By J. Y. Akerman.
[North Wilts.]
A Harnet zet in a hollow tree,—
A proper spiteful twoad was he,—
And a merrily zung while a did zet
His stinge as zharp as a baganet,
'Oh, who's zo bowld and vierce as I?—
I vears not bee, nor wapse, nor vly!'
Chorus—Oh, who's zo bowld, etc.
A Bittle up thuck tree did clim',
And scarnvully did luk at him.
Zays he, 'Zur Harnet, who giv' thee
A right to zet in thuck there tree?
Although you zengs so nation vine,
I tell'e it's a house o' mine.'
Chorus—Although you zengs, etc.
The Harnet's conscience velt a twinge,
But growin' bould wi' his long stinge,
Zays he, 'Possession's the best law,
Zo here th' shasn't put a claw.
Be off, and leave the tree to me:
The Mixen's good enough vor thee!'
Chorus—Be off, and leave, etc.
Just then a Yuccle passin' by
Was axed by them their cause to try.
'Ha! ha! it's very plain,' zays he,
'They'll make a vamous nunch for me!'
His bill was zharp, his stomack lear,
Zo up a snapped the caddlin pair.
Chorus—His bill was zharp, etc.
Moral.
All you as be to law inclined,
This leetle story bear in mind;
For if to law you ever gwo,
You'll vind they'll allus zarve'e zo;
You'll meet the vate o' these 'ere two:
They'll take your cwoat and carcass too!
Chorus—You'll meet the vate, etc.
From Wiltshire Tales, pp. 96-97.
[A phonetic version of this song, representing the Chippenham dialect, will be found at pp. 28, 29 of Ellis's English Dialects—their Sounds and Homes, where it is pointed out that stinge (with g soft) appears to have been invented by Akerman for the sake of the rhyme here.]