And to his little daughter Jane But if the children chance to die, Ere they to age Their uncle should possess their wealth, For so the will did run. "Now, brother," said the dying man, Be good unto my boy and girl, "To God and you I recommend "You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one; God knows what will become of them, When I am dead and gone." With that out spoke their mother dear, O brother kind,” quoth[1] she, 66 "You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or misery. "And if you keep them carefully, [1] Quoth-says or said. [2] Regard—regard and punish. With lips as cold as any stone They kiss'd their children small: "God bless you both, my children dear," These words did then their brother speak, "God never prosper me nor mine, The parents being dead and gone, He had not kept these pretty babes When, for their wealth, he did devise He bargain'd with two ruffians strong, That they should take these children young, He told his wife an artful tale He would the children send [1] To make them both away-to make away with them-to kill them. Away then went these pretty babes, They prate and prattle pleasantly, To those that should their murderers be, So that the pretty speech they had, Yet one of them, more hard of heart, The other won't agree thereto; And he that was of mildest mood He took the children by the hand, [1] Tide-time. [2] His charge-that which he had been charged with. [3] Large for largely. And two long miles he led them on, "Stay here," quoth he, " I'll bring you some, These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Their pretty lips with blackberries, Thus wandered these poor innocents, No burial this pretty pair Till Robin Redbreast painfully [1] And now the heavy wrath of God Upon their uncle fell; Yea, fearful fiends did haunt his house, His barns were fir'd, his goods consum'd, His lands were barren made, His cattle died within the field, And nothing with him staid. [1] Painfully-with pains or trouble-carefully. Some copies read "piously." G And in a voyage to Portugal And, to conclude, himself was brought He pawn'd and mortgaged [1] all his land, The fellow that did take in hand Who did confess the very truth, You that executors [2] be made, Take your example by this thing, [1] Mortgag'd all his land-gave up his land as security. for the repayment of money that he borrowed. [2] Executor-one who carries into effect the will of a deceased person. [3] Eke-also. [4] Undoing-destruction, ruin, |