Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads Jacobite Ballads, &c. &c. By George W. Thornbury ... with illustrations by H. S. Marks |
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THE DEAD KING'S TOILETTE.
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 | Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads |  |
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THE DEAD KING'S TOILETTE.
(Edward VI.)
Two crones, their lean hands shaking,
Stood by a plume-deeked bed,
Gazing without a tear or sob,
On the sheet that covered the dead.
“A pleasant corpse,” the eldest croaked,
“As ever died in spring;
Yea, by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor boy was a king!”
Stood by a plume-deeked bed,
Gazing without a tear or sob,
On the sheet that covered the dead.
“A pleasant corpse,” the eldest croaked,
“As ever died in spring;
Yea, by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor boy was a king!”
The bed was hung with cloth of gold,
Worked over with stars and crowns;
Yet still the crones sat there and talked,
Not heeding royal frowns.
“A pleasant corpse,” still one would cry,
“As ever died in spring.
Oh! by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor soul was a king!”
Worked over with stars and crowns;
Yet still the crones sat there and talked,
Not heeding royal frowns.
“A pleasant corpse,” still one would cry,
“As ever died in spring.
Oh! by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor soul was a king!”
301
Oh! what an eager, curious art,
The crones by turns displayed!
Working the linen in pleats and frills,
And the flannel in fold and braid.
“A pleasant corpse,” still one would screech,
“As ever died in spring.
Now, by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor soul was a king!”
The crones by turns displayed!
Working the linen in pleats and frills,
And the flannel in fold and braid.
“A pleasant corpse,” still one would screech,
“As ever died in spring.
Now, by the mass! what a jest to think
That this poor soul was a king!”
| Songs of the Cavaliers and Roundheads | |