Maintain.

A DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE HUSBANDMAN AND THE SERVINGMAN

[This traditional version of the preceding ancient dialogue has long been popular at country festivals. At a harvest-home feast at Selborne, in Hampshire, in 1836, we heard it recited by two countrymen, who gave it with considerable humour, and dramatic effect. It was delivered in a sort of chant, or recitative.  Davies Gilbert published a very similar copy in his ANCIENT CHRISTMAS CAROLS. In the modern printed editions, which are almost identical with ours, the term "servantman" has been substituted for the more ancient designation.]

SERVINGMAN.

Well met, my brother friend, all at this highway end,

So simple all alone, as you can,

I pray you tell to me, what may your calling be,

Are you not a servingman?

HUSBANDMAN.

No, no, my brother dear, what makes you to inquire

Of any such a thing at my hand?

Indeed I shall not feign, but I will tell you plain,

I am a downright husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

If a husbandman you be, then go along with me,

And quickly you shall see out of hand,

How in a little space I will help you to a place,

Where you may be a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

Kind sir! I 'turn you thanks for your intelligence,

These things I receive at your hand;

But something pray now show, that first I may plainly know

The pleasures of a servingman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why a servingman has pleasure beyond all sort of measure,

With his hawk on his fist, as he does stand;

For the game that he does kill, and the meat that does him fill,

Are pleasures for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

And my pleasure's more than that, to see my oxen fat,

And a good stock of hay by them stand;

My plowing and my sowing, my reaping and my mowing,

Are pleasures for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why it is a gallant thing to ride out with a king,

With a lord, duke, or any such man;

To hear the horns to blow, and see the hounds all in a row,

That is pleasure for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But my pleasure's more I know, to see my corn to grow,

So thriving all over my land;

And, therefore, I do mean, with my plowing with my team,

To keep myself a husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why the diet that we eat is the choicest of all meat,

Such as pig, goose, capon, and swan;

Our pastry is so fine, we drink sugar in our wine,

That is living for the servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

Talk not of goose nor capon, give me good beef or bacon,

And good bread and cheese, now at hand;

With pudding, brawn, and souse, all in a farmer's house,

That is living for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Why the clothing that we wear is delicate and rare,

With our coat, lace, buckles, and band;

Our shirts are white as milk, and our stockings they are silk,

That is clothing for a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But I value not a hair your delicate fine wear,

Such as gold is laced upon;

Give me a good grey coat, and in my purse a groat,

That is clothing for the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Kind sir! it would be bad if none could be had

Those tables for to wait upon;

There is no lord, duke, nor squire, nor member for the shire,

Can do without a servingman.

HUSBANDMAN.

But, Jack! it would be worse if there was none of us

To follow the plowing of the land;

There is neither king, lord, nor squire, nor member for the shire,

Can do without the husbandman.

SERVINGMAN.

Kind sir! I must confess't, and I humbly protest

I will give you the uppermost hand;

Although your labour's painful, and mine it is so very gainful,

I wish I were a husbandman.

HUSBANDMAN.

So come now, let us all, both great as well as small,

Pray for the grain of our land;

And let us, whatsoever, do all our best endeavour,

For to maintain the good husbandman.

Robert Bell