The fryer sang out with a pitiful sound, 45
"O help me out, or I shall be drown'd."
["I trow," quoth she, "your courage is cool'd;"
Quoth the fryer, "I never was so fool'd.
"I never was served so before;"
"Then take heed," quoth she, "thou com'st here no more." 50
Quoth he, "For sweet St. Francis sake,
On his disciple some pity take:"
Quoth she, "St. Francis never taught
His scholars to tempt young maids to naught."
The friar did entreat her still 55
That she would help him out of the well:
She heard him make such piteous moan,
She help'd him out, and bid him begone.
Quoth he, "Shall I have my money again,
Which from me thou hast before-hand ta'en?" 60
"Good sir," quoth she, "there's no such matter;
I'll make you pay for fouling the water."
The friar went along the street,
Dropping wet, like a new-wash'd sheep;
Both old and young commended the maid 65
That such a witty prank had play'd.]
[13]. request.
[GET UP AND BAR THE DOOR.]
Herd's Scottish Songs, ii. 63.
First printed by Herd in a slightly different form, ed. 1776, ii. 159; also Johnson's Museum, p. 310, and Ritson's Scottish Songs, i. 226. The hero of this story is traditionally known as one Johnie Blunt, who lived on Crawford Moor. Several versions of a song called by his name are current among the Scottish peasantry, one of which is given in Johnson's Museum, p. 376.—This ballad, says Stenhouse, furnished Prince Hoare with one of the principal scenes in his musical entertainment of No Song, no Supper, "acted at Drury Lane in 1790, and since throughout the United Kingdom with great success."