A BALLAD,

Of a YOUNG MAN that would read unlawful Books, and how he was punished.

VERY PITHY AND PROFITABLE.

CORNELIUS AGRIPPA went out one day,
His Study he lock'd ere he went away,
And he gave the key of the door to his wife,
And charg'd her to keep it lock'd, on her life.

And if any one ask my Study to see,
I charge you trust them not with the key,
Whoever may beg, and intreat, and implore,
On your
life let nobody enter that door.

There liv'd a young man in the house who in vain
Access to that Study had sought to obtain,
And he begg'd and pray'd the books to see,
Till the foolish woman gave him the key.

On the Study-table a book there lay,

Which Agrippa himself had been reading that day,
The letters were written with blood within,
And the leaves were made of dead mens skin.

And these horrible leaves of magic between
Were the ugliest pictures that ever were seen,
The likeness of things so foul to behold,
That what they were is not fit to be told.

The young man, he began to read

He knew not what, but he would proceed,
When there was heard a sound at the door
Which as he read on grew more and more.

And more and more the knocking grew,
The young man knew not what to do;
But trembling in fear he sat within,

Till the door was broke and the Devil came in.

Two hideous horns on his head he had got

Like iron heated nine times red hot;

The breath of his nostrils was brimstone blue,
And his tail like a fiery serpent grew.

What wouldst thou with me? the Wicked One cried, But not a word the young man replied;

Every hair on his head was standing upright

And his limbs like a palsy shook with affright.

What would'st thou with me? cried the Author of ill,
But the wretched young man was silent still;

Not a word had his lips the power to say,
And his marrow seem'd to be melting away.

What would'st thou with me? the third time he cries
And a flash of lightning came from his eyes,
And he lifted his griffin claw in the air,

And the young man had not strength for a prayer.

His eyes red fire and fury dart

As out he tore the young man's heart
He grinn'd a horrible grin at his prey,
And in a clap of thunder vanish'd away.

The MORAL.

Henceforth let all young men take heed
How in a Conjurer's books they read.

KING CHARLEMAIN.

François Petrarque, fort renommé entre les Poëtes Italiens, discourant en une epistre son voyage de France et de l'Allemaigne, nous raconte que passant par la ville d'Aix, il apprit de quelque prestres une histoire prodigeuse qu'ils tenoient de main en main pour tres veritable. Qui estoit que Charles le Grand, apres avoir conquesté plusiers pays, s'esperdit de telle façon en l'amour d'une simple femme, que mettant tout honneur et reputation en arriere, il oublia non seulement les affaires de son royaume, mais aussi le soing de sa propre personne, au grand desplaisir de chacun; estant seulement ententif à courtiser ceste dame: laquelle par bonheur commenca à s'aliter d'une grosse maladie, qui lui apporta la mort. Dont les Princes et grands Seigneurs fort resjouis, esperans que par ceste mort, Charles reprendroit comme devant et ses esprits et les affaires du royaume en main: toutesfois il se trouva tellement infatué de ceste amour, qu' encores cherissoit-il ce cadaver, l'embrassant, baisant, accolant de la mesme façon que devant, et au lieu de prester l'oreille aux legations qui luy survenoient, il l'entretenoit de mille beyes, comme s'il eust esté plein de vie. Ce corps commençoit deja non seulement à mal sentir, mais aussi se tournoit en putrefaction, et neantmoins n'y avoit aucun de ses favoris qui luy en osast parler; dont

Ce

dvint que l'Archevesque Turpin mieux advisé que les autres, pourpensa que telle chose ne pouvoit estre advenue sans quelque sorcellerie. Au moyen de quoy espiant un jour l'heure que le Roy s'estoit absenté de la chambre, commença de fouiller le corps de toutes parts, finalement trouva dars sa bouche au dessous de sa langue un anneau qu'il luy osta. Le jour mesme Charlemaigne retournant sur ses premieres brisees, se trouva fort estonné de voir une carcasse ainsi puante. Parquoy, comme s'il se fust resveillé d'un profond sommeil, commanda que l'on l'ensevelist promptment. qui fut fait; mais en contr' eschange de ceste folie, il tourna tous ses pensemens vers l'Archevesque porteur de cest anneau, ne pouvant estre de là en avant sans luy, et le suivant en tous les endroits. Quoy voyant ce sage Prelat, et craignant que cest anneau ne tombast en mains de quelque autre, le jeita dans un lac prochain de la ville. Depuis lequel temps on dit que ce Roy se trouve si espris de l'amour du lieu, qu'l ne desempara la ville d'Aix, où il bastit un Palais, et un Monastere, en l'un desquels il parfit le reste de ses jours et en l'autre voulut estre ensevely, ordonnant par son testament que tous les Empereurs de Rome eussent à se faire sacrer premierement en ce lieu.

Les Recherches de la France, d'Estienne
Pasquier. PARIS. 1611.