THE CHILDREN IN THE WOOD. This, the most popular of all English Ballads, is taken from a copy printed in black letter in the Pepys collection. OW ponder well, you parents deare, A doleful story you shall heare, In time brought forth to light. A gentleman of good account In Norfolke dwelt of late, Sore sicke he was, and like to dye, In love they liv'd, in love they dyed, The one a fine and pretty boy, Not passing three yeares olde; The other a girl more young than he, And fram'd in beautyes 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 : But if the children chance to dye, Ere they to age should come, Their uncle should possesse their wealth; For so the wille did run. "Now, brother," said the dying man, Be good unto my boy and girl, "You must be father and mother both, God knowes what will become of them, With that bespake their mother deare, "You are the man must bring our babes To wealth or miserie : "And if you keep them carefully, God will your deedes regard.” "God bless you both, my children deare;" With that the teares did fall. These speeches then their brother spake Sweet sister, do not feare. The parents being dead and gone, And bringes them straite unto his house, A twelvemonth and a daye, But, for their wealth, he did devise He bargain'd with two ruffians strong, That they should take these children young, And slaye them in a wood. He told his wife an artful tale. He would the children send Away then went those pretty babes, They should on cock-horse ride. To those that should their butchers be, So that the pretty speeche they had, And they that undertooke the deed, Yet one of them more hard of heart, Had paid him very large. 223 The other won't agree thereto, So here they fall to strife; With one another they did fight. About the childrens life: And he that was of mildest mood, The babes did quake for feare! He took the children by the hand, And two long miles he ledd them on, While they for food complaine : "Staye here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread, When I come back againe." These pretty babes, with hand in hand, Went wandering up and downe ; Approaching from the towne : And when they sawe the darksome night, Thus wandered these poor innocents, Of any man receives, Did cover them with leaves. |