George Borrow

“ I’ll have Carl hanged, the son of the King.”
Then the Countess in bitter grief answer made:
“You’ll ne’er live so long as to see him dead.
“My father’s servant last year thou wast,
Now to sleep with his daughter the honour thou hast.”
The Count at that word so ireful grew,
He smote his wife that the blood out-flew.
At hand was Sir Carl, heard all they spake:
“I soon of this matter an end will make.”
Then Carl he entered through the door,
And a naked sword in his hand he bore.
“Thou dog, thou shalt never more have the might
The gentle daughters of Kings to smite. ”

“ The King’s sweet daughter has Allegast wed,
For her infamous husband unwept lies dead.
These gallants were thieves in no other way,
Than that they a trick on the Count would play.
But could all thieving come to so fair an end,
There’s many, I trow, would a-thieving wend!
p. 30EPIGRAMS 1
Assume a friend’s face when a foeman you spy,
For his hatred you’ll turn into friendship thereby.
Deal gentle words round you when threats are outpoured,
For not against silk do we use the sharp sword.
By means of caresses and promises fair,
The elephant fierce you may guide with a hair. ”

“ From the house Carl, the King’s son, rode in career.
And when to the castle gate he had won,
There Allegast stood, and leaned thereupon.
p. 27“What kind of man, my friend, may you be,
Whom loitering here by the gate I see?”
“The folks, young Sir, me Allegast call,
I am the best thief of the world’s thieves all.”
“Then we’ll to each other a solemn oath give,
To steal and to thieve all the days that we live.
“Now we will away to the house of the Count,
And the courser we’ll steal which to ride he is wont.” ”