[First published,
_Letters
and Journals_, 1830, ii.
Byron
It was derived
from a half-witted lad named Ned Lud, who entered a house in a fit of
passion, and destroyed a couple of stocking-frames. The song was an
impromptu, enclosed in a letter to Moore of December 24, 1816. "I have
written it principally," he says, "to shock your neighbour [Hodgson? ]
who is all clergy and loyalty--mirth and innocence--milk and water. " See
_Letters_, 1900, iv. 30; and for General Lud and "Luddites," see
_Letters_, 1898, ii. 97, note 1. ]
TO THOMAS MOORE.
What are you doing now,
Oh Thomas Moore?
What are you doing now,
Oh Thomas Moore?
Sighing or suing now,
Rhyming or wooing now,
Billing or cooing now,
Which, Thomas Moore?
But the Carnival's coming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
The Carnival's coming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
Masking and humming,
Fifing and drumming,
Guitarring and strumming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
December 24, 1816.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 58, 59. ]
TO MR. MURRAY.
TO hook the Reader, you, John Murray,
Have published "Anjou's Margaret,"[66]
Which won't be sold off in a hurry
(At least, it has not been as yet);
And then, still further to bewilder him,
Without remorse, you set up "Ilderim;"[67]
So mind you don't get into debt,--
Because--as how--if you should fail,
These books would be but baddish bail.
And mind you do _not_ let escape
These rhymes to _Morning Post_ or Perry,
Which would be _very_ treacherous--_very_,
And get me into such a scrape!
For, firstly, I should have to sally,
All in my little boat, against a _Galley_;
And, should I chance to slay the Assyrian wight,
Have next to combat with the female Knight:
And pricked to death expire upon her needle,
A sort of end which I should take indeed ill!
March 25, 1817.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 91. ]
FOOTNOTES:
[66] [_Margaret of Anjou_, by Margaret Holford, 1816. ]
[67] [_Ilderim, a Syrian Tale_, by H. Gaily Knight, 1816. ]
VERSICLES.
I READ the "Christabel;"[68]
Very well:
I read the "Missionary;"[69]
Pretty--very:
I tried at "Ilderim;"
Ahem!
I read a sheet of "Marg'ret of _Anjou_;"
_Can you_?
from a half-witted lad named Ned Lud, who entered a house in a fit of
passion, and destroyed a couple of stocking-frames. The song was an
impromptu, enclosed in a letter to Moore of December 24, 1816. "I have
written it principally," he says, "to shock your neighbour [Hodgson? ]
who is all clergy and loyalty--mirth and innocence--milk and water. " See
_Letters_, 1900, iv. 30; and for General Lud and "Luddites," see
_Letters_, 1898, ii. 97, note 1. ]
TO THOMAS MOORE.
What are you doing now,
Oh Thomas Moore?
What are you doing now,
Oh Thomas Moore?
Sighing or suing now,
Rhyming or wooing now,
Billing or cooing now,
Which, Thomas Moore?
But the Carnival's coming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
The Carnival's coming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
Masking and humming,
Fifing and drumming,
Guitarring and strumming,
Oh Thomas Moore!
December 24, 1816.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 58, 59. ]
TO MR. MURRAY.
TO hook the Reader, you, John Murray,
Have published "Anjou's Margaret,"[66]
Which won't be sold off in a hurry
(At least, it has not been as yet);
And then, still further to bewilder him,
Without remorse, you set up "Ilderim;"[67]
So mind you don't get into debt,--
Because--as how--if you should fail,
These books would be but baddish bail.
And mind you do _not_ let escape
These rhymes to _Morning Post_ or Perry,
Which would be _very_ treacherous--_very_,
And get me into such a scrape!
For, firstly, I should have to sally,
All in my little boat, against a _Galley_;
And, should I chance to slay the Assyrian wight,
Have next to combat with the female Knight:
And pricked to death expire upon her needle,
A sort of end which I should take indeed ill!
March 25, 1817.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 91. ]
FOOTNOTES:
[66] [_Margaret of Anjou_, by Margaret Holford, 1816. ]
[67] [_Ilderim, a Syrian Tale_, by H. Gaily Knight, 1816. ]
VERSICLES.
I READ the "Christabel;"[68]
Very well:
I read the "Missionary;"[69]
Pretty--very:
I tried at "Ilderim;"
Ahem!
I read a sheet of "Marg'ret of _Anjou_;"
_Can you_?
