Or to object; at length (my mournful look Sole Author, sole Disposer of our fate! Whom no man fully sees, and none can see! Since that I live, and that I think, is thine! THE THIEF AND THE CORDELIER, A BALLAD: To the Tune of King John and the Abbot of Canterbury. WHO has e'er been at Paris, must needs know the Grève, The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave; Where Honour and Justice most oddly contribute There Death breaks the shackles which Force had [begun ; put on, And the hangman completes what the judge but There the squire of the pad, and the knight of the [no more crost. post, Find their pains no more balk'd, and their hopes Derry down, &c. Great claims are there made, and great secrets are known; [own. And the king, and the law, and the thief, has his But my hearers cry out, "What a deuce dost thou ail? Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale." '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. The squire, whose good grace was to open the scene, [begin: Seem'd not in great haste that the show should And often took leave, but was loth to depart. "What frightens you thus, my good son?" says the priest: "You murder'd, are sorry, and have been confest." "O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon; For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken.” Derry down, &c. "Pough! pr'ythee 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? It reflects upon me, as I knew not my trade : Courage, friend; for to-day is your period of sorrow ; And things will go better, believe me, to-morrow." Derry down, &c. to-night." "To-morrow!" our hero replied, in a fright: "He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of [truss'd up, "Tell your beads," quoth the priest, "and be fairl 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, "That I would," quoth the father, "and thank But our actions, you know, with our duty must suit. Then, turning about to the hangman, he said, "Dispatch me, I pr'ythee, this troublesome blade; For thy cord and my cord both equally tie, And we live by the gold for which other men die.” Derry down, &c. A SONG. In vain you tell your parting lover, Be gentle, and in pity choose THE GARLAND. THE pride of every grove I chose, The dappled pink, and blushing rose, At morn the nymph vouchsaf'd to place The scent less fragrant than her breath. The flowers she wore along the day: And every nymph and shepherd said, Undrest at evening, when she found That eye dropt sense distinct and clear, Ran trickling down her beauteous cheek. Dissembling what I knew too well, My love, my life," said I, "explain This change of humour: pr'ythee tell: That falling tear -what does it mean?" She sigh'd; she smil'd; and, to the flowers "Ah, me! the blooming pride of May, |