Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions The Text Edited by A. R. Waller |
The THIEF
AND THE
CORDELIER,
|
Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions | ||
The THIEF AND THE CORDELIER,
A BALLAD.
Who has e'er been at Paris, must needs know the Greve,
The fatal Retreat of th'unfortunate Brave;
Where Honor and Justice most odly contribute,
To ease Hero's Pains by a Halter and Gibbet.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.
The fatal Retreat of th'unfortunate Brave;
Where Honor and Justice most odly contribute,
To ease Hero's Pains by a Halter and Gibbet.
Derry down, down, hey derry down.
182
There Death breaks the Shackles, which Force had put on;
And the Hangman compleats, 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 crost.
Derry down, &c.
And the Hangman compleats, 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 crost.
Derry down, &c.
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 duce dost Thou ayl?
Cut off thy Reflections; and give Us thy Tale.
Derry down, &c.
And the King, and the Law, and the Thief has His own:
But my Hearers cry out; What a duce dost Thou ayl?
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, tho' late, was oblig'd to appear:
And Who to assist, but a grave Cordelier?
Derry down, &c.
And for want of false Witness, to back a bad Cause,
A Norman, tho' late, was oblig'd to appear:
And Who to assist, but a grave Cordelier?
Derry down, &c.
The 'Squire, whose good Grace was to open the Scene,
Seem'd not in great Haste, that the Show shou'd begin:
Now fitted the Halter, now travers'd the Cart;
And often took Leave; but was loath to Depart.
Derry down, &c.
Seem'd not in great Haste, that the Show shou'd begin:
Now fitted the Halter, now travers'd the Cart;
And often took Leave; but was loath to Depart.
Derry down, &c.
What frightens You thus, my good Son? says the Priest:
You Murther'd, are Sorry, and have been Confest.
O Father! My Sorrow will scarce save my Bacon:
For 'twas not that I Murther'd, but that I was Taken.
Derry down, &c.
You Murther'd, are Sorry, and have been Confest.
O Father! My Sorrow will scarce save my Bacon:
For 'twas not that I Murther'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 Dye: let the Church do the rest.
Derry down, &c.
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 Dye: 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; To-day is your Period of Sorrow;
And Things will go better, believe Me, To-morrow.
Derry down, &c.
It reflects upon Me; as I knew not my Trade:
Courage, Friend; To-day is your Period of Sorrow;
And Things will go better, believe Me, To-morrow.
Derry down, &c.
183
To-Morrow? our Hero reply'd 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.
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,
Parblew, I shall have little Stomach to Eat:
I should therefore esteem it great Favor, and Grace;
Wou'd You be so kind, as to go in my Place.
Derry down, &c.
Parblew, I shall have little Stomach to Eat:
I should therefore esteem it great Favor, and Grace;
Wou'd You be so kind, as to go in my Place.
Derry down, &c.
That I wou'd, quoth the Father, and thank you to boot;
But our Actions, You know, with our Duty must suit.
The Feast, I propos'd to You, I cannot taste:
For this Night, by our Order, is mark'd for a Fast.
Derry down, &c.
But our Actions, You know, with our Duty must suit.
The Feast, I propos'd to You, I cannot taste:
For this Night, by our Order, is mark'd for a Fast.
Derry down, &c.
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 Dye.
Derry down, &c.
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 Dye.
Derry down, &c.
Matthew Prior. Poems on Several Occasions | ||