{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/eng/child/ch278.htm","path":"neu/eng/child/ch278.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch278.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends & Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n \n 278A: The Farmer\u2019s Curst Wife\n \n \n 278A.1 THERE was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,\n (chorus of whistlers)\n There was an old farmer in Sussex did dwell,\n And he had a bad wife, as many knew well.\n (chorus of whistlers)\n 278A.2 Then Satan came to the old man at the plough:\n \u2018One of your family I must have now.\n 278A.3 \u2018It is not your eldest son that I crave,\n But it is your old wife, and she I will have.\u2019\n 278A.4 \u2018O welcome, good Satan, with all my heart!\n I hope you and she will never more part.\u2019\n 278A.5 Now Satan has got the old wife on his back,\n And he lugged her along, like a pedlar\u2019s pack.\n 278A.6 He trudged away till they came to his hall-gate;\n Says he, Here, take in an old Sussex chap\u2019s mate.\n 278A.7 O then she did kick the young imps about;\n Says one to the other, Let\u2019s try turn her out.\n 278A.8 She spied thirteen imps all dancing in chains,\n She up with her pattens and beat out their brains.\n 278A.9 She knocked the old Satan against the wall!\n \u2018Let\u2019s turn her out, or she\u2019ll murder us all.\u2019\n 278A.10 Now he\u2019s bundled her up on his back amain,\n And to her old husband he took her again.\n 278A.11 \u2018I have been a tormentor the whole of my life,\n But I neer was tormented so as with your wife.\u2019\n \n \n \n 278B: The Farmer\u2019s Curst Wife\n \n \n 278B.1 THE auld Deil cam to the man at the pleugh,\n Rumchy ae de aidie\n Saying, I wish ye gude luck at the making o yer sheugh.\n Mushy toorin an ant tan aira.\n 278B.2 \u2018It\u2019s neither your oxen nor you that I crave;\n It\u2019s that old scolding woman, it\u2019s her I must have.\u2019\n 278B.3 \u2018Ye\u2019re welcome to her wi a\u2019 my gude heart;\n I wish you and her it\u2019s never may part.\u2019\n 278B.4 She jumped on to the auld Deil\u2019s back,\n And he carried her awa like a pedlar\u2019s pack.\n 278B.5 He carried her on till he cam to hell\u2019s door,\n He gaed her a kick till she landed in the floor.\n 278B.6 She saw seven wee deils a sitting in a raw,\n She took up a mell and she murdered them a\u2019.\n 278B.7 A wee reekit deil lookit owre the wa:\n \u2018O tak her awa, or she\u2019ll ruin us a\u2019.\u2019\n 278B.8 \u2018O what to do wi her I canna weel tell;\n She\u2019s no fit for heaven, and she\u2019ll no bide in hell.\u2019\n * * * * * * * *\n 278B.9 She jumpit on to the auld Deil\u2019s back,\n And he carried her back like a pedlar\u2019s pack.\n * * * * * * * *\n 278B.10 She was seven years gaun, and seven years comin,\n And she cried for the sowens she left in the pot.\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: 279. The Jolly Beggar","title":"The Child Ballads: 278. The Farmer's Curst Wife","type":"page"}