Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1Scott, Walter
History
Waverley; or, 'Tis sixty years since — Volume 1
Scott, Walter
Historical fiction; Jacobite Rebellion, 1745-1746 -- Fiction; Scotland -- History -- 18th century -- Fiction
[Footnote: This tirade of gibberish is literally taken or selected
from a mock discourse pronounced by a professed jester, which
occurs in an ancient manuscript in the Advocates' Library, the
same from which the late ingenious Mr. Weber published the curious
comic romance of the Hunting of the Hare. It was introduced in
compliance with Mr Strutt's plan of rendering his tale an
illustration of ancient manners A similar burlesque sermon is
pronounced by the fool in Sir David Lindesay's satire of the Three
Estates. The nonsense and vulgar burlesque of that composition
illustrate the ground of Sir Andrew Aguecheek's eulogy on the
exploits of the jester in Twelfth Night, who, reserving his
sharper jests for Sir Toby, had doubtless enough of the jargon of
his calling to captivate the imbecility of his brother knight, who
is made to exclaim--'In sooth, thou wast in very gracious fooling
last night, when thou spokest of Pigrogremitus, and of the vapours
passing the equinoctials of Quenbus; 't was very good, i' faith!'
It is entertaining to find commentators seeking to discover some
meaning in the professional jargon of such a passage as this.]
With much goodly gibberish to the same effect; which display of
Gregory's ready wit not only threw the whole company into
convulsions of laughter, but made such an impression on Rose, the
Potter's daughter, that it was thought it would be the Jester's
own fault if Jack was long without his Jill. Much pithy matter,
concerning the bringing the bride to bed, the loosing the
bridegroom's points, the scramble which ensued for them, and the
casting of the stocking, is also omitted from its obscurity.
The following song which has been since borrowed by the worshipful
author of the famous History of Fryar Bacon, has been with
difficulty deciphered. It seems to have been sung on occasion of
carrying home the bride
Bridal Song
To the tune of--'I have been a Fiddler,' etc,
And did you not hear of a mirth befell
The morrow after a wedding day,
And carrying a bride at home to dwell?
And away to Tewin, away, away!
The quintain was set, and the garlands were made,
'T is pity old customs should ever decay;
And woe be to him that was horsed on a jade,
For he carried no credit away, away.
We met a consort of fiddle-de-dees;
We set them a cockhorse, and made them play
The winning of Bullen and Upsey-frees,
And away to Tewin, away, away!
There was ne'er a lad in all the parish
That would go to the plough that day;
But on his fore-horse his wench he carries.
And away to Tewin, away, away!
The butler was quick, and the ale he did tap,
The maidens did make the chamber full gay;
The servants did give me a fuddling cup,
And I did carry't away, away.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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