[Ill.u.s.tration]

They swore the man would die.

But soon a wonder came to light, That show'd the rogues they lied--

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The man recover'd of the bite,

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The dog it was that died.

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THE BABES IN THE WOOD

[Ill.u.s.tration: SORE SICKE THEY WERE AND LIKE TO DYE]

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Now ponder well, you parents deare, These wordes which I shall write; A doleful story you shall heare, In time brought forth to light.

A gentleman of good account In Norfolke dwelt of late, Who did in honour far surmount Most men of his estate.

Sore sicke he was, and like to dye, No helpe his life could save; His wife by him as sicke did lye, And both possest one grave.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

No love between these two was lost, Each was to other kinde; In love they liv'd, in love they dyed, And left two babes behinde:

The one a fine and pretty boy, Not pa.s.sing three yeares olde; The other a girl more young than he And fram'd in beautye's molde.

The father left his little son, As plainlye doth appeare, When he to perfect age should come Three hundred poundes a yeare.

And to his little daughter Jane Five hundred poundes in gold, To be paid downe on marriage-day, Which might not be controll'd:

[Ill.u.s.tration]

But if the children chanced to dye, Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possesse their wealth; For so the wille did run.

[Ill.u.s.tration: NOW, BROTHER, said the dying man, LOOK TO MY CHILDREN DEARE]

"Now, brother," said the dying man, "Look to my children deare; Be good unto my boy and girl, No friendes else have they here:

"To G.o.d and you I do commend My children deare this daye; But little while be sure we have Within this world to staye.

"You must be father and mother both, And uncle all in one; G.o.d knowes what will become of them, When I am dead and gone."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

With that bespake their mother deare: "O brother kinde," quoth shee, "You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or miserie:

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"And if you keep them carefully, Then G.o.d will you reward; But if you otherwise should deal, G.o.d will your deedes regard."

[Ill.u.s.tration: WITH LIPPES AS COLD AS ANY STONE, THEY KIST THE CHILDREN SMALL]

With lippes as cold as any stone, They kist the children small: "G.o.d bless you both, my children deare;"

With that the teares did fall.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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These speeches then their brother spake To this sicke couple there: "The keeping of your little ones, Sweet sister, do not feare:

"G.o.d never prosper me nor mine, Nor aught else that I have, If I do wrong your children deare, When you are layd in grave."

[Ill.u.s.tration]

[Ill.u.s.tration: THEIR PARENTS BEING DEAD & GONE, THE CHILDREN HOME HE TAKES]

The parents being dead and gone, The children home he takes, And bringes them straite unto his house, Where much of them he makes.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

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He had not kept these pretty babes A twelvemonth and a daye, But, for their wealth, he did devise To make them both awaye.

He bargain'd with two ruffians strong, Which were of furious mood, That they should take the children young, And slaye them in a wood.

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He told his wife an artful tale, He would the children send To be brought up in faire London, With one that was his friend.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Away then went those pretty babes, Rejoycing at that tide, Rejoycing with a merry minde, They should on c.o.c.k-horse ride.

[Ill.u.s.tration: AWAY THEN WENT THE PRETTY BABES REJOYCING AT THAT TIDE]