Reliques of ancient English poetry: consisting of old heroic ballads ...

AND BALLADS. 115
That he unloekes, and enters, where appeares 17$
The ftrangeft object that he ever faw ;
Men that with familhment of many yeares*
Were like deathes picture, which the painters draw ;
Divers of them were hanged by eche thumb :
Others head-downward: by the middle fome. 180
With diligence he takes them from the walls,
With lybertye their thraldome to acquaint
Then the perplexed knight the father calls,
Andfayes, Receive thy fonnes though pooreand faint
I promisd you their lives, accept of that; 185
But did not promife you they mold be fat.
The caftle I doe give thee, heeres the keyes,
Where tyranye for many yeeres did dwell
Procure the gentle tender ladyes eafe,
For pittyes fake, ufe wronged women well: 190
Men eafilye revenge the wrongs men do:
But poore weake women have no ltrength thereto.
The good old man, even overjoyed with this,
Fell on the ground, and wold have kill Guys feete
Father, quoth he, refraine foe bafe a kifs, 195
For age to honor youth I hold unmeete
Ambitious pryde hath hurt mee all it can,
I goe to mortifie a finfull man.
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* # * The foregoing poem on Guy and Amarant has
been difco