Classic Poem

A BALLAD. TO THE TUNE OF KING JOHN AND THE ABBOT OF CANTERBURY

Who has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Grève,
The fatal retreat of th' unfortunate brave:
Where honour and justice most oddly contribute,
To ease heroes' pains by a halter and gibbet,
Derry down, down, her derry down .

There death breaks the shackles which force had put on;
And the hangman completes what the judge but begun;
There the squire of the pad, and the knight of the post,
Find their pains no more balk'd, and their hopes no more cross'd.
Derry down , &c.

Great claims are there made, and great secrets are known;
And the king, and the law, and the thief has his own;
But my hearers cry out; What a deuce dost thou ail?
Cut off thy reflections, and give us thy tale.
Derry down , &c.

'Twas there, then, in civil respect to harsh laws,
And for want of false witness to back a bad cause,
A Norman, though late, was obliged to appear;
And who, to assist, but a grave Cordelier?
Derry down , &c.

The 'Squire, whose good grace was to open the scene,
Seem'd not in great haste, that the show should begin:
Now fitted the halter, now travers'd the cart;
And often took leave: but was loth to depart.
Derry down , &c.

What frightens you thus, my good son? says the priest:
You murder'd, are sorry, and have been confess'd.
O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon:
For 'twas not that I murder'd, but that I was taken.
Derry down , &c.

Pugh! prithee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies:
Rely on the aid you shall have from St. Francis;
If the money you promis'd be brought to the chest,
You have only to die: let the church do the rest.
Derry down , &c.

And what will folks say, if they see you afraid?
It reflects upon me, as I knew not my trade:
Courage, friend; to-day is your period of sorrow;
And things will go better, believe me, to-morrow.
Derry down , &c.

To-morrow? our hero replied in a fright:
He that's hang'd before noon, ought to think of to-night.
Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly truss'd up,
For you surely to-night shall in Paradise sup.
Derry down , &c.

Alas! quoth the 'squire, howe'er sumptuous the treat,
Parbleu! I shall have little stomach to eat:
I should therefore esteem it great favour and grace,
Would you be so kind, as to go in my place.
Derry down , &c.

That I would, quoth the father, and thank you to boot;
But our actions, you know, with our duty must suit.
The feast, I propos'd to you, I cannot taste;
For this night, by our order, is mark'd for a fast.
Derry down , &c.

Then turning about to the hangman, he said;
Dispatch me, I prithee, this troublesome blade;
For thy cord, and my cord both equally tie;
And we live by the gold for which other men die.
Derry down , &c.