Ballad Of Low-Lie-Down
John-a-Dreams and Harum-Scarum
Came a-riding into town:
At the Sign o’ the Jug-and-Jorum
There they met with Low-lie-down.
Brave in shoes of Romany leather,
Bodice blue and gypsy gown,
And a cap of fur and feather,
In the inn sat Low-lie-down.
Harum-Scarum kissed her lightly;
Smiled into her eyes of brown:
Clasped her waist and held her tightly,
Laughing, ‘Love me, Low-lie-down!’
Then with many an oath and swagger,
As a man of great renown,
On the board he clapped his dagger,
Called for sack and sat him down.
So a while they laughed together;
Then he rose and with a frown
Sighed, 'While still ’tis pheasant weather,
I must leave thee, Low-lie-down.’
So away rode Harum-Scarum;
With a song rode out of town;
At the Sign o’ the Jug-and-Jorum
Weeping tarried Low-lie-down.
Then this John-a-dreams, in tatters,
In his pocket ne’er a crown,
Touched her, saying, ‘Wench, what matters!
Dry your eyes and, come, sit down.
’Here’s my hand: we’ll roam together,
Far away from thorp and town.
Here’s my heart, – for any weather, –
And my dreams, too, Low-lie-down.
‘Some men call me dreamer, poet:
Some men call me fool and clown -
What I am but you shall know it,
Only you, sweet Low-lie-down.’
For a little while she pondered:
Smiled: then said, ‘Let care go drown!’
Up and kissed him. . . . Forth they wandered,
John-a-dreams and Low-lie-down.
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