Page:Wife of Beith (5).pdf/8

8 Nor none that's guilty of a crime.

Mother said she, the fault is thine,

That knocking here so long I stand;

Thy guilt is more than that of mine,

If thou wilt rightly understand,

Thou wast the cause of all our sin,

Wherein we were born and conceiv'd,

Our misery thou did'st begin,

By thee thy husband was deceiv'd.

Eve went back where Noah was,

And told him all how she was blam'd,

Of her great sin and first trespass,

Whereof she was so much asham'd.

Then Noah said, I will go down,

And will forbid her that she knock;

Go back, he said, ye drunking lown,

Your none of the celestial flock.

Noah she said now hold thy peace,

Where I drank ale thou didst drink wine

Discovered was to thy disgrace,

When thou wast full like to a swine,

If I was drunk I learn'd at thee,

For thou'rt the father and the first,

That others taught and likewise me,

To drink when as we had no thirst.

Then Noah turned back with speed

And told the patriarch Abra'am then,

How that the carling made him dread,

And how she all his deeds did ken.

Abra'am then said now get you gone

Let us no more hear of your din;