Popular Music Of The Olden Time Vol 2


	596	ENGLISH SONG AND BALLAD MUSIC.
	Among the songs which were written to it, and attained popularity, are, " Sure marriage is a fine thing," from The Beggars' Wedding (reprinted in vol. v. of Watts's Musical Miscellany, 1731), and— " I'm a bold recruiting sargeant, From London I am come." The following song on the Italian Opera is from The Livery Make, 1733. It shews that the exclusive patronage of foreign singers by the English aristocracy is by no means a new national peculiarity. The fashion has become so old that we may almost hope for a change.



	But I hope the time will come, when their favourers will find, With their fal, lal, la; fa, la la, la la, la, They have paid too great a sum to Italian pipes for wind, With their fal, lal, la; fa, la la, la la, la, When English wit again, and merit too shall thrive, And men of fortune to support that wit and merit strive, Without ha, ha, ha, &c.