TWM at length reached the end of his dreary journey, the latter part of which was rendered more cheerful from having fallen into company with a party of drovers, who gallantly treated the apparent fair one with bread and cheese and ale. Thus he entered Cardigan in comparative good spirits, and prepared to commence his whimsical new vocation. Although naturally bold, and more full of confidence than beseemed the modesty of youth, it was not without considerable efforts in struggling with some remains of diffidence that he at length ventured to sing in the public street; but the beer which he had drank was strong, and his voice he knew was almost unequalled in the county of Cardigan; and with this persuasion he thought it foolish to hesitate. He fixed himself in rather an obscure part of the fair, but his musical voice and humorous execution of a comic song soon drew a crowd about him, and put his ballads in speedy request. According to the general custom with street melodists, he introduced each song with a whimsical argument of its matter, in a strain of drollery that set the grinning rustics in high glee: “Here my merry men and maidens,” quoth he, “is a pretty song about a young damsel, who was taken in by a false lover, that courted her only for what he could get, and having wheedled her out of her heart and money, then ran away and left her to wear the willow.” THE SLIGHTED MAID’S LAMENT {134} 1 In comfort and in credit By the side of Pen-y-vole I liv’d;—all knew and said it, None could my will controul; Until a worthless lover Did try my heart to move, Ah soon my joys were over, I listened to his love. 2 From far he travell’d to me, Full many and many a night, I thought he came to woo me, My heart was all delight: My cash he thought of gaining, It was not me he sought, E’er moaning and complaining For clothes—and clothes I bought. 3 A pair of shoes I placed him Between his soles and ground, With stockings then I graced him, With hat his head I crown’d; Red garters then I bought him, At fair the best I saw, To bind his hose, od rot him! Instead of bands of straw. 4 I bought him leather breeches Strong as a barley sack, And laid out half my riches To clothe the beggar’s back: I gave him money willing, (Vexation now ubraids!) With which the thankless villain Soon treated other maids. 5