A Ballad

Patrick astore,[1] what news upon the town?     By my soul there's bad news, for the gold she was pull'd down,     The gold she was pull'd down, of that I'm very sure,     For I saw'd them reading upon the towlsel[2] doore.          Sing, och, och, hoh, hoh.[3]     Arrah! who was him reading? 'twas jauntleman in ruffles,     And Patrick's bell she was ringing all in muffles;     She was ringing very sorry, her tongue tied up with rag,     Lorsha! and out of her shteeple there was hung a black flag.[4]          Sing, och, & c.     Patrick astore, who was him made this law?     Some they do say, 'twas the big man of straw;[5]     But others they do say, that it was Jug-Joulter,[6]     The devil he may take her into hell and Boult-her!          Sing, och, & c.     Musha! Why Parliament wouldn't you maul,     Those carters, and paviours, and footmen, and all;[7]     Those rascally paviours who did us undermine,     Och ma ceade millia mollighart[8] on the feeders of swine!          Sing, och, & c.