also preserved in the Bannatyne MS. entitled "Ane Interlude of the Laying of a Gaist;" indeed, "Cockelbie's Sow" and "Cockelbie's Feast" appear to have become proverbial references of a jocular sort. Extracts from it were first published by Dr Leyden, in his Dissertation on the Complaint of Scotland, where he observes that it throws much light on the manners and rustic festivities of the Scottish peasantry, during a very early period; but it was first published entire by Dr Laing, in 1822. The Bannatyne MS. copy is the only one that has been preserved ; yet another is noted in the contents of the Auchinleck MS., although the text, along with other curious matter, has been abstracted from that valuable relic. To the literary antiquary it is of great interest, from its having preserved the names of airs, dances, and songs which are now unknown, at least by their ancient names, although it is possible that some of them may exist under other names. Of its author nothing whatever is known; yet it is evident from the preface that he must have been a welleducated man, and accustomed to good society-possibly a churchman. Although the list of disreputable and unsavoury professions (here mostly omitted) which grace the harlot's feast, can hardly be thought to have any meaning beyond the obvious one of filling up the coarse but ludicrous ideal of such a banquet with appropriate guests, yet it is probable that the names given to the pigs and the fowls may have conveyed some sly allusions to local personages, which would have greatly added to the grotesque humour of the satiric burlesque. PROHEMUIM. [Modernized in spelling, but verbally Magnificat crowned kings, in majesty ; 1 Seat; castle or palace. 3 A state of suffering. 2 Mirthful stories. 4 Understand. Let the letter and language be such like. Wisdom umquhile holdis the nicest wise; Protesting against being actuated by particular malice, or malice of any sort, he proceeds to the consideration of the case in the said "mad metre." FITT FIRST. Here I give you a case; He had a simple black sow, For pennies three, as after ye may see. Thus, the money he wared. The FIRST PENNY of the three, For a girl gave he; The SECOND fell in a ford: For in old proverb we sing, Great labour is to get gear, And to conserve it is feir," And more anger is to leise,1 And avaricious winning; A harlot winnit4 near by, And she would make at mangery;5 And had no substance at all, To furnish a great feast A perversed pardoner, A witch, and a wobstar;6 and nearly a hundred more guests, of which the above are by no means the least respectable, or most appropriate to grace the table of so disreputable a hostess. Yet many in a great rout, For lack of room, stood about. I hold, the folk best fure Fro this cursed company I keep5 not now to commoun, Or who should be no man's meat. All the remnant him ruggis, For wae is him that hath royne;" And 12 one of them be o'erthrowin, To rescue, as they may; That sowis sons heard I never This pig, when they heard him, And many galt 3 come before, and a whole host of other pigs equally noteworthy and appropriately entitled; With sic a din and a dirdy, A garray, and a hirdy girdy, 5 that the whole company was dispersed, and the hostess herself wounded by the tusks of a boar; while the little pig that was designed for the feast made his escape in the scramble. Nor did the commotion end with the escape of the intended victim; for the owners of the swine, alarmed by their violent distraction, and seeing so questionable a company, concluded that there was a design upon their property. They turned out, and, with blowing on stock-horns, roused the whole rustic community, who rushed to the rescue mounted and armed: Gilby on his gray mare, And his gossip Glowry, and a motley assemblage of herds of sheep, swine, and cattle, with banners displayed, headed by their minstrels, Dicky Doit playing on his flute, and Davy Doyle, who blew on a pipe made of a "borit boutre," (alder-tree). These are met by another motley array, headed by a piper, who are at first taken for foes, but turn out to be friends. Their meeting brings them to a standstill, and, inspired by the increased accession of music, they, for a while forgetting the object of their turn-out, set to dancing, which gives the humorous bard an opportunity of giving a long list of the airs that were played, and the dances that were danced, led off by "Doby Drymouth" to the air of "The Sone Shene in the South;" until at length Quhorlorehusty cried, Oh cease this brangling and bere,' Being thus reminded of the object of their gathering, they proceed to the house of the harlot, And overthrew all the ediotis, at which pass in the story the bard again reminds the company that it is all a fantasy, And little in point of poetry, But sport to make us merry: Nothing stable we see In this world of variance; which he illustrates by putting his boar through all the adventures of his famous prototype of Caledon, with better fortune in his encounter with Hercules; for he escapes all his dangers unhurt. This good fortune of his hero gives the bard another opportunity of insisting upon the advantages of the company's investing their pennies instead of Scarce spending that scathis gentriss.' Thus concludes the history of the first penny, which is detailed To set you in solace; And dirdy, cry you mercy. Could we be sure that the reference to exceeding study is not ironical, it might be inferred that the author was one of those jolly monks who preferred the private enjoyment of such Gestes Romanorum in rhyme, to the reputation of being known as the writer of them. He then proceeds to the history of THE SECOND PENNY. FITT SECOND. After which he opens a new chapter in Of thir mocking metres, and mad mattere, the history of his little pig, now Growin to a great boar: Lo such is this worldis glore! 1 Roaring noise. Your high reverence humbly oft I require; Of THE SECOND PENNY, for the girl cost, How it did thrive that once was thrall' half lost. A year after, walking in his disport But sooth to say, she was not like to be. In cloister or court, daughter to king or queen. Innocently she salust 3 on her knee, This carlage man, this foresaid Cockelbie. Yet, for to tell the very truth of it, Cockelbie said, "I believe it is so." It seems they were of kindred full potent, you; But ye shall have ane boy of mine to lead you." The blind man said, "Three sons at home I have ; And were I there no more guiding would I crave; But for the maid hath been a while with me, He was ane man both of substance and And 3 ye her have, I should the better be." Cockelbie said, "I had three pennies round; wit; And said, "daughter have God's blessing and mine." The auld man asked, le pour amour devine, Charity; and he said, "father come to my house:" He had him home, and gave him fair almous; And intently inquirèd, where he had Gotten that fair innocent goodly maid; And if she were his daughter, or kin, to say. He said soothly, "She is neither perfay, But one palmer, ane honest man was he, One alien, come from beyond the sea, With his ain wife, a blessed creature, Lodged with me, suppose that I be poor; And through the will of God, so as it was, They were wasted with sudden sore sick The first was lost once in a lake, and found; And with it cofta pig, some calls a grice, Which increased to high worship, and pryss 5 So marvellous, many men of him reads; He was the cause of feill ferliful deeds, As his legend bears, witness look who so list; The second penny I have here in my fist. and she With my favours in time to come also." 1 Advise. 2 Because. 4 Common man. 5 Beloved. 3 For if. 4 Bought. 5 Praise. 6 Very wonderful. 7 To all his guests? 8 Pliant, good natured. |