Then bespake the heire of Linne, To John o' the Scales wife then spake he: "Madame, some almes on me bestowe, I pray for sweet saint Charitie." "Away, away, thou thriftless loone, Then bespake a good fellowe, Which sat at John o' the Scales his bord; Sayd, "Turn againe, thou heire of Linne; Some time thou wast a well good lord: "Some time a good fellow thou hast been, "And ever, I pray thee, John o' the Scales, To let him sit in thy companie: For well I wot thou hadst his land, Up then spake him John o' the Scales, All wood he answer'd him againe : "Now Heavens curse on my head," he sayd, "But I did lose by that bargàine. "And here I proffer thee, heire of Linne, "I drawe you to record, lords," he said, And he pull'd forth three bagges of gold, He told him forth the good red gold, And now I'm againe the Lord of Linne." Sayes, "Have thou here, thou good fellowe, "I make thee keeper of my forrest, Both of the wild deere and the tame; "Now welladay!" sayth Joan o' the Scales; "Now welladay! and woe is my life! Yesterday I was Lady of Linne, Now I'm but John of the Scales his wife." "Now fare thee well," sayd the heire of Linne; "Farewell now, John o' the Scales," said hee: "Heaven's curse light on me, if ever again I bring my lands in jeopardy." The Battle of Blenheim. Ir was a summer's evening, She saw her brother Peterkin Roll something large and round, That he beside the rivulet In playing there had found: He came to ask what he had found, That was so large, and smooth, and round, Old Casper took it from the boy, Who stood expectant by; And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh, ""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said ho. "Who fell in the great victory. "I find them in the garden, for There's many here about; And often when I go to plough, The ploughshare turns them out; For many thousand men," said he, "Were slain in the great victory" “Now tc!l us what 'twas all about," With wonder-waiting eyes,- "It was the English," Casper cried, "My father lived at Blenheim then, They burnt his dwelling to the ground, And he was forced to fly; So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. "With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide; And new-born infant died: But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. 'They say it was a shocking sight, After the field was won, Lay rotting in the sun: But things like that, you know must be. After a famous victory. L "Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won, And our good Prince Eugene." "Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he, "It was a famous victory; "And every body praised the duke, "But what good came of it at last ?" “Why, that I cannot tell," said he; THE trumpet has rung on Helvellyn side, And an hundred steeds came hurrying fleet, And the gathering cry, and the warning word, And away they bound-the mountain-deer And away they go-the brooks call out With a hoarse and murmuring dash; |