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THE THIEF AND THE CORDELIER, by             Poem Explanation         Poet's Biography
First Line: Who has e'er been at paris must needs know the greve
Last Line: Derry down, etc.
Subject(s): Courts & Courtiers; Death; Paris, France; Dead, The


WHO has e'er been at Paris must needs know the Greve,
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, hey 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 balked, and their hopes no more crossed.
Derry down, etc.

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, etc.

'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, etc.

The squire, whose good grace was to open the scene,
Seemed not in great haste, that the show should begin;
Now fitted the halter, now traversed the cart;
And often took leave; but was loth to depart.
Derry down, etc.

What frightens you thus, my good son, says the priest;
You murdered, are sorry, and have been confessed.
O father! my sorrow will scarce save my bacon;
For 'twas not that I murdered, but that I was taken.
Derry down, etc.

Pugh! pr'ythee ne'er trouble thy head with such fancies;
Rely on the aid you shall have from Saint Francis;
If the money you promised be brought to the chest,
You have only to die; let the church do the rest.
Derry down, etc.

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, etc.

To-morrow? our hero replied in a fright:
He that's hanged before noon, ought to think of tonight:
Tell your beads, quoth the priest, and be fairly trussed up,
For you surely to-night shall in paradise sup.
Derry down, etc.

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, etc.

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

Then turning about to the hangman, he said;
Dispatch me, I pr'ythee, 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, etc.





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