“They chok’d me, as in bed I lay,
Then wrapp’d me in a truss of hay;
And bore me out at dead of night,
And laid me in this lonely height.
“The Groom, who lately clean’d my stall,
Now struts and vapours through my hall,—
Eats gaily with my silver knife,
And sleeps with Kate, my much-lov’d wife.
“His place is highest at the board;
But what is most to be deplor’d,
He gives my babes so little bread,
And mocks them now their sire is dead.
“Clad in my clothes he proudly stalks
Along the shady forest-walks;
And, arm’d with bow and hunting spear,
He shoots my birds and stabs my deer.
“Were I alive, to meet him now,
All underneath the linden bough,
With no one nigh, my wrath to check,
I’d wring his head from off his neck!
“But hie thee hence to Heddybee,
Where live my youthful brothers three;
First tell them all—then stab the groom—
Allow my wife a milder doom.”
SIR JOHN.
FROM THE OLD DANISH.
Sir Lavé to the island stray’d;
He wedded there a lovely maid:
“I’ll have her yet,” said John.
He brought her home across the main,
With knights and ladies in the train:
“I’m close behind,” said John.
They plac’d her on the bridal seat;
Sir Lavé bade them drink and eat:
“Aye: that we will,” said John.