Turpin’s Rant
Anonymous
| Original | Altra versione (più estesa) della ballata, quella in cui, dopo... |
| TURPIN’S RANT A New Song On Hounslow Heath as I rid o’er I spy’d a Lawyer just before, I asked him if he was not afraid Of Turpin, that mischievous Blade. Sing, O rare Turpin, O rare Turpin, O. Says Turpin, I have been most cute, (1) For my Money is hid within my Boot, Says the Lawyer, there is none can find For mine lies in my Cape behind. They rid till they came to the powder Mill, (2) When Turpin bid the Lawyer to stand still, Stand, Sir, your Cape it must come off, For my Horse does want a Saddle Cloth. Sing, O rare Turpin, O rare Turpin, O. He rob’d the Lawyer of all his Store, But he knows how to Lie for more, (3) But if you my Case should Plead, Or ever I should stand in Need, A word or two you may put in, My Name is saucy Dick Turpin. Sing, O rare Turpin, O rare Turpin, O. At Epping they said they would kill Turpin that had never done them Ill, But he, more nimbler than they, Shot his Carbine, and Dead was he. (4) Sing, O rare Turpin, O rare Turpin, O. And now they say that they will hang Turpin, as they have done his Gang, But an Hundred Pounds whene’er I Die I’ll leave Jack Ketch for a Legacy. (5) Sing, O rare Turpin, O rare Turpin, O. | TURPIN'S VALOUR On Hounslow Heath, as I rode o'er, I spied a lawyer riding before; 'Kind sir,' said I,'are you not afraid, Of Turpin that mischievous blade ?' O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. Says Turpin,'I have been most acute, My gold I've hid in the heel of my boot;' "O" says the lawyer,'there's none can find My gold, for it lies in my cap behind. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. As they rode down by the Poulter mill, Turpin demands him to stand still; Says he,'your cap I must cut off, For my mare she wants a saddle cloth. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. This caused the lawyer sore to fret, To think he was so fairly bit; For soon was he rifled of his store, Because he knew how to lye for more. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. As Turpin rode in search of prey, He met an exciseman on the way; He boldly bid him for to stand, 'Your gold,' said he,'I do demand." O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. With that the exciseman he replied, 'Your proud demands must be denied; Before my money you receive, One of us two must cease to live. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. Turpin then without remorse, He knocked him quite from off his horse; And left him on the ground to sprawl, As off he rode with his gold and all. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. As he rode over Salisbury plain, He met Lord Judge with all his train: Then hero-like he did approach, And robbed the Judge as he sat in his coach. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. An usurer as I am told, Who had in change a sum of gold; With a cloak clouted from side to side, Just like a palmer he did ride. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. And as he jogged along the way, He met with Turpin that same day; With hat in hand, most courteously, He asked him for charity. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. 'If that be true thou tells to me, I'11 freely give thee charity; But I made a vow and it I'11 keep, To search all palmers that I meet. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. He searched his bags, wherein he found Upwards of eight hundred pound; In ready gold and white money, Which made him to laugh heartily. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. 'This begging is a curious trade, For on thy way thou hast well sped; This prize I count is found mony, Because thou made an arrant lye. O rare Turpin, hero, O rare Turpin, O. For shooting of a dunghill cock, Poor Turpin he at last was took; And carried straight into a jail, Where his misfortune he does bewail. O poor Turpin, hero, O poor Turpin, O. Now some do say that he will hang, Turpin the last of all the gang; I wish this cock had ne'er been hatched, For like a fish in the net he's catched. O poor Turpin, hero, O poor Turpin, O. But if I had my liberty, And were upon yon mountains high; There's not a man in old England, Durst bid bold Turpin for to stand. O poor Turpin, hero, O poor Turpin, O. I ventured bold at young and old, And fairly fought them for their gold: Of no man kind I was afraid, But now alas ! I am betrayed. O poor Turpin, hero, O poor Turpin, O. Now Turpin he's condemned to die, To hang upon yon gallows high; Whose legacy is a strong rope, For stealing of a dung-hill cock. O poor Turpin, hero, O poor Turpin, O. |
