J.  Parry

Thrown on the wide world, doom’d to wander and roam,
Bereft of his parents, bereft of his home,
A stranger to pleasure, to comfort and joy,
Behold little Edmund, the poor Peasant Boy.

Book I, Ch. 15.

‘Weep for the hour.’  From ‘Eveleen’s Bower’ T.  Moore

Oh! weep for the hour
When to Eveleen’s bower
The lord of the valley with false vows came.

Book I, Ch 15.

‘Then farewell, my trim-built wherry.’  From ‘The Waterman’

C.  Dibdin

Book II, Ch. 7.

‘Helm a-weather, now lay her close.’  From ’The Tar for all Weathers’

Unknown

Book III, Ch. 6.

‘No malice to dread, sir.’  From verse 3 of ‘My Ain Fireside.’

Words by Mrs. E. Hamilton

Nae falsehood to dread, nae malice to fear,
But truth to delight me, and kindness to cheer;
O’ a’ roads to pleasure that ever were tried,
There’s nane half so sure as one’s own fireside. 
My ain fireside, my ain fireside,
Oh sweet is the blink o’ my ain fireside.

Book III, Ch. 6.

And you needn’t, Mr. Venus, be your black bottle,
For surely I’ll be mine,
And we’ll take a glass with a slice of lemon in it,
to which you’re partial,
For auld lang syne.

A much altered version of verse 5 of Burns’ celebrated song.

Book III, Ch. 6.

Charge, Chester, charge,
On Mr. Venus, on.

From Scott’s Marmion.

Book IV, Ch. 3.

‘If you’ll come to the bower I’ve shaded for you.’  From ’Will you Come to the Bower’

T.  Moore

Will you come to the Bower I’ve shaded for you,
Our bed shall be roses, all spangled with dew. 
Will you, will you, will you, will you come to the Bower? 
Will you, will you, will you, will you come to the Bower?

A LIST OF SONGS AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC MENTIONED BY DICKENS

WITH HISTORICAL NOTES

The figures in brackets denote the chapter in the novel referred to

A COBBLER THERE WAS (D. & S. 2)

A cobbler there was, and he lived in a stall,
Which serv’d him for parlour, for kitchen and hall,
No coin in his pocket, nor care in his pate,
No ambition had he, nor no duns at his gate,

                Derry down, down, down, derry down.