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(1 Smith, L. C. 133, 7th Ed.)
THIS case befell at four of the clock | |
| (now listeneth what I shall say), | |
| and the year was the seventh of James the First, | |
| on a fine September day. | |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | 5 |
| what trespass shall be ab initio. | |
| |
| It was Thomas Newman and five his feres | |
| (three more would have made them nine), | |
| and they entered into John Vaux’s house, | |
| that had the Queen’s Head to sign. | 10 |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | |
| what trespass shall be ab initio. | |
| |
| They called anon for a quart of wine | |
| (they were carpenters all by trade), | |
| and they drank about till they drank it out, | 15 |
| and when they had drunk they paid. | |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | |
| what trespass shall be ab initio. | |
| |
| One spake this word in John Ridding’s ear | |
| (white manchets are sweet and fine): | 20 |
| “Fair sir, we are fain of a penn’orth of bread | |
| and another quart of wine.” | |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | |
| what trespass shall be ab initio. | |
| |
| Full lightly thereof they did eat and drink | 25 |
| (to drink is iwis no blame). | |
| “Now tell me eight pennies,” quoth Master Vaux; | |
| but they would not pay the same. | |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | |
| what trespass shall be ab initio. | 30 |
| |
| “Ye have trespassed with force and arms, ye knaves | |
| (the six be too strong for me), | |
| but your tortious entry shall cost you dear, | |
| and that the King’s Court shall see. | |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and nought low, | 35 |
| your trespass was wrought ab initio.” | |
| |
| Sed per totam curiam ’t was well resolved | |
| (note, reader, this difference) | |
| that in mere not doing no trespass is, | |
| and John Vaux went empty thence. | 40 |
| The birds on the bough sing loud and sing low, | |
| no trespass was here ab initio. | |
“THE LAND OF WONDER-WANDER”
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