Hugh the Drover, Act I: Pt. 2. Who'll Buy My Sweet Primroses?

Primrose-Seller: Who’ll buy my sweet primroses,

All a-blowing, a-growing?

Crowd: Primroses sweet, O rich on the air,

Scent of sweet primroses blowing so rare.

Primrose-Seller: Who’ll buy my sweet primroses,

All a-blowing, a-growing?

Crowd: If you would greet your love at the fair,

Greet her with primroses,

And with the primroses kiss her right there!

Women: Greet her with primroses.

Men: And with the primroses kiss her.

Women: You dare!

Men: Just there!

A distant trumpet is heard and a procession enters consisting of a trumpeter, big drummer and fifer, conjuror, juggler, dancing-girl, and two men dragging a large wooden dummy covered with a cloth. The crowd deserts the Cheap-Jack and stand looking at the procession.

Cheap-Jack: Going! Going! Gone!

Crowd: Wait your turn. Here’s the showman.

A Showman enters swaggering, followed by a crowd of men and boys.

Showman: Gentlemen and ladies!

I have the honour to present to you a most distinguished stranger.

Be prepared to welcome him. Napoleon Bonyparty!

He pulls the cloth off the dummy and displays an effigy of Napoleon. It has a pair of horns through its cocked hat and a long forked tail. The crowd gathers round the dummy, shaking their fists at it.

Crowd: Boney! ’Tis Boney – Old Bonyparty!

Curses on Boney! Down with him! Down with him!

Showman: (waving them back)

Hold hard, brave boys. Not yet!

This afternoon we’ll shoot at him.

Crowd: Aye, aye!

Showman: And tonight we’ll burn him!

Crowd: Aye, burn him!

Showman: And if any here are Bonyparty’s spies …

Crowd: No! No!

Showman: Let them tell him of the brave lads of Cotsall.

Crowd: The brave boys of Cotsall.