[From Manx Soc vol 16]

THE KING AND THE MANXMAN.

The following is given as a specimen of the quaint humour of a Manxman's song.

THE king can only love his wife,
And I can do the same;
I loves my darling Loiza's life,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only sup his porridge,
And I can do the same;
sups a power wisout my knowledge,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only eat his mate,
And I can do the same;
I eats my fill wisout comate,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only drink his jough,
And I can do the same;
I drinks my pynt wisout a cough,
And thavs the for I came.

The king can only. smooke his pipe,
And I can do the same;
I sucks the smooke just like a snipe,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only sing a song,
And I can do the same;
I sings some short and others long,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only dance a reel,
And I can do the same;
I dances on my toes and heel
And that's the for I came.

The king can only ride a hoss,
And I can do the same ;
I ride him uw my legs across,
And thava the for I came.

The king can only sail a boat,
And I can do the same;
I only sails when I'm afloat,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only plough his lands,
And I can do the same';
I howds. the plough wis my two hands,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only go to bed,
And I can do the same;
I puts a cap upon my head,
And that's the for I came.

The king can only say good-night,
And. I can say the same;
I shouts oie-vie* wis all my might,
And that's the for I came.

* oie-vie, Manx for good-night.