THE BELLMAN, AND HIS HISTORY.
I have often read Vincent Bourne's poem, "Ad Davidem Cook, Westmonasterii Custodem Nocturnum et Vigilantissimum, Anno 1716:" Pickering's edition, p. 129. This nightly guardian, it appears, was accompanied by a dog:
"Cùm variis implent tenebræ terroribus orbem,
Tu comite assuetum cum cane carpis iter,"
was armed with a stout staff, or knotty club:
"Nec te perterrent, nodoso stipite fretum,
Subdola qui tacito pectore furta parant,"
and carried a bell:
"Tinnitu adventum signans, oriantur an astra,
Narras, an purè lucida Luna micet."
To the last-mentioned part of his equipment, he owed the title of "Bellman."
The Bellman's duty, however, was not confined to crying the rising of the stars, or the shining of the moon, but he cheered his nightly round with many a chant:
Nocturnum multo carmine fallis iter."
The next lines are descriptive of the Bellman's poetry, and tell us the subjects of it. Of some of these I want explanation; and of all, examples. I am at a loss to explain the following four lines:
"Divorum hyberni menses quotcunque celebrant,
Cuique locum et versum dat tua musa suum:
Crispino ante omnes; neque enim sine carmine fas est
Nobile sutorum præteriisse decus."
The next lines refer to the Bellman's loyalty in ever remembering the Royal Family; to his salutation of masters and mistresses; to the useful instruction he pours forth in song to young men and maidens; and to the happy marriages he wishes to such as give heed to his warnings. The Bellman then addresses himself to men-servants and maid-servants, enjoining honesty on the former, cleanliness on the latter. Repeatedly wishing prosperity to his masters, he concludes with one pre-eminent exhortation to keep in mind, that the friendly hand of death levels the highest and the lowest.
My ignorance asks several questions. When did the Bellman lay aside his bell, and assume the rattle; and, with this change (I presume), drop the name of Bellman for that of Watchman, to whom the silent policeman has succeeded? Was the dog the usual aide-de-camp of the Bellman? Are there any other instances in which the dog is mentioned as assisting the Bellman in his nocturnal guardianship?
As to the Bellman's poetry, Milton will occur to every one:
"Or the bellman's drowsy charm
To bless the door from nightly harm."—Il Penseroso.
1. Herrick's Hesperides, p. 169., is a Bellman's song, a blessing, concluding:
"Past one o'clock, and almost two,
My masters all, good-day to you."
2. Ibid. p. 251. is another song; a warning to remember the judgment-day, and ending—
"Ponder this when I am gone,
By the clock 'tis almost one."
See The Tatler, No. 111., for the Bellman's salutation:
"Good morrow, Mr. Bickerstaff, good morrow, my masters all."
"It was the owl that shriek'd, the fatal bellman,
Which gives the stern'st good night."—Shakspeare, Macbeth, Act II. Sc. 2.
Gay refers to the Bellman's song in the following lines:
"Behold that narrow street which steep descends,
Whose building to the slimy shore extends;
Here Arundel's fam'd structure rear'd its frame,
The street alone retains the empty name;
Where Titian's glowing paint the canvass warm'd,
And Raphael's fair design, with judgment, charm'd,
Now hangs the bellman's song, and pasted here
The colour'd prints of Overton appear."—Trivia, book ii. 482.
In the Archaic and Provincial Dictionary, the duty of the Bellman in his poetic character seems to be limited to blessing the sleepers. It appears from the poem by Vincent Bourne, that his Muse took a much more extensive range.
Can you inform me where I can find more about the Bellman, his bell and his dog; and, especially, his songs? Where can I find "The Bellman's Songs?"
Is "Bellman" a name given to dogs in modern times? See Taming of the Shrew, Induction.
F. W. T.
[We cannot insert F. W. T.'s Query without referring to the admirable translation of Vinny Bourne's Ode, which is to be found in our First Volume, p. 152.]