The
THIEF
AND
THE
CORDELIER
,
A
BALLAD
.
To
the
Tune
of
King
John
,
and
the
Abbot
of
Canterbury
.
Who
has
e'er
been
at
Paris
,
must
needs
know
the
Greve
,
The
fatal
Retreat
of
th'unfortunate
Brave
;
Where
Honor
and
Justice
most
odly
contribute
,
To
ease
Hero's
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
compleats
,
what
the
Judge
but
begun
:
There
the
'Squire
of
the
Pad
,
and
the
Knight
of
the
Post
,
Find
their
Pains
no
more
balk'd
,
and
their
Hopes
no
more
crost
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
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
duce
dost
Thou
ayl
?
Cut
off
thy
Reflections
;
and
give
Us
thy
Tale
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
'Twas
there
,
then
,
in
civil
Respect
to
harsh
Laws
,
And
for
want
of
false
Witness
,
to
back
a
bad
Cause
,
A
Norman
,
tho'
late
,
was
oblig'd
to
appear
:
And
Who
to
assist
,
but
a
grave
Cordelier
?
Derry
down
,
&c.
The
'Squire
,
whose
good
Grace
was
to
open
the
Scene
,
Seem'd
not
in
great
Haste
,
that
the
Show
shou'd
begin
:
Now
fitted
the
Halter
,
now
travers'd
the
Cart
;
And
often
took
Leave
;
but
was
loath
to
Depart
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
What
frightens
You
thus
,
my
good
Son
?
says
the
Priest
:
You
Murther'd
,
are
Sorry
,
and
have
been
Confest
.
O
Father
!
My
Sorrow
will
scarce
save
my
Bacon
:
For
'twas
not
that
I
Murther'd
,
but
that
I
was
Taken
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
Pough
!
pr'ythee
ne'er
trouble
thy
Head
with
such
Fancies
:
Rely
on
the
Aid
You
shall
have
from
Saint
Francis
:
If
the
Money
You
promis'd
be
brought
to
the
Chest
;
You
have
only
to
Dye
:
let
the
Church
do
the
rest
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
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
,
&c.
To-Morrow
?
our
Hero
reply'd
in
a
Fright
:
He
that's
hang'd
before
Noon
,
ought
to
think
of
To-night
.
Tell
your
Beads
,
quoth
the
Priest
,
and
be
fairly
truss'd
up
:
For
You
surely
To-night
shall
in
Paradise
Sup
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
Alas
!
quoth
the
'Squire
,
howe'er
sumptuous
the
Treat
,
Parblew
,
I
shall
have
little
Stomach
to
Eat
:
I
should
therefore
esteem
it
great
Favor
,
and
Grace
;
Wou'd
You
be
so
kind
,
as
to
go
in
my
Place
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
That
I
wou'd
,
quoth
the
Father
,
and
thank
you
to
boot
;
But
our
Actions
,
You
know
,
with
our
Duty
must
suit
.
The
Feast
,
I
propos'd
to
You
,
I
cannot
taste
:
For
this
Night
,
by
our
Order
,
is
mark'd
for
a
Fast
.
Derry
down
,
&c.
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
Dye
.
Derry
down
,
&c.