Page:Hodge of the mill, or, An old woman clothed in grey (3).pdf/5

 Three years & more had courted been

At laſt the prov’d with child to him,

By her ſome hours in tears were ſpent,

When he to others courting went.

One ev’ning ſhe went to the park,

She met her love with aching heart;

She ſaid, O dear, what ſhall I do,

You know I am with child by you.

I will not marry yet, ſaid he,

For while I’m ſingle I am free,

And thus from's ſide a durk he drew,

He pierc’d her tender body thro'.

He cut her up immediatly,

Into her womb the babe did cry,

And there he laid them ’mong the thorns

And the ſweet babie in her arms.

The neighbours that did hear the cry

They came to her immediately,

There they found her among the thorns,

Her babie crawling in her arms.

The neighbours flocked all around,

And quickly who ſhe was they found,

And told her father and mother dear,

Which cauſed them ſhed many a tear.

They took the man before ’twas long,

And bound him in a priſon ſtrong;

And he was condemn’d to die,

Upon the gallows-tree ſo high.