Old King Solomon once said, before all the
great people, that there was a time for every
activity in the world. Some had time to be
hypocrites, to make a fuss and bellow without
need, and a type to ponder and measure the song
of Besi of Llansantffraid.
O! ra ti ti, ra ti ti ra ti,
O! ra ti ti ra ti ti ra.
Betti's bright eyes were always on the look-out
for a sweetheart, and there were plenty of young
men who desired and ventured a kiss with her;
Huwcyn Shon the clog maker and Tomos the
thresher were very keen, as well as a
gentlemanly young tailor, a shopkeeper, and
Robin the carpenter.
O! ra ti ti, &c.
But Betti was a snob and she left them all, her
heart was set upon London so that the world
could see her fairness; she got a place with a
milkman, where she was for two short periods,
and the first bit of English that she learned was
'Do you want any milk below?'
O! ra ti ti, &c.
A cousin of Dic Shon Dafydd was making it big
in the wine trade, and when he saw Betti with
her milk churns, he really wanted to have her.
Since she was looking for a gentleman she
looked with favour on the man, and agreed to
work for him as his maid - an arrangement
which suited them both.
O! ra ti ti, &c.
Now, if she went to that place as a 'maid', and
we must stick to the truth - though it be
shameful thing to say - it wasn't long before she
lost that name; she started to wear silks, wigs of
all colours to better herself, if only you could see
the gold on her head as she drove along in a
sedan chair.
O! ra ti ti, &c.
In the theatre Bet was at home in the boxes,
though she used to wear footless stockings, and
her vision was completely clear, and her dress
fragrant in the wind, the great lords, fine ones
with their opera glasses were even more foolish
when they saw Betti, 'What a heavenly, lovely
lass!'
O! ra ti ti, &c.
Before long she started for Wales after getting
hold of the man's money because pride made her
long to show herself off; she wore all sorts of
jewels and trinkets of all kinds, never was such a
noblewoman seen on the pavements of
Shrewsbury.
O! ra ti ti, &c.
Some from around her home shouted some
really nasty words in jest and with poisonous
intent made fun of her that she was without an
ounce of grace; one called her 'Cadi', and
another asked 'Isn't she Bess?' 'But gentleman,
I am a lady, Pray look at my curricle dress!'
O! ra ti ti, &c.
She's too proud, the people said, and so full of
airs and graces, and her old lovers were full of
intent, to pull her back down; 'Don't you
remember bundling on the bed and kissing
tenderly with me?' 'Oh! shame on the booby
penmynydd, / Are these your manners to me?'
O! ra ti ti, &c.
After parading about she returned to London,
and before long her lover became bankrupt, a
natural consequence, isn't it? When poverty and
the prison come by love is very disappointing, it
doesn't remain, and I think, if you judge rightly,
that that is a weakness in love.
O! ra ti ti, &c.
But Bessi returned to Wales once again to give
Madlen and Sian a shock, she was met with tears
and wailing, and she wore crow-black clothes,
saying that her husband had died and changed
her name with her age. Do you have need of a
widow who's never ever been married?
O! ra ti ti, &c.