Mr. Strutt, the indefatigable historian of the “Sports and Pastimes of the People of England,” says of _Barley-break_: “The excellency of this sport seems to have consisted in running well, but I know not its properties.” Beyond this Mr. Strutt merely cites Dr. Johnson’s quotation of two lines from sir Philip Sidney, as an authority for the word. Johnson, limited to a mere dictionary explanation, calls it “a kind of rural play; a trial of swiftness.”
Sidney, in his description of the rural courtship of Urania by Strephon, conveys a sufficient idea of “Barley-break.” The shepherd seeks the society of his mistress wherever he thinks it likely to find her.
Nay ev’n unto her home he oft would go, Where bold and hurtless many play he tries; Her parents liking well it should be so, For simple goodness shined in his eyes: Then did he make her laugh in spite of woe So as good thoughts of him in all arise; While into none doubt of his love did sink, For not himself to be in love did think.
This “sad shepherd” held himself towards Urania according to the usual custom and manner of lovers in such cases.
For glad desire, his late embosom’d guest, Yet but a babe, with milk of sight he nurst: Desire the more he suckt, more sought the breast Like dropsy-folk, still drink to be athirst; Till one fair ev’n an hour ere sun did rest, Who then in Lion’s cave did enter first, By neighbors pray’d, she went abroad thereby At _Barley-break_ her sweet swift foot to try.
Never the earth on his round shoulders bare A maid train’d up from high or low degree, That in her doings better could compare Mirth with respect, few words with courtesie, A careless comeliness with comely care, Self-guard with mildness, sport with majesty Which made her yield to deck this shepherd’s band: And still, believe me, Strephon was at hand.
Then couples three be straight allotted there, They of both ends the middle two do fly; The two that in mid-place, Hell,[9] called were, Must strive with waiting foot, and watching eye, To catch of them, and them to Hell to bear, That they, as well as they, Hell may supply Like some which seek to salve their blotted name With other’s blot, till all do taste of shame.
There you may see, soon as the middle two Do coupled towards either couple make, They false and fearful do their hands undo, Brother his brother, friend doth his friend forsake, Heeding himself, cares not how fellow do, But of a stranger mutual help doth take: As perjured cowards in adversity, With sight of fear, from friends to fremb’d[10] doth fly,
