%ISOlat1; %ISOlat2; %ISOnum; %ISOpub; ]> The WOODY CHORISTERS; / Or; The BIRDS Harmony. / In TWO PARTS. / When Birds could speak, and Women they / Had neither Good or Bad to say; / The pretty Birds then fill'd with Pain, / Did to each other thus complain. University of California - Santa Barbara The Early Modern Center Director Patricia Fumerton 1763-1763 Early Modern Center, University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara, CA 04/29/2011 31294

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Patricia Fumerton Early Modern Center - English Department University of California Santa Barbara, CA 93105 United States of America EMail: pfumer@english.ucsb.edu

T52700 OH! said the Cukow, loud and stout, / I fly the country round about; Roxburghe Ballads Editor None None None None Information in this section of the Source Description refers to the original ballad manuscript. 3: 594 3: 595 The WOODY CHORISTERS; / Or; The BIRDS Harmony. / In TWO PARTS. / When Birds could speak, and Women they / Had neither Good or Bad to say; / The pretty Birds then fill'd with Pain, / Did to each other thus complain. The WOODY CHORISTERS; Or; The BIRDS Harmony. In TWO PARTS. When Birds could speak, and Women they Had neither Good or Bad to say; The pretty Birds then fill’d with Pain, Did to each other thus complain. The WOODY CHORISTERS; Or; The BIRDS' Harmony. In TWO PARTS. When Birds could speak, and Women they Had neither Good or Bad to say; The pretty Birds then filled with Pain, Did to each other thus complain. 1763-1763

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 Early Modern Center Ballad Project Keyword Taxonomy advice affliction/ health alcohol animals/ nature Bible/ biblical figures buildings/ architecture catastrophe children class clothing/ appearance country/ nation crime death economics/ commerce entertainments family folklore gender holidays/ seasons infidelity labor/ craft law London love maritime marriage military/ war monstrosity mythology/ Classical news nobility/ court politics/ government procreation punishment race/ ethnicity religious concepts religious figures religious types & sects royalty rural life servitude sex/ sexuality supernatural/ magic The New World travel trickery/ deceit urban life vice violence virtue vulgarities/ crass humor youth/ age Library of Congress Subject Heading Taxonomy 4/29/2011 Santa Barbara, California, United States of America animals/ nature love Ballads, English 17th century Broadsides, England 17th century 4/29/2011 11:25:34 AM XBallad Doss, MacKenzie Created XML Version of Ballad 4/29/2011 11:25:34 AM Transcription Supervisor McAbee, Kristina, Nebeker, Eric Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 11:25:34 AM Double-Key Comparison and Merging Meyer, Shannon Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 11:25:34 AM Transcriptionist Two Fadel, Meghan Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/29/2011 11:25:34 AM Transcriptionist One Foley, Christopher Transcription of ballad manuscript 4/20/2011 Checker Bethany Wong Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/1/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/1/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 2/1/2011 Checker Grafals Michael Edited Ballad Catalogue Record 1/28/2009 Bibliographer Meghan Fadel Initial Ballad Catalogue Record Created
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OH! said the Cukow, loud and stout, I fly the country round about; While other birds my young ones feed, And I myself do stand in need. Then says the sparrow on her nest, I lovd a Lass, but it was in jest; And ever since that self-same thing, I made a wow I neer would sing. In came the Robin and thus he said, I loved once an ill-favourd maid; Her beauty kindled such a spark, That on my breast I bear the mark. Then said the Lark upon the Grass, I loved once a well-favourd Lass: But she would not hear her true love sing, Tho he had a voice would please a king.
Then said the Black Bird as he fled, I loved one but she is dead; And ever since my love I lack, This is the cause I mourn in black. O said the bonny Nightingale, Then I must end my mournful Tale; While others sing, I sit and mourn, Leaning my breast upon a Thorn. Ah! says the Water-Wag-Tail then, I neer shall be myself again; I loved one, but could not prevail, This is the cause I wag my tail. Then says the party colourd Jay, My dearest Love is gone away; And in remembrance of my dear, A feather of each sort I wear.
Then says the leather-winged Bat, Mind but my tail, Ill tell you what Is the cause I fly by night, Because I lost my hearts delight. Then said the Green-Finch as she flew, I loved one that provd untrue: And since he can no more be seen, Love like a sick-maid I turn to green. Then did begin the chattering Swallow, My love is fled, but Ill not follow, And now upon the chimney high, I sing forth my poor melody. O says the Owl, my love is gone, That I did so much doat upon; I know not how my love to follow But after her to hoop and hollow. Then says the Lap-Wing as she flies, I search the meadows and the skies: But cannot find my love again, So about I fly in deadly pain. Then says thrush I squeak and sing, Which doth to me no comfort bring; For oftentimes I at midnight Record my love and hearts delight. The Canary Bird she then come in, To tell her tale she did begin: I am of my dear love bereft, So I have my own country left. The Chaff-Finch then begins to speak, For love, quoth she, my heart will break, I grieve for you, it dont appear, I sing but two months in the year. Then quoth the Magpie I was crost In love, and now my dear is lost; And warning of my hearts delight, I mourn for him in black and white. O says the Rook, and eke the Crow, The reason why so black we grow; It is because we are forsook, Come pity us, poor Crow and Rook. The Bull-Finch was in a rage, And nothing could his wrath assuage; So in the woods he would not dwell, But spend his time in a doleful cell. Thus you have heard the birds complaint Taking delight in their restraint;
Let this to all a pattern be, For to delight in constancy. PART. II. DOWN as I lay one morning in May, My hands they were coupled fast: My heart did rejoice to hear the pleasant voice Of the Birds in the air as they past. Then comes the Nightingale, Speaking the words so plain, I prithee kind heart, take it in good part, And love when thou art lovd again. Then says Tom-Tit-Mouse there be some men That will change nine times a day: O then says the Wren there be some Women That will change as often as they. O then says the Crow, if it be so, Ill give you leave to smite off my head; For a man unjust, no woman will him trust, Until the very day he is dead. O then says the Pye, tell me the reason why You judge so hardly of men? O then says the Lark I speak it from my heart, That Women are worse than them? O then says the Dove I once had a love, And she loved me very kind: O says the Rook Ill be sworn to a book! Such another is hard to find. O says the Daw I care not a straw, Altho I may chuse me a mate: O then say the Thrush, you shall have her in a rush, And take her a lower rate. O then says the Duck, I wish you better luck Than a man that I do know: When hes from home, theres another in his room, And so says the Cuckoo too.
Printed and Sold in Aldermary Church Yard Bow Lane, London.