Book 2 — THE TWO ROUND SPACES ON THE TOMBSTONE[353:2]
Reading edition
THE TWO ROUND SPACES ON THE TOMBSTONE[353:2]
The Devil believes that the Lord will come, Stealing a march without beat of drum, [354]About the same time that he came last, On an Old Christmas-day in a snowy blast: Till he bids the trump sound neither body nor soul stirs, 5 For the dead men's heads have slipt under their bolsters. Oh! ho! brother Bard, in our churchyard, Both beds and bolsters are soft and green; Save one alone, and that's of stone, And under it lies a Counsellor keen. 10 'Twould be a square tomb, if it were not too long; And 'tis fenced round with irons sharp, spear-like, and strong. This fellow from Aberdeen hither did skip With a waxy face and a blubber lip, [355]And a black tooth in front, to show in part 15 What was the colour of his whole heart. This Counsellor sweet, This Scotchman complete, (The Devil scotch him for a snake!) I trust he lies in his grave awake. 20 On the sixth of January, When all around is white with snow, As a Cheshire yeoman's dairy, Brother Bard, ho! ho! believe it, or no, On that stone tomb to you I'll show 25 Two round spaces void of snow. I swear by our Knight, and his forefathers' souls, That in size and shape they are just like the holes In the house of privity Of that ancient family. 30 On those two places void of snow, There have sat in the night for an hour or so, Before sunrise, and after cock-crow, He kicking his heels, she cursing her corns, All to the tune of the wind in their horns, 35 The Devil and his Grannam, With a snow-blast to fan 'em; Expecting and hoping the trumpet to blow, For they are cock-sure of the fellow below!
1800.
FOOTNOTES:
LINENOTES:
Title] Skeltoniad (To be read in the Recitative Lilt) MS. Letter: The Two Round Spaces; A Skeltoniad M. P.
[
1
]
The Devil believes the Fraser (1).
[
3
]
time] hour MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (1), Collier. At the same hour MS. H.
[
4
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an Old] a cold Fraser (1): On Old MS. H.
[
5
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neither] nor MS. Letter, M. P.: Till he bids the trump blow nor Fraser (2): Till the trump then shall sound no Collier: Until that time not a body or MS. H.
[
6
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their] the Collier.
[
7
]
Oh! ho!] Ho! Ho! M. P., MS. H.: Oho Fraser (1). Brother Collier. our] our MS. Letter.
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8
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Both bed and bolster Fraser (2). The graves and bolsters MS. H.
[
9
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Except one alone MS. H.
[
10
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under] in Fraser (2).
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11
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This tomb would be square M. P.: 'Twould be a square stone if it were not so long Fraser (1). It would be square MS. H. tomb] grave Collier.
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12
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And 'tis railed round with iron tall M. P.: And 'tis edg'd round with iron Fraser (1): 'Tis fenc'd round with irons tall Fraser (2): And 'tis fenc'd round with iron tall Collier. 'tis] its MS. H.
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13-20
]
om. M. P.
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13
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From Aberdeen hither this fellow MS. Letter. hither] here Fraser (2).
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14
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blubber] blabber MS. Letter, Fraser (1), (2), MS. H.
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15
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in front] before MS. H.
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17
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Counsellor] lawyer so MS. H.
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19
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The Devil] Apollyon MS. Letter. scotch] scotch Collier.
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20
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trust] hope Collier.] (A humane wish) Note in MS. Letter.
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21
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sixth] seventh M. P., Collier: fifth MS. H.
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22
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When all is white both high and low MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (2), Collier, MS. H.: When the ground All around Is as white as snow Fraser (1).
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23
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As] Or Fraser (1): Like MS. H.
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24
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ho! ho!] oho! Fraser (1). it] me M. P.
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25
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stone] tall MS. Letter, M. P., Fraser (2), Collier. On the stone to you MS. H.
[
25-6
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om. Fraser (1).
Between 25-6 After sunset and before cockcrow M. P. Before sunrise and after cockcrow Fraser (2).
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26
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void] clear M. P.
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27
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I swear by the might Of the darkness of night, I swear by the sleep of our forefathers' souls Fraser (1). souls] soul MS. H.
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26-8
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om. Fraser (2).
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28
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Both in shape and size MS. Letter: Both in shape and in size M. P.: That in shape and size they resembled Fraser (1), Collier: That in shape and size they are just like the Hole MS. H.
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29
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In the large house M. P.
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29-30
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In mansions not seen by the general eye Of that right ancient family.
Fraser (1).
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31
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two] round MS. Letter. places] spaces Collier, MS. H. void] clear M. P.
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32
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Have sat Fraser (1), (2): There have sat for an hour MS. H.
[
33
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om. MS. Letter, M. P.
[
36
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Devil] De'il M. P.
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37
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With the snow-drift M. P.: With a snow-blast to fan MS. Letter.
[
38
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Expecting and wishing the trumpet would blow Collier.