Page:Cherry and the sloe.pdf/13

Rh While Danger and Despair retir’d, Experience came and enquir’d What all the matter mean’d: With him came Reason, Wit, and Skill, And they began to ask at Will, Where make ye to my friend? To pluck yon lusty Cherry, lo, Quoth he and quit the Slae; Quoth they is there no more ado, Or ye win up the brae? But to it, and do it, Perforce the fruit is pluckt. Well brother, some other Were fitter to conduct.

We grant ye may be guid eneuch; But yet the hazard of yon heuch Requires a graver guide, As wise as ye may go wrang, Therefore take counsel ere ye gang. Of some that stand beside. But who were yon three ye forbade Your company right now; Quoth Will three preachers to persuade The poison’d Slae to pou. They tattled and prattled A long half hour and mair; Foul fall them, they call them Dread, Danger and Despair.

Call Danger back again, quoth Skill, To see what he can say to Will, We see them shod so strait; We may not trust what ilk one tells. Quoth Courage, we concluded else, He serves not for our mate; For I can tell you all prequeer, His counsel ere he come.