LXXII THE JOVIAL BEGGAR Τ HERE was a jovial beggar, He had a wooden leg Lame from his cradle, And forced for to beg. And a-begging we will go. A bag for his oatmeal, And a long pair of crutches, A bag for his wheat, Another for his rye, And a little bottle by his side And a-begging we will go. Seven years I begg'd For my old Master Wilde, He taught me how to beg When I was but a child. And a-begging we will go, Will go, will go, And a-begging we will go. I begg'd for my master, And a-begging we will go. In a hollow tree I live, and pay no rent, Of all the occupations A beggar's is the best, He can lay him down to rest. And a-begging we will go. I fear no plots against me, I live in open cell: Then who would be a king, lads, When the beggar lives so well? And a-begging we will go, Will go, will go, And a-begging we will go. Old Song LXXIII BISHOP HATTO HE summer and autumn had been so wet, That winter the corn was growing yet; 'T was a piteous sight to see all around The grain lie rotting on the ground. Every day the starving poor Crowded around Bishop Hatto's door, At last Bishop Hatto appointed a day And they should have food for the winter there. Rejoiced such tidings good to hear, The poor folk flock'd from far and near; Of women and children, and young and old. Then when he saw it could hold no more, 'I' faith, 't is an excellent bonfire!' quoth he, 'And the country is greatly obliged to me, For ridding it in these times forlorn Of rats, that only consume the corn.' So then to his palace returned he, And he sat down to supper merrily, And he slept that night like an innocent man, But Bishop Hatto never slept again. In the morning as he enter'd the hall, As he look'd there came a man from the farm, Another came running presently, And he was pale as pale could be, 'I'll go to my tower on the Rhine,' replied he, "Tis the safest place in Germany; The walls are high, and the shores are steep, And the stream is strong, and the water deep.' Bishop Hatto fearfully hasten'd away, He laid him down and closed his eyes, On his pillow from whence the screaming came. He listen'd and look'd; it was only the cat ; For they have swum over the river so deep, They are not to be told by the dozen or score, Down on his knees the bishop fell, And faster and faster his beads did he tell, As louder and louder drawing near The gnawing of their teeth he could hear. And in at the windows, and in at the door, They have whetted their teeth against the stones, And now they pick the Bishop's bones; They gnaw'd the flesh from every limb, For they were sent to do judgment on him. R. Southey |