Thus of my song I will make an end And pray my hostesse to be my friend, To give me some drink now my money is spend, Then Mault and I am quite, Sir.
The tune to which this ballad is to be sung is probably the same as the old air Greene Sleeves.
A song near akin to the foregoing, also showing the effects of barley wine, is The Little Barley Corn. It is evidently of the time of Charles I., from the allusions it contains to the King’s great Porter, and to Banks, whose performing horse is mentioned.
THE LITTLE BARLEY-CORN.
Whose properties and vertues here Shall plainly to the world appeare; To make you merry all the yeere.
To the tune of Stingo.
Come, and doe not musing stand, if thou the truth discerne; But take a full cup in thy hand and thus begin to learne, Not of the earth nor of the ayre, at evening or at morne,— But joviall boys your Christmas keep with the Little Barley-corn.
It is the cunningst alchymist that e’re was in the land; ’Twill change your mettle when it list, in turning of a hand. Your blushing gold to silver wan, your silver into brasse,— ’Twill turn a taylor to a man, and a man into an asse.