Though they could all do something more than sing. 10 An ill-bred boat-man, rough as waves and wind. 20 30 To you our author makes her soft request, Or every mortal woman here shall write: 40 Rural, pathetic, narrative, sublime, We'll write to you, and make you write in rhyme; Your time, poor souls! we'll take your very money; THE THIEF AND THE CORDELIER, A BALLAD. TO THE TUNE OF KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY. HO has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve, The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave: Where honour and justice most oddly contribute, To ease heroes' pains by a halter and gibbet, Derry down, down, hey derry down. There death breaks the shackles which force had put on; And the hangman completes what the judge but begun ; There the squire of the pad, and the knight of the post, Find their pains no more balk'd, and their hopes no more cross'd. Derry down, &c. 10 Great claims are there made, and great secrets are known; And the king, and the law, and the thief has his own; But my hearers cry out; What a deuce dost thou ail? Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale. Derry down, &c. "Twas there then, in civil respect to harsh laws, And for want of false witness, to back a bad cause, A Norman, though late, was obliged to appear; And who to assist, but a grave Cordelier? Derry down, &c. 20 The squire, whose good grace was to open the scene, Seem'd not in great haste, that the show should begin : Now fitted the halter, now travers'd the cart; Derry down, &c. What frightens you thus, my good son? says the priest: You murder'd, are sorry, and have been confess'd. O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon : For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken. Derry down, &c. 30 Pugh! prithee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies: Rely on the aid you shall have from Saint Francis ; If the money you promis'd be brought to the chest, You have only to die: let the church do the rest. Derry down, &c. And what will folks say, if they see you afraid? To-morrow? our hero replied in a fright: He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of to-night. Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly truss'd up, For you surely to-night shall in Paradise sup. Derry down, &c. Alas! quoth the squire, howe'er sumptuous the treat, Parbleu, I shall have little stomach to eat: I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace, Would you be so kind, as to go in my place. Derry down, &c. 50 That I would, quoth the father, and thank you to boot; But our actions, you know, with our duty must suit Derry down, &c. Then turning about to the hangman, he said: AN EPITAPH. Stet quicunque volet potens Aulæ culmine lubrico, &c. SENECA. NTERR'D beneath this marble stone Most perfectly they made agree: VOL. I. 10 |