]

FITTE THE FIRSTE.

YE men that will of aunters wynne, That late within this lande hath bin, Of on I will yow telle;And of a sewe that was sea strang, Alas! that ever scho lived sea lang, For fell folk did scho wele. Scho was mare than other three, The grizeliest beast that ere mote bee Her hede was greate and graye;Scho was bred in Rokebye woode, Ther war few that thither yoode, But cam belive awaye.

Her walke was endlang Greta syde, Was no barne that colde her byde, That was fra heven or helle; Ne never man that had that myght, That ever durst com in her syght, Her force it was sea felle.

Raphe of Rokebye, with full gode wyll, The freers of Richmonde gav her tyll, Full wele to gar thayme fare;Freer Myddeltone by name, Hee was sent to fetch her hame, Yt rewed him syne full sare.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 茫世

    茫世

    步入人生大门,慌慌张张。一股跌跌撞撞,寸步难行。是成长,是蜕变。是黑暗的洗礼,是痛心的改变。面对人生,前进后退,面对责任,承担与否,面对生死,逃避面对。一次次选择,一次次失败。一路走来,痛彻心扉,奔跑,驻足,最后发现已无所谓。周萧的故事本无对错,只希望给你一些启示。
  • 血恋:晚安,我的公主

    血恋:晚安,我的公主

    片段1:“没有谁可以夺走你,只有我不要你,否则你想都不要想离开这种事!即使你逃了,我会把你捉回来!狠狠的‘疼爱’你!”“这天地之大,总有我的容身之地。夜陌,你还是不要把话说得太满!”某女不屑。片段2:“乖乖,你怎么可以学惠凝呢?”梵浩宇扯了扯领带看着躲在墙角的小姑娘,邪魅开口。“谁叫你欺负我!”某女不满的嘟哝。“等等!你别过来!别脱衣服!咱们好好说话!唔....”片段3:“你敢背着我去那种地方!”某女拿着鸡毛掸子指着跪键盘的某男。“媳妇儿,我错了!都是他们唆使我的!我是清白的!”片段4:“你说为什么你还没怀上?”某男不解的看着吗,某女平静的小腹。“我怎么知道。”“看来我得努力努力!”欢迎入坑!
  • 七夕月渡

    七夕月渡

    “七夕月渡”,一个鲜为人知、却又真实存在的世界。在那个一年四季都有樱花如雪飘落,空气中飘荡着天灵泉水叮咚声的地方,在命运般的因缘巧合下,一个对未来充满迷惘和彷徨的女孩,离开了那个她生活了十九年的环境,来到了另一个世界,开始了专属于她的成长之路。他寻着她来到了另一个世界,看着她和别人谈笑风生。开始怀疑当初的决定是否正确,七夕之夜,他的愿望还能不能实现?...他和她相识多年,一段不堪回首的爱情让她面对他的关心止而不前、视而不见。坚持不懈地追求、无怨无悔的付出,结局会怎样?她能否直面自己内心最真实的情感,笑看过去那段失败的爱,和他携手走完这一生?
  • 民间借贷与风险防范

    民间借贷与风险防范

    本书以现实生活中出现的真实案例、问题为出发点,有机结合民法、物权法、担保法等与相关条例和司法解释,采取了“宣讲要点”“典型案例”“专家评析”和“法条指引”的结构编写而成。既可以让读者了解一般的案件审判知识,又可以了解有一定深度的相关法理,内容层次循序渐进,易于理解和掌握。
  • 保镖英雄

    保镖英雄

    作为一名海豹突击队员因为一次失误被开除回家,没有有权有势的父亲,没有任何背景,在旧金山靠着自己打拼,虽然社会上的黑暗面不断的侵扰自己,但是他没有软弱的屈服,而是愤然的反抗,因为生活所迫使自己和心爱的女人分别,成为一名保镖想让自己忘掉伤痛,但是他遇到让自己动心的女人,唯一要做的就是不惜一切去守护她!
  • 做别人想不到的生意

    做别人想不到的生意

    本书通过详尽的事实,从切身需要出发,阐述了做别人想不到的生意、赚别人没想到的钱的要点。只有从思想上转变观念,不断充实知识储备,练就高瞻远瞩的本事,关注细节,把握机遇,才能真正成为会做生意、巧做生意的商海高手。
  • 王爷太妖孽之腹黑世子妃

    王爷太妖孽之腹黑世子妃

    黑道女王有朝一日狼狈穿越…谁知原主竟是自闭症一个,风明大陆最痴傻的昀曦郡主竟是毒教少主?所谓的扮猪吃老虎…便是如此
  • 三生刻刀

    三生刻刀

    神秘古砖雕刻的女神,本以为是一世迷恋,却轮回三生!第一世为凡人,第二世为天帝,第三世,只想握着三生刻刀,雕刻永恒。
  • Legends and Lyrics

    Legends and Lyrics

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 千世奇缘之千世浩劫

    千世奇缘之千世浩劫

    千世浩劫,却在一次意外中穿越到了古代!和蛇精做了闺蜜,爱上了一个不该爱的人.