Page:The Seven Seas (Kipling, 1896).djvu/140

118 'And what care I for your row-foot earls,

Or all the sons o' your body?

Before they win to the Pride o' Name,

I trow they all ask leave o' me.

'For I make Honour wi' muckle mouth,

As I make Shame wi' mincin' feet,

To sing wi' the priests at the market-cross,

Or run wi' the dogs in the naked street.

'And some they give me the good red gold,

And some they give me the white money,

And some they give me a clout o' meal,

For they be people o' low degree.

'And the song I sing for the counted gold

The same I sing for the white money,

But best I sing for the clout o' meal

That simple people given me.'

The King cast down a silver groat,

A silver groat o' Scots money,

'If I come wi' a poor man's dole,' he said,

'True Thomas, will ye harp to me?'