er　my　head；　now　obscuring　the　sun；　now　letting　its　rays　stream　in　transient　flashes　upon　various　parts　of　the　landscape；　and　especially　upon　the　broad　mirror　of　the　distant　Firth　of　Solway。
  I　advanced　on　the　scene　with　the　light　step　of　a　liberated　captive；　and；　like　John　Bunyan's　Pilgrim；　could　have　found　in　my　heart　to　sing　as　I　went　on　my　way。　　It　seemed　as　if　my　gaiety　had　accumulated　while　suppressed；　and　that　I　was；　in　my　present　joyous　mood；　entitled　to　expend　the　savings　of　the　previous　week。　But　just　as　I　was　about　to　uplift　a　merry　stave；　I　heard；　to　my　joyful　surprise；　the　voices　of　three　or　more　choristers；　singing；　with　considerable　success；　the　lively　old　catch；
  For　all　our　men　were　very　very　merry；　　　　　And　all　our　men　were　drinking：　　　　　There　were　two　men　of　mine；　　　　　Three　men　of　thine；　　　And　three　that　belonged　to　old　Sir　Thom　o'　Lyne；　　　As　they　went　to　the　ferry；　they　were　very　very　merry；　　　　　And　all　our　men　were　drinking。'
  ＇The　original　of　this　catch　is　to　be　found　in　Cowley's　witty　comedy　of　THE　GUARDIAN；　the　first　edition。　　It　does　not　exist　in　the　second　and　revised　edition；　called　THE　CUTTER　OF　COLEMAN　STREET。
  CAPTAIN　BLADE。　　Ha；　ha；　boys；　another　catch。　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AND　ALL　OUR　MEN　ARE　VERY　VERY　MERRY；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　AND　ALL　OUR　MEN　WERE　DRINKING。　　　CUTTER。　　　　ONE　MAN　OF　MINE。　　　DOGREL。　　　　TWO　MEN　OF　MINE。　　　BLADE。　　　　　THREE　MEN　OF　MINE。　　　CUTTER。　　　　AND　ONE　MAN　OF　MINE。　　　OMNES。　　　　　AS　WE　WENT　BY　THE　WAY　WE　WERE　DRUNK；　DRUNK；　DAMNABLY　　　　　　　　　　　　　　DRUNK；　AND　ALL　OUR　MEN　WERE　VERY　VERY　MERRY；　&c。　Such　are　the　words；　which　are　somewhat　altered　and　amplified　in　the　text。　　The　play　was　acted　in　presence　of　Charles　II；　then　Prince　of　Wales；　in　1641。　　The　catch　in　the　text　has　been　happily　set　to　music。＇
  As　the　chorus　ended；　there　followed　a　loud　and　hearty　laugh　by　way　of　cheers。　　Attracted　by　sounds　which　were　so　congenial　to　my　present　feelings；　I　made　towards　the　spot　from　which　they　came；　cautiously；　however；　for　the　downs；　as　had　been　repeatedly　hinted　to　me；　had　no　good　name；　and　the　attraction　of　the　music；　without　rivalling　that　of　the　sirens　in　melody；　might　have　been　followed　by　similarly　inconvenient　consequences　to　an　incautious　amateur。
  I　crept　on；　therefore；　trusting　that　the　sinuosities　of　the　ground；　broken　as　it　was　into　knells　and　sand…pits；　would　permit　me　to　obtain　a　sight　of　the　musicians　before　I　should　be　observed　by　them。　　As　I　advanced；　the　old　ditty　was　again　raised。　　The　voices　seemed　those　of　a　man　and　two　boys；　they　were　rough；　but　kept　good　time；　and　were　managed　with　too　much　skill　to　belong　to　the　ordinary　country　people。
  Jack　looked　at　the　sun；　and　cried；　Fire；　fire；　fire；　　　Tom　stabled　his　keffel　in　Birkendale　mire；　　　Jem　started　a　calf；　and　halloo'd　for　a　stag；　　　Will　mounted　a　gate…post　instead　of　his　nag：　　　For　all　our　men　were　very　very　merry；　　　　　And　all　our　men　were　drinking；　　　　　　　There　were　two　men　of　mine；　　　　　　　Three　men　of　thine；　　　And　three　that　belonged　to　old　Sir　Thom　o'　Lyne；　　　As　they　went　to　the　ferry；　they　were　very　very　merry；　　　　　For　all　our　men　were　drinking。
