SONG 18. The jolly miller

There was a jolly miller once, Liv'd on the river Dee; He work'd, and sung, from morn till night, No lark more blithe than he; And this the burden of his song, And ever us'd to be, I care for nobody, no, not I, If nobody cares for me.

A noble lord, that liv'd hard by, Sent for this miller one day, And ask'd him various questions, And amongst the rest did say, How comes it, miller, that, ev'ry day, You sing so full of glee? Quoth Ralph, I care for nobody, If nobody cares for me.

Are you always thus contented? To him the lord did say: Ay, that I am, more happy, Quoth Ralph, Than folks that live more gay; No worldly cares disturb my breast, My wife and I agree; I care for nobody, &c.

The reason of your happiness I would be glad to know: Quoth Ralph, I'll tell your lordship Part of it before you go; I pay my rent at quarter-day, My mind is ever free; I care for nobody, &c.

Thrice happy thou, who thus content Can ever merry be; My whole estate I'd freely give To be as content as thee. Ralph, smiling, shook his head, and said, My lord, that cannot be, Your lordship cares for somebody, And somebody cares for thee.

How can you say so, good miller, I pray ther tell to me, And if you rightly me instruct, Ten thousand shall be your fee: This sum I'll give, as sure's I live, Immediately unto thee, When I can say, oh! happy day, I care for nobody.

Quoth Ralph, your lordship must refrain, Where flatt'ring knaves resort, Where base deceit and treach'ry reign, I mean that place, the court. Leave pomp and pageantry aside, Be from ambition free; And then your lordship soon may sing, I care for nobody.