Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1900.djvu/472

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'O Mother, take you John Evangelist
  All for to be your son,
And he will comfort you sometimes,
  Mother, as I have done.'

'O come, thou John Evangelist,
  Thou'rt welcome unto me;
But more welcome my own dear Son,
  Whom I nursed on my knee.'

Then He laid His head on His right shoulder,
  Seeing death it struck Him nigh—
'The Holy Ghost be with your soul,
  I die, Mother dear, I die.'

O the rose, the gentle rose,
  And the fennel that grows so green!
God give us grace in every place
  To pray for our king and queen.

Furthermore for our enemies all
  Our prayers they should be strong:
Amen, good Lord; your charity
  Is the ending of my song.


383. Two Rivers

Says Tweed to Till—
    'What gars ye rin sae still?'
  Says Till to Tweed—
'Though ye rin with speed
  And I rin slaw,
For ae man that ye droon
  I droon twa.'