The Triumph of General Ludd

歌詞

No more chant your old rhymes about old Robin Hood His feats I do little admire I'll sing the achievements of General Ludd Now the hero of Nottinghamshire. Brave Ludd was to measures of violence unused 'till his sufferings became so severe That at last to defend his own interest he rose And for the great fight did prepare. The guilty may fear but no vengeance he aims At the honest man's life or estate His wrath is entirely confined to wide frames And to those that would prices abate. Those engines of mischief were sentenced to die By unanimous vote of the trade And Ludd who can all opposition defy Was the grand executioner made. And when in the work he destruction employs Himself to no method confines By fire and by water he gets them destroyed For the elements aid his designs. Whether guarded by soldiers along the highway Or closely secured in a room He shivers them up by night and by day And nothing can soften their doom. Ye may censure great Ludd's disrespect for the laws Who ne'er for a moment reflects That foul imposition alone was the cause Which produced these unhappy effects. Let the haughty the humble no longer oppress Then shall Ludd sheath his conquering sword His grievances instantly meet with redress Then peace shall be quickly restored. Let the wise and the great lend their aid and advice Nor e'er their assistance withdraw Till full-fashioned work at the old-fashioned price Is established by custom and law. Then the trade when this arduous contest is o'er Shall raise in full splendor its head And colting and cutting and swearing no more Shall deprive all his workers of bread.