he look'd there came a man from the farm, had a countenance white with alarm; lord, I open'd your granaries this morn, I the rats had eaten all your corn.'

-ther came running presently,
I he was pale as pale could be,
! my Lord Bishop, fly,' quoth he,
n thousand rats are coming this way-
Lord forgive you for yesterday!'

go to my tower on the Rhine,' replied he, 5 the safest place in Germany;

walls are high, and the shores are steep, the stream is strong, and the water deep.'

op Hatto fearfully hasten'd away,
he cross'd the Rhine without delay,
reach'd his tower, and barr'd with care
he windows, doors, and loopholes there.

aid him down and closed his eyes, soon a scream made him arise; started, and saw two eyes of flame

is pillow from whence the screaming came.

isten'd and look'd; it was only the cat ; the Bishop he grew more fearful for that, she sat screaming, mad with fear, he army of rats that was drawing near.

chey have swum over the river so deep, they have climb'd the shores so steep, up the tower their way is bent

o the work for which they were sent.

They are not to be told by the dozen or score,
By thousands they come, and by myriads and more;
Such numbers had never been heard of before,
Such a judgment had never been witness'd of yore.

Down on his knees the Bishop fell,

And faster and faster his beads did he tell,

As louder and louder drawing near

The gnawing of their teeth he could hear.

And in at the windows, and in at the door,
And through the walls helter-skelter they pour,
And down from the ceiling, and up through the floor,
From the right and the left, from behind and before,
From within and without, from above and below,
And all at once to the Bishop they go.

They have whetted their teeth against the stones,
And now they pick the Bishop's bones;

They gnaw'd the flesh from every limb,

For they were sent to do judgment on him.

bows

R. Southey

LXXIV

THE OLD COURTIER

An old song made by an aged old pate,

Of an old worshipful gentleman who had a great estate,

That kept a brave old house at a bountiful rate,

And an old porter to relieve the poor at his gate;

Like an old courtier of the queen's,
And the queen's old courtier.

With old

many And an old

hose,

And a cup

nose

Smack went the whip, round went the wheels,

Were never folk so glad;

The stones did rattle underneath,

As if Cheapside were mad.

John Gilpin, at his horse's side,
Seiz'd fast the flowing mane,
And up he got, in haste to ride,
But soon came down again;

For saddle-tree scarce reach'd had he,
His journey to begin,

When, turning round his head, he saw
Three customers come in.

So down he came; for loss of time,
Although it grieved him sore,
Yet loss of pence, full well he knew,
Would trouble him much more.

'Twas long before the customers Were suited to their mind,

When Betty, screaming, came downstairs, 'The wine is left behind!'

'Good lack!' quoth he, 'yet bring it me,
My leathern belt likewise,

In which I bear my trusty sword
When I do exercise.'

Now mistress Gilpin, (careful soul !)
Had two stone-bottles found,

To hold the liquor that she loved,
And keep it safe and sound.

]

ach bottle had a curling ear,
Through which the belt he drew,
nd hung a bottle on each side,
To make his balance true.

hen over all, that he might be Equipp'd from top to toe,

is long red cloak, well brush'd and neat, He manfully did throw.

ow see him mounted once again Upon his nimble steed,

ill slowly pacing o'er the stones, With caution and good heed.

ut finding soon a smoother road
Beneath his well-shod feet,
he snorting beast began to trot,
Which gall'd him in his seat.

, 'Fair and softly,' John he cried, But John he cried in vain ; nat trot became a gallop soon, In spite of curb and rein.

■stooping down, as needs he must

Who cannot sit upright,

e grasp'd the mane with both his hands, And eke, with all his might.

is horse, who never in that sort

Had handled been before,

That thing upon his back had got

Did wonder more and more.