31.

Inebriate with the deep delight,

Dim grew the Pilgrim's swimming sight,

His senses died away;

And when to life he woke, before

The Cavern-mouth he saw once more
The light of earthly day.

Westbury, 1798.

THE CROSS ROADS.

The tragedy related in this Ballad happened about the year 1760, in the parish of Bedminster, near Bristo1. One who was present at the funeral told me the story and the circumstances of the interment, as I have versified them.

1.

THERE was an old man breaking stones
To mend the turnpike way;

He sate him down beside a brook,

And out his bread and cheese he took,

For now it was mid-day.

2.

He leant his back against a post,
His feet the brook ran by;

And there were water-cresses growing,
And pleasant was the water's flowing,
For he was hot and dry.

3.

A soldier with his knapsack on
Came travelling o'er the down;

The sun was strong and he was tired;
And he of the old man enquired

"How far to Bristol town?

99

4.

"Half an hour's walk for a young man, By lanes and fields and stiles;

But

you

the foot-path do not know.

And if along the road you go

Why then 't is three good miles."

5.

The soldier took his knapsack off,

For he was hot and dry;

And out his bread and cheese he took,

And he sat down beside the brook

To dine in company.

6.

"Old friend! in faith," the soldier says, "I envy you almost ;

My shoulders have been sorely prest,

And I should like to sit, and rest

My back against that post.

7.

"In such a sweltering day as this

A knapsack is the devil;

And if on t' other side I sat,

It would not only spoil our chat,

But make me seem uncivil."

1

8.

The old man laugh'd and moved...

It were a great-arm'd chair!

But this may help a man at need ; . .
And yet it was a cursed deed

That ever brought it there.

9.

"There's a poor girl lies buried here,
Beneath this very place,

The earth upon her corpse is prest,
This post was driven into her breast,
And a stone is on her face."

10.

The soldier had but just leant back,
And now he half rose up.
"There's sure no harm in dining here,
My friend? and yet, to be sincere,
I should not like to sup."

11.

"God rest her! she is still enough

Who sleeps beneath my feet!"

The old man cried.

"No harm I trow,

She ever did herself, though now

She lies where four roads meet.

i wish

12.

"I have past by about that hour
When men are not most brave;
It did not make my courage fail,
And I have heard the nightingale
Sing sweetly on her grave.

13.

"I have past by about that hour
When ghosts their freedom have;
But here I saw no ghastly sight,
And quietly the glow-worm's light
Was shining on her grave.

14.

"There's one who like a Christian lies Beneath the church-tree's shade; I'd rather go a long mile round

Than pass at evening through the ground Wherein that man is laid.

15.

"A decent burial that man had,

The bell was heard to toll,

When he was laid in holy ground,
But for all the wealth in Bristol town

I would not be with his soul!