Part 10 (1/2)
Our Lord forth raide, His foal's foot slade.
Our Lord down-lighted, His foal's foot righted.
Saying, ”Flesh to flesh, blood to blood, And bane to bane.”
In our Lord His name.
FROM POOR ROBIN'S ALMANAC (1733)
Observe which way the hedgehog builds her nest, To front the north, or south, or east, or west; For if 'tis true that common people say, The wind will blow the quite contrary way.
If by some secret art the hedgehog know, So long before, the way the wind will blow, She has an art which many a person lacks, That thinks himself fit to make our Almanacs.
Into woods where beasts can talk, I went out to take a walk, A rabbit sitting in a bush Peeped at me, and then cried, ”Hus.h.!.+”
Presently to me it ran, And its story thus began:--
”You have got a gun, I see, Perhaps you'll point it soon at me, And when I am shot, alack!
Pop me in your little sack.
When upon my fate I think I grow faint, my spirits sink.”
”Pretty rabbit, do not eat Gardener's greens or farmer's wheat, If such thieving you begin, You must pay it with your skin; Honestly your living get, And you may be happy yet.”
See the little rabbits, How they run and sweat; Some shoot 'em with a gun, Others catch 'em with a net.
THE HUNTING OF THE WREN
”Will ye go to the wood?” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”Will ye go to the wood?” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”Will ye go to the wood?” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”Will ye go to the wood?” quo' brither and kin.
”What to do there?” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”What to do there?” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”What to do there?” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”What to do there?” quo' brither and kin.
”To slay the wren,” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”To slay the wren,” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”To slay the wren,” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”To slay the wren,” quo' brither and kin.
”What way will ye get her hame?” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”What way will ye get her hame?” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”What way will ye get her hame?” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”What way will ye get her hame?” quo' brither and kin.
”We'll hire cart and horse,” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”We'll hire cart and horse,” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”We'll hire cart and horse,” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”We'll hire cart and horse,” quo' brither and kin.
”What way will ye get her in?” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”What way will ye get her in?” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”What way will ye get her in?” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”What way will ye get her in?” quo' brither and kin.
”We'll drive down the door cheeks,” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”We'll drive down the door cheeks,” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”We'll drive down the door cheeks,” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”We'll drive down the door cheeks,” quo' brither and kin.
”I'll hae a wing,” quo' Fozie Mozie; ”I'll hae anither,” quo' Johnnie Rednosie; ”I'll hae a leg,” quo' Foslin 'ene; ”And I'll hae anither,” quo' brither and kin.
”d.i.c.ky bird, d.i.c.ky bird, where are you going?”
”I'm going to the fields to see the men mowing.”