II.

A hat so very ancient

It might have covered Moses, Adorned, on great occasions, With ivy-leaves or roses; A coat the very coarsest Since tailoring began, — O that's the gay apparel Of Robin Merryman !

To teach the village children
The funniest kind of plays;

To tell a clever story;

To dance on holidays;

To puzzle through the almanac ;
A merry song to scan,
O that is all the learning
Of Robin Merryman!

V.

To drink his mug of cider,
And never sigh for wine;
To look at courtly ladies,

Yet think his Mag divine;

To take the good that's going,
Content with Nature's plan,
O that is the philosophy
Of Robin Merryman!

VI.

To say, "O Gracious Father!
Excuse my merry pranks;
For all thy loving-kindness
I give thee hearty thanks;
And may I still be jolly

Through life's remaining span," -
O that 's the style of praying
With Robin Merryman!

VII.

Now, all ye wretched mortals
Aspiring to be rich;

And ye whose gilded coaches
Have tumbled in the ditch;
Leave off your silly whining,
Adopt a wiser plan;
Go follow the example

Of Robin Merryman!

THE KING OF NORMANDY.

(From Béranger's "Le Roi d'Yvetot.")

I.

IN Normandy there reigned a king

(I've quite forgot his name),

Who led a jolly sort of life,

And did n't care for fame.

A nightcap was his crown of state,
Which Jenny placed upon his pate:
Ha! ha! - laugh and sing:

O was n't he a funny king?

II.

He ate his meals, like other folk,
Slept soundly and secure,
And on a donkey every year
He made his royal tour;
A little dog - it was his whim
Was body-guard enough for him:
Ha! ha! - laugh and sing:

O was n't he a funny king?

But kings who heed their subjects' need, Should mind their own, I think;

And thus it was his tax he got,

For every cask an extra pot:

Ha! ha! - laugh and sing:
O was n't he a funny king?

IV.

The lasses loved this worthy king;
And many a merry youth
Would hail his majesty as "Sire,"

And often spoke the truth.

He viewed his troops in goodly ranks,
But still their cartridges were blanks.
Ha! ha! - laugh and sing:
O was n't he a funny king?

V.

He never stole his neighbors' land
To magnify his realm;

But steered his little ship of state

With honor at the helm;

And when at last the king was dead,
No wonder all the people said : --
"Ah! ah! — weep and sing:
O was n't he a noble king?"

THE HUNTER AND THE MILKMAID.

(From Béranger's "Le Chasseur et la Laitière.")

I.

HE lark is singing her matin lay,

THE

O come with me, fair maiden, I pray;

Sweet, O sweet is the morning hour,
And sweeter still is yon ivied bower;
Wreaths of roses I'll twine for thee,
O come, fair maiden, along with me!

Ah! Sir Hunter, my mother is near;
I really must n't be loitering here!

II.

Thy mother, fair maiden, is far away,
And never will listen a word we say ;
I'll sing thee a song that ladies sing
In royal castles to please the king;
A wondrous song whose magical charm
Will keep the singer from every harm.

Fie! Sir Hunter,- -a fig for your song;
Good by!- for I must be going along!

Ah! well,

III.

if singing will not prevail, I'll tell thee, then, a terrible tale; 'T is all about a Baron so bold, Huge and swart, and ugly and old,

-

Who saw the ghost of his murdered wife, -
A pleasant story, upon my life!

Ah! Sir Hunter, the story is flat;

I know one worth a dozen of that.

IV.R

I'll teach thee, then, a curious prayer
Of wondrous power the wolf to scare,
And frighten the witch that hovers nigh
To blight the young with her evil eye;
O guard, fair maiden, thy beauty well,
A fearful thing is her wicked spell!

O, I can read my missal, you know;
Good by! Sir Hunter,- for I must go!

V.

Nay, tarry a moment, my charming girl;
Here is a jewel of gold and pearl;
A beautiful cross it is, I ween,
As ever on beauty's breast was seen :
There's nothing at all but love to pay;
Take it, and wear it, but only stay!

Ah! Sir Hunter, what excellent taste!
I'm not — in such—particular — haste!