  The　voices；　as　they　mixed　in　their　several　parts；　and　ran　through　them；　untwisting　and　again　entwining　all　the　links　of　the　merry　old　catch；　seemed　to　have　a　little　touch　of　the　bacchanalian　spirit　which　they　celebrated；　and　showed　plainly　that　the　musicians　were　engaged　in　the　same　joyous　revel　as　the　MENYIE　of　old　Sir　Thom　o'　Lyne。　　At　length　I　came　within　sight　of　them；　three　in　number；　where　they　sat　cosily　niched　into　what　you　might　call　a　BUNKER；　a　little　sand…pit；　dry　and　snug；　and　surrounded　by　its　banks；　and　a　screen　of　whins　in　full　bloom。
  The　only　one　of　the　trio　whom　I　recognized　as　a　personal　acquaintance　was　the　notorious　little　Benjie；　who；　having　just　finished　his　stave；　was　cramming　a　huge　luncheon　of　pie…crust　into　his　mouth　with　one　hand；　while　in　the　other　he　held　a　foaming　tankard；　his　eyes　dancing　with　all　the　glee　of　a　forbidden　revel；　and　his　features；　which　have　at　all　times　a　mischievous　archness　of　expression；　confessing　the　full　sweetness　of　stolen　waters；　and　bread　eaten　in　secret。
  There　was　no　mistaking　the　profession　of　the　male　and　female；　who　were　partners　with　Benjie　in　these　merry　doings。　　The　man's　long　loose…bodied　greatcoat　（wrap…rascal　as　the　vulgar　term　it）；　the　fiddle…case；　with　its　straps；　which　lay　beside　him；　and　a　small　knapsack　which　might　contain　his　few　necessaries；　a　clear　grey　eye；　features　which；　in　contending　with　many　a　storm；　had　not　lost　a　wild　and；　careless　expression　of　glee；　animated　at　present；　when　he　was　exercising　for　his　own　pleasure　the　arts　which　he　usually　practised　for　bread；all　announced　one　of　those　peripatetic　followers　of　Orpheus　whom　the　vulgar　call　a　strolling　fiddler。　　Gazing　more　attentively；　I　easily　discovered　that　though　the　poor　musician's　eyes　were　open；　their　sense　was　shut；　and　that　the　ecstasy　with　which　he　turned　them　up　to　heaven　only　derived　its　apparent　expression　from　his　own　internal　emotions；　but　received　no　assistance　from　the　visible　objects　around。　　Beside　him　sat　his　female　companion；　in　a　man's　hat；　a　blue　coat；　which　seemed　also　to　have　been　an　article　of　male　apparel；　and　a　red　petticoat。　　She　was　cleaner；　in　person　and　in　clothes；　than　such　itinerants　generally　are；　and；　having　been　in　her　day　a　strapping　BONA　ROBA；　she　did　not　even　yet　neglect　some　attention　to　her　appearance；　wore　a　large　amber　necklace；　and　silver　ear…rings；　and　had　her　laid　fastened　across　her　breast　with　a　brooch　of　the　same　metal。
  The　man　also　looked　clean；　notwithstanding　the　meanness　of　his　attire；　and　had　a　decent　silk　handkerchief　well　knotted　about　his　throat；　under　which　peeped　a　clean　owerlay。　　His　beard；　also；　instead　of　displaying　a　grizzly　stubble；　unmowed　for　several　days；　flowed　in　thick　and　comely　abundance　over　the　breast；　to　the　length　of　six　inches；　and　mingled　with　his　hair；　which　was　but　beginning　to　exhibit　a　touch　of　age。　　To　sum　up　his　appearance；　the　loose　garment　which　I　have　described　was　secured　around　him　by　a　large　old…fashioned　belt；　with　brass　studs；　in　which　hung　a　dirk；　with　a　knife　and　fork；　its　usual　accompaniments。　　Altogether；　there　was　something　more　wild　and　adventurous…looking　about　the　man　than　I　could　have　expected　to　see　in　an　ordinary　modern　crowder；　and　the　bow　which　he　now　and　then　drew　across　the　violin；　to　direct　his　little　choir；　was　decidedly　that　of　no　ordinary　performer。
