Glen Collection of printed music > Printed text > Popular music of the olden time > Volume 1

278
ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
" Would I had been created a shoemaker," (says the servant in a play of Dekker's)
" for all the gentle craft are gentlemen every Monday by their copy, and scorn
then to work one true stitch." — Dodsley's Old Flays, v. iii., p. 282.
Cobblers, too, were proverbially a meri'y set. In the opening scene of Ben
Jonson's play, TJie case is altered, Juniper, the cobbler, is discovered sitting at
work in his shop, and singing ; and Onion, who is sent for him, has great diffi-
culty in stopping his song. When told that he must slip on his coat and go to
assist, because they lack waiters, he exclaims, " A pityful hearing ! for now must I,
of a merry cohhler, become a mourning creature." (The family were in moui-ning).
Juniper is also represented as a small poet ; and when, in the third act. Onion
goes to him again (the cobbler being in his shop, and singing, as usual), and
explains his distress because Valentine had not written the ditty he ordered of
him. Juniper says, "No matter, I'll hammer out a ditty myself."
Jovially, and in moderate time.
i
-j— J— j-^
n
^
^
^
3
^
=F
f=f
"!
I
Cold's the wind, and wet's the rain, Saint Hugh be our good
^EE
3
m
j=j ^ n J iJ =^^
^
111 is the weather that bringeth no gain, Nor helps good hearts in need.
T
speed ;
S
^
^
, Chorus.
^=
I
w-
^ i i I
Hey down a down, hey down a down, Hey der-ry der-ry down a down.
Irl^T-
m
:5t
3
^
^
Ho!
r
well done.
T
To
T
let come.
Ring corn-pass, gen -
tie
joy-
^
^
Troll the bowl, the nut-brown bowl,
And here, kind mate, to thee !
Let's sing a dirge for Saint Hugh's soul,
And down it merrily.
Hey down a down, hey down a down.
Hey derry, derry, down a down ;
Ho ! well done, to me let come.
Ring compass, gentle joy.