Page:Excellent old ballad of The babes in the wood.pdf/2



Now ponder well, you parents dear,

The words which I shall write;

A doleful story you shall hear,

In time brought forth to light.

A gentleman of good account

In Norfolk liv’d of late,

Whose wealth and riches did surmount

Most men of his estate.

Sore sick he was, and like to die,

No help that he could have,

His wife by him as sick did lie,

And both possess’d one grave.

No love between these two was lost,

Each was to other kind;

In love they liv’d, in love they died,

And left two babes behind.

The one a fine and pretty boy,

Not passing three years old;

Th'other a girl, more young than he,

And made in beauty’s mould.

The father left his little son,

As plainly doth appear,