Preamble

There was a troupe of mountebanks,

They came 'way o'er the plain,

By Winchester & Wessex Weald,

In sun and wind and rain.

They were a merry company,

A quaint and motley company

As ever you could find

For Tom the piper marched before,

And Jock the fiddler, limping sore,

Came following behind.

And there was Hans who played the flute,

Another Orphy, with his lute,

Made folks to dance and play,

And join this merry company,

This quaint and motley company,

This rag-tag, bobtail company,

Oh, any time o' day.

And there was Nell, a dainty dear,

Who trilled away both loud and clear,

A sweeter sound you ne'er would hear,

Upon a morn in May.

And there was Meg who followed soon

With voice that mock'd the the ring dove's croon,

Oh, any time o' day.

And then came youthful Romeo, Oh Romeo?

Who sang of love, both high and low,

No maid could ever say him nay,

For he would vow fidelity

To one, or two, or three,

(Oh no!), Yes, any time o' day.

And Noll a heavy baritone,

(A basso, e profundo tone,)

He'd roar you like a megaphone,

So loudly could he bray.

But when he did a tavern spy,

He stay'd his feet, nor passed it by,

Oh, any time o' day.

There was a troupe of mountebanks,

They came 'way o'er the plain,

By Winchester & Wessex Weald,

In sun and wind and rain.