Page:Excellent old ballad of The babes in the wood.pdf/6

 Because the wretch that hired him

Had paid him very large.

The other would not agree thereto,

So here they fell at strife;

With one another they did fight

About the children's life:

And he that was of mildest mood

Did slay the other there,

Within an unfrequented wood;

While babes did quake for fear.

He took the children by the hand,

When tears stood in their eye;

And bade them come along with him,

And look they did not cry;

And two long miles he led them on,

While they for food complain;

Stay here, quoth he, I'll bring you bread

When I do come again.

These pretty babes, with hand in hand,

Went wandering up and down;

But never more they saw the man

Approaching from the town.

Their pretty lips with blackberries

Were all besmear’d and dy’d;