The bard of the dales or poems and miscellaneous pieces; with a life of the author, written by himself. By John Castillo |
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TO A FOX TAKEN IN A TRAP. |
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 | The bard of the dales |  |
TO A FOX TAKEN IN A TRAP.
Foxey! what were you doing to be taken in the snare?
Sure if you'd known, ye never would have took up lodgings there:
Perhaps last week ye little thought that trade so soon would fail,
With eye so bright, on frosty night, to wander hill and dale.
Sure if you'd known, ye never would have took up lodgings there:
Perhaps last week ye little thought that trade so soon would fail,
With eye so bright, on frosty night, to wander hill and dale.
144
“Whilst in my nightly rambles, when I went into that drain,
I little thought but to have found a passage out again:
Although one fellow prisoner I had the hap to see,
Yet after all, I had no dread that trap was set for me.”
I little thought but to have found a passage out again:
Although one fellow prisoner I had the hap to see,
Yet after all, I had no dread that trap was set for me.”
Foxey! what wad ye give us for to snap that piece of chain,
To throw the doors open, and let ye loose again?
If I was in your place I should scarce know what to do;
I'd give the world, if it were mine, to scale the mountain's brow.
To throw the doors open, and let ye loose again?
If I was in your place I should scarce know what to do;
I'd give the world, if it were mine, to scale the mountain's brow.
“Those talking men, and barking dogs, they make me sore afraid,
And my little trembling beating heart the consequences dread:
O! if it was but in my power, and I could have my will,
I'd give all the geese in the parish to be out at top of the hill.”
And my little trembling beating heart the consequences dread:
O! if it was but in my power, and I could have my will,
I'd give all the geese in the parish to be out at top of the hill.”
On the fate expected morn, when the huntsman's horn doth blow,
If you will but take a friend's advice I'll tell you what to do:
When I should see there is a chance, I'd to some river speed my way,
Then I'd jump in, and swim across, and bid them all good day.
If you will but take a friend's advice I'll tell you what to do:
When I should see there is a chance, I'd to some river speed my way,
Then I'd jump in, and swim across, and bid them all good day.
145
“I thank ye for your kind advice, I'll try the same to take;
Of the time I have allotted me, I'll try the best to make:
I hope my sly pursuers will warning take by me,
When there's a chance, to rid the chain of sin's captivity!”
Of the time I have allotted me, I'll try the best to make:
I hope my sly pursuers will warning take by me,
When there's a chance, to rid the chain of sin's captivity!”
O Foxey! thou should tremble then, and take a friend's advice,
For they mean to buy and sell thee like a piece of merchandise;
And should thou fall a prey to them, before thou reach the Craggs,
They'll take thy bonny jacket and tear it all to rags.
For they mean to buy and sell thee like a piece of merchandise;
And should thou fall a prey to them, before thou reach the Craggs,
They'll take thy bonny jacket and tear it all to rags.
“Their mercy it is cruel, as I've heard old foxes say,
If it was not for this piece of chain I'd soon be far away;
And if those men would set me free, as I have been before,
I'd make a faithful promise, I would steal their geese no more!”
If it was not for this piece of chain I'd soon be far away;
And if those men would set me free, as I have been before,
I'd make a faithful promise, I would steal their geese no more!”
| The bard of the dales | |