  You　must　understand　that　many　of　these　observations　were　the　fruits　of　after　remark；　for　I　had　scarce　approached　so　near　as　to　get　a　distinct　view　of　the　party；　when　my　friend　Benjie's　lurching　attendant；　which　he　calls　by　the　appropriate　name　of　Hemp；　began　to　cock　his　tail　and　ears；　and；　sensible　of　my　presence；　flew；　barking　like　a　fury；　to　the　place　where　I　had　meant　to　lie　concealed　till　I　heard　another　song。　　I　was　obliged；　however；　to　jump　on　my　feet；　and　intimidate　Hemp；　who　would　otherwise　have　bit　me；　by　two　sound　kicks　on　the　ribs；　which　sent　him　howling　back　to　his　master。
  Little　Benjie　seemed　somewhat　dismayed　at　my　appearance；　but；　calculating　on　my　placability；　and　remembering；　perhaps；　that　the　ill…used　Solomon　was　no　palfrey　of　mine；　he　speedily　affected　great　glee；　and　almost　in　one　breath　assured　the　itinerants　that　I　was　'a　grand　gentleman；　and　had　plenty　of　money；　and　was　very　kind　to　poor　folk；'　and　informed　me　that　this　was　'Willie　SteensonWandering　Willie　the　best　fiddler　that　ever　kittled　thairm　with　horse…hair。'
  The　woman　rose　and　curtsied；　and　Wandering　Willie　sanctioned　his　own　praises　with　a　nod；　and　the　ejaculation；　'All　is　true　that　the　little　boy　says。'
  I　asked　him　if　he　was　of　this　country。
  'THIS　country！'　　replied　the　blind　man'I　am　of　every　country　in　broad　Scotland；　and　a　wee　bit　of　England　to　the　boot。　　But　yet　I　am；　in　some　sense；　of　this　country；　for　I　was　born　within　hearing　of　the　roar　of　Solway。　　Will　I　give　your　honour　a　touch　of　the　auld　bread…winner？'
  He　preluded　as　he　spoke；　in　a　manner　which　really　excited　my　curiosity；　and　then；　taking　the　old　tune　of　Galashiels　for　his　theme；　he　graced　it　with　a　number　of　wild；　complicated；　and　beautiful　variations；　during　which　it　was　wonderful　to　observe　how　his　sightless　face　was　lighted　up　under　the　conscious　pride　and　heartfelt　delight　in　the　exercise　of　his　own　very　considerable　powers。
  'What　think　you　of　that；　now；　for　threescore　and　twa？'
  I　expressed　my　surprise　and　pleasure。
  'A　rant；　manan　auld　rant；'　said　Willie；　'naething　like　the　music　ye　hae　in　your　ballhouses　and　your　playhouses　in　Edinbro'；　but　it's　weel　aneugh　anes　in　a　way　at　a　dykeside。　　Here's　another　it's　no　a　Scotch　tune；　but　it　passes　for　aneOswald　made　it　himsell；　I　reckonhe　has　cheated　mony　ane；　but　he　canna　cheat　Wandering　Willie；'
  He　then　played　your　favourite　air　of　Roslin　Castle；　with　a　number　of　beautiful　variations；　some　of　which　I　am　certain　were　almost　extempore。
  'You　have　another　fiddle　there；　my　friend；'　said　I'Have　you　a　comrade？'　　But　Willie's　ears　were　deaf；　or　his　attention　was　still　busied　with　the　tune。
  The　female　replied　in　his　stead；　'O　aye；　sirtroth　we　have　a　partnera　gangrel　body　like　oursells。　　No　but　my　hinny　might　have　been　better　if　he　had　liked；　for　mony　a　bein　nook　in　mony