Page:A Book of Dartmoor.djvu/320

"As I trudged on at ten at night
   My way to fair York city,
 I saw before a lantern light
   Borne by a damsel pretty.
 I her accos't, 'My way I've lost,
   Your lantern let me carry!
 Then through the land, both hand in hand,
   We'll travel. Prithee tarry.'
       20, 18, 1 6, 14, 12, 10, 8,6,4,2,
       19, 17, 15, 13, 11,9,7,5,3, 1.

"She tripp'd along, so nimble she,
   The lantern still a-swinging,
 And 'Follow, follow, follow me!'
    Continually was singing.
 'Thy footsteps stay!' She answered, 'Nay!'
   'Your name? You take my fancy.'
 She laughing said, nor turn'd her head,
   'I'm only Northern Nancy.'
                      20, 18, 16, etc.
 
"She sped along, I in the lurch,
   A lost and panting stranger,
 Till, lo! I found me at the Church,
   She'd led me out of danger.
 'Ring up the clerk,' she said; 'yet hark!
   Methinks here comes the pass'n;
 He'll make us one, then thou art done;
   He'll thee securely fasten.'
                      20, 18, 16, etc.
 
"' Man is a lost and vagrant clown
   That should at once be pounded,'
 She said, and laid the matter down
   With arguments well grounded.
 For years a score, and even more,
   I've lain in wedlock's fetter,
Faith! she was right; here, tied up tight,
   I could not have fared better
                      20, 18, 10, etc."