Saturday 2 June 2012

Nativity of Thomas Hardy (1840)

Like many great people, Hardy had a nativity story. It was believed he was stillborn. An alert midwife saved him when she noticed tiny amounts of movement.

Yokel 1: That Tommy Hardy's birthday today, then.

Yokel 2: Not that he'll care much.

Yokel 1: Being dead and gone.

Yokel 2: As we all shall be.

Yokel 1: Shall us sing him a Birthday Psalm?

Yokel 2: He'd like that. Though he won't know.

Yokel 1: Being dead and gone.

Yokel 2: As we all shall be.

They sing, one-voiced, a Tate and Brady psalm, to the tune of "Cambridge New".

Yokel 1: Is it time fer a drap o' drink?

Yokel 2: I'm as dry as a kex mesel', having' just Small since last nammet-tide.

Yokel 1: Shall us sing Tommy Hardy another song?

Yokel 2: Wi' all my heart. Though we martels marn as well dig on his grave, for all he cares.

Yokel 1: Being dead and gone.

Yokel 2: As we all shall be.

Yokel 1: Psalm 4 to Samuel Wakely's tune, as improved by me?

Yokel 2: Nay, Psalm 109 to "Old Wiltshire". 'Tis the only Psalm worth singing.

They sing Psalm 109 to "Old Wiltshire".

Yokel 1: He'd nay gainsay that to warm his heart wi' its irony.

Yokel 2: Though he now knows no more o' music than the Giant o' Abbot's Cernel.

Yokel 1: Being dead and gone.

Yokel 2: As we all shall be. 

1 comment :

  1. I can't understand this liturgy?

    If Thomas Hardy is involved, there should be a surprise, tragic ending - where is it, death is mentioned as a bypass of the liturgy, but no evidence of the real tragedy, unless it's in the actual performance of the liturgy.

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