Page:Crotchet Castle - Peacock (1831).djvu/306

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294
CROTCHET CASTLE.

twelfth century, of a merrier character than the former. Mr. Trillo readily accommodated it with an air, and sang

THE PRIEST AND THE MULBERRY TREE.[1]

Did you hear of the curate who mounted his mare,
And merrily trotted along to the fair?
Of creature more tractable none ever heard;
In the height of her speed she would stop at a word,
And again with a word, when the curate said Hey,
She put forth her mettle, and galloped away.

As near to the gates of the city he rode,
While the sun of September all brilliantly glowed,
The good priest discovered, with eyes of desire,
A mulberry tree in a hedge of wild briar,
On boughs long and lofty, in many a green shoot,
Hung large, black, and glossy, the beautiful fruit.

  1. Imitated from the Fabliau, Du Provoire qui mengea des Môres.