Part 161 (2/2)
Ah! when he hid his b.l.o.o.d.y work, In ashes round about, How little he supposed the truth Would soon be sifted out!
But when the parish dustman came, His rubbish to withdraw, He found more dust within the heap Than he contracted for!
A dozen men to try the fact, Were sworn that very day; But though they all were jurors, yet No conjurors were they.
Said Tim unto those jurymen, ”You need not waste your breath, For I confess myself, at once, The author of her death.
”And O, when I reflect upon The blood that I have spilt, Just like a b.u.t.ton is my soul, Inscribed with double _guilt_!”
Then turning round his head again He saw before his eyes A great judge, and a little judge, The judges of a-size!
The great judge took his judgment-cap, And put it on his head, And sentenced Tim by law to hang Till he was three times dead.
So he was tried, and he was hung (Fit punishment for such) On Horsham drop, and none can say It was a drop too much.
_Thomas Hood._
FAITHLESS NELLY GRAY
Ben Battle was a soldier bold, And used to war's alarms: But a cannon-ball took off his legs, So he laid down his arms!
Now, as they bore him off the field, Said he, ”Let others shoot, For here I leave my second leg, And the Forty-second Foot!”
The army surgeons made him limbs: Said he, ”They're only pegs; But there's as wooden members quite, As represent my legs!”
Now Ben he loved a pretty maid, Her name was Nelly Gray; So he went to pay her his devours When he'd devoured his pay!
But when he called on Nelly Gray, She made him quite a scoff; And when she saw his wooden legs, Began to take them off!
”O Nelly Gray! O Nelly Gray!
Is this your love so warm?
The love that loves a scarlet coat, Should be more uniform!”
Said she, ”I loved a soldier once, For he was blithe and brave; But I will never have a man With both legs in the grave!
”Before you had those timber toes, Your love I did allow, But then you know, you stand upon Another footing now!”
”O Nelly Gray! O Nelly Gray!
For all your jeering speeches, At duty's call I left my legs In Badajos's breaches!”
”Why, then,” said she, ”you've lost the feet Of legs in war's alarms, And now you cannot wear your shoes Upon your feats of arms!”
”Oh, false and fickle Nelly Gray; I know why you refuse: Though I've no feet--some other man Is standing in my shoes!
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