BEGONE, dull care! I prithee begone from me; Begone, dull care! Thou and I can never agree. Long while thou hast been tarrying here, And fain thou wouldst me kill; But i’ faith, dull care, Thou never shalt have thy will. Too much care Will make a young man grey; Too much care Will turn an old man to clay. My wife shall dance, and I shall sing, So merrily pass the day; For I hold it is the wisest thing, To drive dull care away. Hence, dull care, I’ll none of thy company; Hence, dull care, Thou art no pair {243} for me. We’ll hunt the wild boar through the wold, So merrily pass the day; And then at night, o’er a cheerful bowl, We’ll drive dull care away. FULL MERRILY SINGS THE CUCKOO. [THE earliest copy of this playful song is one contained in a MS. of the reign of James I., preserved amongst the registers of the Stationers’ Company; but the song can be traced back to 1566.] FULL merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the beechen tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the morn, When of married men Full nine in ten Must be content to wear the horn. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the oaken tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the day! For married men But now and then, Can ’scape to bear the horn away. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the ashen tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the noon, When married men Must watch the hen, Or some strange fox will steal her soon. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the alder tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the eve, When married men Must bid good den To such as horns to them do give. Full merrily sings the cuckoo Upon the aspen tree; Your wives you well should look to, If you take advice of me. Cuckoo! cuckoo! alack the night, When married men, Again and again, Must hide their horns in their despite. JOCKEY TO THE FAIR.