Page:Notes and Queries - Series 10 - Volume 4.djvu/59

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. iv. JULY is, 1905.] NOTES AND QUERIES. 43 which seeme more pale and wan to them then to us.—Book ii. c. xii. p. 307, col. 1. Flamineo...they that have the yellow jaundice think all objects they look on to be yellow. Jealousy is worser: her fits present to a man, like so many bubbles in a bason of water, twenty several crabbed faces, 4c. —'The White Devil,' 11. 213-17, p. 8, col. 1. In 'Northward Ho,' written by Webster and Decker, Bellaraont says :— Jealous men are either knaves or coxcombs ; be you neither: you wear yellow hose without cause. —I. iii. 48-50, p. 254. col. 1. And in the next page we find this :— Bellamant. Art not thou ashamed to be seen come out of a prison ? Philip. No, God '3 my judge ; but I was ashamed to go into prison.—I. iii. 186-9, p. 255, col. 2. This is surely a recollection of one of Mon- taigne's stories:— For as Aristippus (sneaking to some young men who blushed to see him go into a bawdy house) said, "The fault was not in entring, but in comming out again."—Book iii. c. v. p. 450, col. 2. CHARLES CRAWFORD. (To be continued.) 'THE OXFORD RAMBLE.' THE following was found in a bundle of eighteenth - century MS. songs, and was headed 'The Oxford Ramble, a New Song.' Two coarse lines have been omitted, and much of the language is not refined ; but it is perhaps worth printing in ' N. & Q.,' as it contains some vivid touches of West-Country idiom. By the way, the meaning of "Old Orundell in verse xii. is obscure, i. I heard much taak of Oxford Town, And fain I would go thither, And plowing and sowing soon was done, It being gallant weather, And Father did to it agree That Nell and I should goo. But Mother cried that we should ride, So we took Dobbin too. ii. Then I goes on to sister Nell And bid her make her ready. And put on all her Sunday cloaths, As fine as any Lady : " 'Tin a gallant Day—the Morning's grey, And likely to be Fair, Therefore make haste and soon be lac'd, And I '11 go bait the Mare." III. Then up upon the Mear we got, And away we went together, And ev'ry Body that we met We ask a how far 'twas thether ; Till at the last, when on the Top Of Chisledown Hill we rise, I somewhat spied like steeples and cried, " Zooks'. Nell, look, yonder 'ti» t" Then as near unto't we come The folk crew in full thick ; I heard a little Bastard cry, " Look, here conies Country Dick." Another Bastard call'd me " Ralph ! Pray, how is honest Joan ? Nay, Roger too, and little Sue, And all the folks at home ?" v. But we ride on and nothing said, And looking for an ale-house. At last we spied the hugest Sign, As big as any Gallows ; It was two Dogs, so in we ride And called for the Hostler. Out comes then the lustiest Fellow, I warrant he was a Wrestler. " Here, take this Horse and set'n up, And gee 'n a lock of Hay, For we be come to zee this Town,. And tarry here this day. '• Yes, Sir," he said, and call'd the Maid,. Who was just in the Entry, Who carried us into a Room as fine As thoff we had been Gentry. vn. So down we set and bid 'em fetch A Flajfgon of their Beer; But when it come Nell shook her head,. And said 'twas ]>laguey dear; Said she to me, " If we stay here long 'Twill make us go a beggin. I 'in sure it is not half so much As Old Markham Flaggon." VIII. Then up we got and away we went To see this gallant Town, And at the Gate we met a Man With a pitiful ragged Gown ; As for his Sleeves, I do believe They both were torn off. And instead of a Hat he wore a Cap, Like a Trenchard covered with Cloth. IX. As we were going along the Street I thought I had found a Knife. I stooped down to take it up, And I neer was so shamed in my Life. So the Boys fell ahollooing an April fool, But I said never a word. x. As we went down a narrow Lane One catch'd hold fast of Sister; He had Parson's Cloaths and did not knows, But he would fain have kisa'd her ; He was plaguey fine, but to my mind He look t much like a Wencher; 1 took my Stick and I fetch't him a Lick, I warrant I slit his Trencher. XI. Then we went into a very fine Place, And there we went to Church, And I kneel'd down to say my Prayers, And did not mean any Hurt;