The Old Crow and the Young Crow
There was an old crow teaching a young crow one day, and he said to him, “Now, my son,” says he, “listen to the advice I’m going to give you. If you see a person coming near you and stooping, mind yourself, and be on your keeping; he’s stooping for a stone to throw at you.”
“But tell me,” says the young crow, “what should I do if he had a stone already down in his pocket?”
“Musha, go ’long out of that,” says the old crow, “you’ve learned enough; the devil another learning I’m able to give you.”
ROGER AND THE GREY MARE.
Translated by Dr. Douglas Hyde.
Roger the miller came coorting of late
A rich farmer’s daughter called Katty by name.
She has to her fortune goold, dimins, and rings;
She has to her fortune fifty fine things;
She has to her fortune a large plot of ground;
She has to her fortune five hundred pounds.
When dinner was over and all things laid down,
It was a nice sight to see five hundred pounds.
The sight of the money and beauty likewise
Tickled his fancy and dazzled his eyes.
“And now, as your daughter is comely and fair,
It’s I that won’t take her,
It’s I that won’t take her,
Without the grey mare.”
Instantly the money was out of his sight,
And so was Miss Katty, his own heart’s delight.
Roger the miller was kicked out the doore,
And Roger was tould not to come there no more.
Roger pulled down his long yalla hair,
Saying, “wishing I never,”
And “wishing I never
Spoke of the grey mare.”
It was in twelve months after, as happened about,
That Roger the miller saw his own true love.
“Good morrow, fair maid, or do you know me?”
“Good morrow, kind sir, I do well,” says she;
“A man of your complexion with long yalla hair,
That wance came a-coorting,
That wance came a-coorting
Me father’s grey mare.”
“It was not to coort the grey mare I came,
But a nice handsome girl called Katty by name.
“I thought that her father would never dispute,
In giving his daughter, the grey mare for boot,
“Before he would lose such a beautiful son;
It’s then I was sorry,
It’s now I am sorry
For what I have done.”
“As for your sorrow, I do value not,
There is men in this town enough to be got.
“If you had the grey mare you would marry me,
But now you have nayther the grey mare nor me.
“The price of the grey mare was never so great,
So fare you well, Roger,
So fare you well, Roger,
Go murn2 for Kate.”
Traditional (taken down from a peasant by
Dr. Douglas Hyde).