12

They opened the thief’s portmanteau,

And from it they took out so bold

A hundred pounds in silver

And a hundred pounds in gold.

c-f, the traditional copies, were beyond doubt all derived originally from print. c is from a; d-f are from another edition, not recovered, resembling b. This had variations, especially at the beginning and end, of which some specimens will suffice.

d.

1

Oh ’tis I that will sing you a song,

A song of merry intent;