THE WOMAN.
Much, sooth, thou dost understand!
Such a wonder none on earth
Can, nor shall do, though he can!
War on you that set the ban,—
Wot ye where it was, that birth?
In a ditch-side, on the ground,
Gamblers drank and shouted round
Christen’d in the sleety slime,
Cross’d with charcoal-ashes grime,
Suckled with a spirit-flask;
When his mother bore him first
There were some stood by and cursed,
Who could they be, do you ask?
Bless you! Why, the baby’s father,
Or,-the baby’s fathers rather!
