Dank and foul, dank and foul, Who dare sport with the sin-defiled? Shrink from me, turn from me, mother and child. Strong and free, strong and free, Like a soul that has sinned and is pardoned again. Play by me, bathe in me, mother and child. CHAS. KINGSLEY. 60. LONDON RIVER. All day long in the scorching weather, She with her flowers, and he with his broom. And the folks go on over London river, The old bridge echoes the ceaseless thunder She thinks of her home across the ocean With its deep blue sky and its vineyards green; Carry thy ships from the mighty town: Tears and smiles in thy heart for ever Tears and smiles as thou hurriest down. F. E. WEATHERLY. ENGLISH POETRY. GERNUTUS THE JEW OF VENICE. THE FIRST PART. A new Song, shewing the crueltie of Gernutus a Jew, who lending › a Marchant a hundred Crownes, would have a pound of his Flesh, ecause he could not pay him at the day appoynted. In Venice towne not long agoe A cruel Jew did dwell, Which lived all on usurie, Gernutus called was the Jew, To them in streets that lie. His life was like a barrow hogge, Yet never once doth any good, So fares it with the usurer, He cannot sleep in rest, For feare the thiefe will him pursue His heart doth thinke on many a wile, How to deceive the poore; His mouth is almost ful of mucke, Yet still he gapes for more. HOEKZEMA, Poetry. 4th Ed. 5 His wife must lend a shilling, Yet bring a pledge that is double worth, And see, likewise, you keepe your day, Or else you loose it all: This was the living of the wife, Her cow she did it call. Within that citie dwelt that time Desiring him to stand his friend Whatsoever he would demand of him, "No" (quoth the Jew with flearing lookes), "Sir, aske what you will have. "No penny for the loane of it For one year you shall pay; "But we will have a merry jeast, For to be talked long: You shall make me a bond," quoth he, "And this shall be the forfeyture, "With right good will!" the marchant says And so the bond was made. When twelve month and a day drew on, That backe it should be payd, The marchants ships were all at sea, Which way to take, or what to doe And to Gernutus strait he comes, "My day is come, and I have not And little good the forfeyture "With all my heart," Gernutus sayd, He goes his way; the day once past, To get a sergiant presently, And layd him into prison strong, And when the judgement day was come, The marchants friends came thither fast, For other means they could not find, |