[NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of page]

  THE RIVER BOE

I espied a lovely fair one, and her
did not know,               
I took her for an angel that was
beathing in the Roe
Her teeth were like the wory, her
skin a lilly white,
Her cheeks as red as roses, her eyes
like diamonds bright,
Her sirname I'll not tell, lest you
might her know,
But her master's habitation is on the
Rsver Roe,
I quickly steped up to her, and this
to her did say,
Are you a goddess or what brough
you this way,
She answered me right modestly and
said I am not so,
I m but a servent maid that was
bathing in the Roe,
I said my pretty fair maid if with me
you'll agree
We'll join our hands wedlock and
wedded w will be,
My father he s a nobleman the country
well does kow,
as his dwelling lies convenant to
the River Roe,
She quickly made me answer, and
this to me did say,
My mistress she is waiting, I have
no time to stay,
I'll meet you to-morrow and my
mistress won't know,
We've had some conversation on the
River Roe,
We both shook hands and parted,
from each other did go,
In hopes to meet next morning along
the River Roe,
She dressed herself in private away
then she did go,
My true love he was waiting along
the River Roe,
Then she came up to him he then to
her did say,
I'm glad to meet you here, my love
upon this very day,
I'm glad to meet you here my love
the way that I will know
If you are going to wed with me,
and dwell beside the River Roe.
Bhe modestly made answer, and said
she was content,
I kissed and embraced her, and then
away we both went
And were married next evening, as
you shall shortly know
She has servents to attend her and
she dwells upon

[NLS note: a graphic appears here - see image of page]

    Nell Flagherty's Drake

My name it is Nell quite ca did I tell,
And I lived near Cootehill I will never deny,
I had a large drake the truth for to speak,
That my grandmother left me and she going to die
He was wholesome and sound and weighed 20 pound
The universe around I would rove for his sake,
Bad wind to the robber be him drunk or sober,
That murdered Nell Flagherty's beautiful drake.

His neeh It was green that most rare to be seen.
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree,
His body was white that would you delight,
He was plump, fat, and heavy, and brisk as a bee
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow,
He'd fly like a swallow or dive like a hake ;
But some wicked savage to grease his white cabbage
Has murdered Nell Flagherty's beautiful drake.

May his pig never grunt may his cat never hunt,
That a ghost may him haunt in the dead of the night
May his hen never lay, may his ass never bray,
May his goat fly away like an old paper kite.
That the lice and the fleas may the wretch ever teast
And a biting north breeze make him tremble & shake
May a four-year-old bug make a nest in the lug.
Of th' monster that murdered Nell Flagherty's drake

May his pipe never smoke, and his tea-pot be broke
And to add to his joy may his kettle never boil,
May he pooly the bed to the moment he's dead,
May he always be fed on lobscouse and fish oil.
May he swell with the gout till his grinders fall out,
May he roar, bawl, and shout with a horrid tooth-ache
May his temples wear horus and all his toes corns,
The monster that murdered Nell Flagherty's drake.

May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each nit in his wig be as lnrge asa s nail,
May his door have no latch, may his house have n
thatch,
May his turkey not hatch, may the rats eat his
May every old fairy from Cork to Dunleary,
Dip him snug and airy into some pond or lake,
Where the eel and the trout may dine on the snout,
Of the monster that murdere Nell Flagherty's drake

May his dog yelp and growl with hunger and cold,
May his wife always scold till his brain goes astray
May the curse of each hag who e'er carried a bag,
Light on the wag till his beard turns grey ;
May monkeys still bight him and mad apes still fig
him,
And everyone slight him asleep and awake,
May weasels still gnaw him and jackdaws still cl&
him,
The monster that murdered Nell Flagherty's drake

The only good news that I have to diffuse,
Is that long Peter Hughes, and blind piper M'Peal
That big-nosed Bob Mason and buck-toothed Nel
Hanson,
Each man has a grandson of my darling dreak.
My bird he had dozens of nephews and cousins,
And one I must get or my poor heart would break
To keep my mind easy or elee I'll go crazy,
There ends the whole tale of Nell Flagherty's dreake,