Page:The Babes in the Wood.djvu/8

Rh XII. So that the pretty speech they had, &emsp;Made murder's heart relent: And they that undertook the deed, &emsp;Full sore did now repent. Yet one of them, more hard of heart, &emsp;Did vow to do his charge, Because the wretch that hired him &emsp;Had paid him very large.

The other won't agree thereto, &emsp;So here they fall to strife; With one another they did fight &emsp;About the children's life; And he that was of mildest mood, &emsp;Did slay the other there, Within an unfrequented wood: &emsp;The babes did quake for fear!

He took the children by the hand, &emsp;Tears standing in their eye, And bade them straightway follow him, &emsp;And look they did not cry; And two long miles he led them on, &emsp;While they for food complain: "Stay here," quoth he, "I'll bring you bread &emsp;When I come back again."

These pretty babes, with hand in hand, &emsp;Went wandering up and down; But never more could see the man &emsp;Approaching from the town: Their pretty lips with blackberries &emsp;Were all besmeared and dyed, And when they saw the darksome night? &emsp;They sat them down and cried.