6
At length he look’t and saw a hill,
And in’t a key of gold so red.
He took the bill, and look't on it,
And strait good somfort there found he:
It told him of a certain hole
Into the wall, where stood chests three.
Two were full of the beaten gold,
The third was full of white monie,
And over them, in broad letters,
These words were wrote so plain to see:—
Once more, my son, I set thee dear;
Amend thy life and follies past;
For without thou amend thy life,
That rape must be thy end at last.
"Let it be so," said th’ Heir of Linne,
"Let it be so, if I don’t mend;
"For here I will now make a vow,
"This redde shall guide me to the end."
Away then went the Heir of Linne,
Away went he with merry cheer;
I trow he neither stint nor staid,
Till John o’ th’ Scales house he came near.
And when he came to John o’ th’ Scales,
Up at the speer then looked he;
There sat three Lords at the boards end,
Were drinking of the wine so free.
And then bespake the Heir of Linne,
To John o’ th’ Scales then louted he:
"I pray thee now, good John o’ th’ Scales,
"One forty pence for to lend me."
"Away, away, thou thriftless loon,
"Away, away, this may not be;
"For Christ’s curse on my bead, he said,
"If ever I trust thee one pennie."
