THE CORN-CRAKE.

Art thou a sound, and nothing but a sound?

68

-Go round the field, and round the field, and round,
You'll find my voice for ever changing ground;
And while your ear pursues my creaking cry,
You look as if you heard it with your eye.

VULTURES.

Abominable harpies, spare the dead.

-We only clear the field which man has spread; On which should heaven its hottest vengeance rain? You slay the living, we but strip the slain.

THE HUMMING BIRD.

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76

Art thou a bird, or bee, or butterfly?

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84

-Each and all three.-A bird in shape am I,
A bee collecting sweets from bloom to bloom,
A butterfly in brilliancy of plume.

THE HERON.

Stock-still upon that stone, from day to day,
I see thee watch the river for thy prey.
-Yes, I'm the tyrant here; but when I rise,
The well-train'd falcon braves me in the skies;
Then comes the tug of war, of strength and skill,
He dies, impaled on my updarted bill,

Or, powerless in his grasp, my doom I meet,
Dropt as a trophy at his master's feet.

J. MONTGOMERY (abridged.)

WORK.

So here hath been dawning

Another blue day :

Think, wilt thou let it

Slip useless away?

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+

THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD'S ENTER

TAINMENT BY ROBIN HOOD AND LITTLE JOHN.

SOME they will talk of bold Robin Hood,

And some of barons bold;

But I'll tell you how they served the bishop of Here

Come kill a ven'son, said bold Robin Hood,

Come kill me a good fat deer;

The bishop of Hereford is to dine with me to-day,
And he shall pay well for his cheer.

12

We'll kill a fat ven'son, said bold Robin Hood,
And dress it by the highway side;

And we will watch the bishop narrowly,
Lest some other way he should ride.

Robin Hood dress'd himself in shepherd's attire,
With six of his men also;

And when the bishop of Hereford came by,
They about the fire did go.

O what is the matter? then said the bishop,
Or for whom do you make this ado?
Or why do you kill the king's ven'son,
When your company is so few?

We are shepherds, said bold Robin Hood,
And we keep sheep all the year;

And we are disposed to be merry this day,
And to kill of the king's fat deer.

You are brave fellows, said the bishop,

And the king of your doings shall know; Therefore make haste, and come along with me, For before the king you shall

go.

O pardon, O pardon, said bold Robin Hood,

O pardon, I thee pray;

For it becomes not your lordship's coat

To take so many lives away.

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20

24

28

32

36

No pardon, no pardon, says the bishop,

No pardon I thee owe;

Therefore make haste, and come along with me,

For before the king you shall go.

40

Then Robin he set his back against a tree,

And his foot against a thorn;

And from underneath his shepherd's coat

He pull❜d out a bugle horn.

44

THE BISHOP OF HEREFORD'S ENTERTAINMENT.

59

He put the little end to his mouth,

And a loud blast he did blow,

'Till threescore and ten of bold Robin's men Came running all on a row;

All making obeisance to bold Robin Hood,

'Twas a comely sight to see.

What is the matter, master, said Little John,
That you blow so hastily?

O here is the bishop of Hereford,

And no pardon we shall have.

Cut off his head, master, said Little John,
And throw him into his grave.

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52

56

O pardon, O pardon, said the bishop,

O pardon, I thee pray;

For if I had known it had been you,

60

I'd have gone some other way.

No pardon, no pardon, said Robin Hood,

No pardon I thee owe;

Therefore make haste, and come along with me,
For to merry Barnsdale you shall go.

64

Then Robin he took the bishop by the hand,

And led him to merry Barnsdale ;

He made him to stay and sup with him that night,
And to drink wine, beer, and ale.

68

Call in a reckoning, said the bishop,

For methinks it grows wond'rous high.

Lend me your purse, master, said Little John,
And I'll tell you bye and bye.

72

Then Little John took the bishop's cloak,

And spread it upon the ground,

And out of the bishop's portmanteau
He told three hundred pound.

76

Here's money enough, master, said Little John,

And a comely sight 'tis to see ;

It makes me in charity with the bishop,

Tho' he heartily loveth not me.

Robin Hood took the bishop by the hand,

And he caused the music to play :

And he made the bishop to dance in his boots,
And glad he could so get away.

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84

Old Ballad.

THE CHILD AND THE SNAKE.

HENRY was every morning fed

With a full mess of milk and bread.
One day the boy his breakfast took,
And ate it by a purling brook.
His mother lets him have his way.
With free leave Henry every day
Thither repairs, until she heard
Him talking of a fine gray bird.
This pretty bird, he said, indeed,
Came every day with him to feed;
And it loved him, and loved his milk,
And it was smooth and soft, like silk.

-On the next morn, she follows Harry;
And carefully she sees him

carry

Through the long grass his heap'd-up mess.
What was her terror and distress

When she saw the infant take

His bread and milk close to a snake!

Upon the grass he spreads his feast,
And sits down by his frightful guest,
Who had waited for the treat;
And now they both began to eat.

ΙΟ

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