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.