There he drew out a fair broad arrow, His bow was great and long, He set that arrow in his bow, That was both stiff and strong. He prayed the people that was there, That they would still stand, "For he that shooteth for such a wager, Behoveth a steadfast hand." Much people prayed for Cloudeslé, There was many a weeping eye. Thus Cloudeslé cleft the apple in two That many a man might see; "Over-gods forbode," then said the king, "That thou should shoot at me! "I give thee eighteen pence a day, THE HEIR OF LINNE. PART THE FIRST. LITHE and listen, gentlemen, His father was a right good lord, To spend the day with merry cheer, To ride, to run, to rant, to roar, So fares the unthrifty lord of Linne, "Let's drink, and rant, and merry make, And he that spares, ne'er mote be thee." They ranted, drank, and merry made, Till all his gold it waxed thin; And then his friends they slunk away; They left the unthrifty heir of Linne. He had never a penny left in his purse, Never a penny left but three, "Now well-a-day" said the heir of Linne, "Now well-a-day, and woe is me, "But many a trusty friend have I, But one I wis, was not at home; Another had paid his gold away; Another called him thriftless loon, And bade him sharply wend his way. "Now well-a-day," said the heir of Linne, "Now well-a-day, and woe is me; For when I had my landes so broad, On me they lived right merrily. "To beg my bread from door to door, "Now I'll away to the lonesome lodge, For there my father bade me wend: When all the world should frown on me I there should find a trusty friend." PART THE SECOND. Away then hied the heir of Linne, O'er hill and holt, and moor and fen, Until he came to the lonesome lodge, That stood so low in a lonely glen. Then round his neck the cord he drew, And sprang aloft with his bodie, Astonyed lay the heir of Linne, He took the bill, and lookt it on, Straight good comfort found he there: It told him of a hole in the wall, fere. Then bespake a good fellówe, Which sat at John o' the Scales his bord; Said, "Turn again, thou heir of Linne; Some time hou wast a well good lord. "Some time a good fellow thou hast been, And sparedst not thy gold and fee; Therefore I'll lend thee forty pence, And other forty if need be. "And ever I pray thee, John o' the Scales, To let him sit in thy companie: Up then spake him John o' the Scales, "But I did lose by that bargaine. "Ile make thee keeper of my forrest, Both of the wild deere and the tame; For but I reward thy bounteous heart, I wis, good fellowe, I were to blame." "Now welladay!" sayth Joan o' the Scales; "Now welladay, and woe is my life! Yesterday I was lady of Linne, Now Ime but John o' the Scales his wife." "Now fare thee well" said the heire of Linne, "Farewell now, John o' the Scales," said he: "Christ's curse light on me, if ever again I bring my lands in jeopardy." PERCY'S RELIQUES. SIEGE AND CONQUEST OF ALHAMA. THE Moorish king rides up and down Through Granada's royal town; Woe is me, Alhama! Letters to the monarch tell He quits his mule, and mounts his horse, And through the street directs his course; Through the street of Zacatin When the Alhambra walls he gained, With the silver clarion round. Out then spake an aged Moor "Friends! ye have, alas! to know Out then spake old Alfaqui, "By thee were slain, in evil hour, Woe is me, Alhama! "And for this, O king! is sent On thee a double chastisement, Thee and thine, thy crown and realm, One last wreck shall overwhelm. Woe is me, Alhama!" Fire flashed from out the old Moor's eyes, The monarch's wrath began to rise, Because he answered, and because He spake exceeding well of laws. Woe is me, Alhama! "There is no law to say such things Moor Alfaqui! Moor Alfaqui! For Alhama's loss displeased. And to fix thy head upon law, And others tremble when they saw. Woe is me, Alhama! "Cavalier! and man of worth! Let these words of mine go forth; Let the Moorish monarch know, That to him I nothing owe. Woe is me, Alhama! |